“we are using prisma both for our core cal.com repository but also for our platform starter kit”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so +1 · source ↗
Prisma
TypeScript ORM with a schema file and generated client; also offers hosted Prisma Postgres.
Works with AI agents:llms.txtMCPCLIPrisma ORM is the database layer for a TypeScript or Node.js app. You describe your models once and call typed methods like findMany or create, and the compiler catches a misspelled field or wrong type before the query runs.
The workflow is schema-first. You declare models and relations in a Prisma schema file; the CLI builds a typed client from it and generates SQL migration files that you review and apply. In Prisma ORM 7, the current stable line, the client connects through driver adapters around ordinary JavaScript drivers (pg, mariadb, better-sqlite3, libSQL, node-mssql and serverless drivers), which is what lets it run on edge platforms such as Cloudflare Workers. It supports PostgreSQL, MySQL and MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, CockroachDB and MongoDB.
For a small team: relation queries that return nested objects in one call, transactions, raw SQL when the API is not enough, and the option of Prisma Postgres, the company's managed Postgres with pooling and backups that also works with other libraries over a direct connection.
The main thing to know is that Prisma is in a major transition. Prisma ORM 8, a ground-up TypeScript rewrite with a new "contract" file and TypeScript migrations, is a release candidate (general availability expected October 2026) that so far covers only PostgreSQL and, in early access, MongoDB, and it still lacks features such as $extends, JSON filtering and most nested writes. Prisma 7 stays supported for 18 months after 8 ships.
Where it fits
How Prisma itself is built
9 tools, from its own code, website and Product Hunt page.
Who uses it
37 makers' products, each linked to the source that shows it, and 111 open-source projects that declare it in their code.
“Prisma has been powering Documenso's core since day 1 🫡”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so +1 · source ↗“Prisma gives us a great Typescript-first DX for managing user data - in our cloud and self-hosted. Great team and support!”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so +1 · source ↗“Makes writing type-safe SQL code a joy”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so +1 · source ↗“Since Prisma, I have never written a single SQL query, best ORM ever created.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so +1 · source ↗“Prisma - making databases easy and fun!”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“It’s built with Remix , Tailwind CSS and Prisma , and integrates nicely with Stripe for payments, Postmark for emails and Zapier for Webhooks.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Type-safe ORM. Migrations that don't break prod.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“We use Prisma to make working with our databases simple and hassle-free. It lets us easily manage database queries, especially since we work a lot with TypeScript.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“My ORM of choice, a breeze to work with.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“We integrate with Prisma to easily manage our DB.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Accelerated database development with TypeScript.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“I love the Prisma typing system. Stack Auth relies heavily on it.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Since a year I build all my products with Prisma. It is a huge time saver and I like having the overview in one single file. It's migration just works all the time. Thanks Prisma!”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“I did NOT want to use this at the start... but it admittedly was worth the initial bit of learning. Prisma paired with NoSQL like mongoDB was a gamechanger and has saved countless hours when setting up the backend database tables and managing relationships. I honestly love using prims now.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Prisma helped me migrate from NoSQL databases like MongoDB to a PostgreSQL database with ease. After a decade working with MongoDB, I moved to SQL and couldn't be more happier with Prisma”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“My favourite ORM, by far. Prisma helped me have complete control over an area I wasn't really keen on, databases.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“We've built Stockle's backend with Prisma from the get-go and couldn't be happier with its performance, ease of use, and the developer experience it provides.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Skipping on ORMs is peak boomer behavior. It's usually between Drizzle and Prisma, I personally prefer Drizzle but wanted to give Prisma another shot for this project. Prisma has a lot of stuff going for it (e.g. prisma schema files are way cleaner and easier to parse than drizzle's) It sucked for PGVector and doesn't do well with Postgres extensions in general tho, would love if the guys over at Prisma could improve that.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Type-safe queries caught bugs at compile time that would've hit production mid-voice-session. Cleanest migration workflow we've used with PostgreSQL.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Prisma makes handling our database feel modern and type‑safe. Auto‑generated queries and schema migrations reduce a ton of boilerplate. It’s like having a lightweight ORM that actually streamlines dev time rather than complicating it. Alternatives Considered: TypeORM: Solid, but heavier learning curve and less intuitive schema sync. Sequelize: Mature, but can get verbose and lacked the strong type integration Prisma offers. Knex.js: A flexible query builder, but we wanted higher‑level abstractions for productivity.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Took all the pain out of backend.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗“Many thanks to Prisma.”
Database Access & ORMsMaker says so · source ↗Open source: a project that declares Prisma as a dependency in its public code — verifiable, but not necessarily a live product.
What makers say
27 makers on why they use Prisma, in their own words on Product Hunt.
Prisma makes handling our database feel modern and type‑safe. Auto‑generated queries and schema migrations reduce a ton of boilerplate. It’s like having a lightweight ORM that actually streamlines dev time rather than complicating it. Alternatives Considered: TypeORM: Solid, but heavier learning curve and less intuitive schema sync. Sequelize: Mature, but can get verbose and lacked the strong type integration Prisma offers. Knex.js: A flexible query builder, but we wanted higher‑level abstractions for productivity.
QibbleSep 2026 ↗Prisma makes handling our database feel modern and type‑safe. Auto‑generated queries and schema migrations reduce a ton of boilerplate. It’s like having a lightweight ORM that actually streamlines dev time rather than complicating it. Alternatives Considered: TypeORM: Solid, but heavier learning curve and less intuitive schema sync. Sequelize: Mature, but can get verbose and lacked the strong type integration Prisma offers. Knex.js: A flexible query builder, but we wanted higher‑level abstractions for productivity.
QibbleMar 2025 ↗Skipping on ORMs is peak boomer behavior. It's usually between Drizzle and Prisma, I personally prefer Drizzle but wanted to give Prisma another shot for this project. Prisma has a lot of stuff going for it (e.g. prisma schema files are way cleaner and easier to parse than drizzle's) It sucked for PGVector and doesn't do well with Postgres extensions in general tho, would love if the guys over at Prisma could improve that.
Undead DomainsSep 2026 ↗Skipping on ORMs is peak boomer behavior. It's usually between Drizzle and Prisma, I personally prefer Drizzle but wanted to give Prisma another shot for this project. Prisma has a lot of stuff going for it (e.g. prisma schema files are way cleaner and easier to parse than drizzle's) It sucked for PGVector and doesn't do well with Postgres extensions in general tho, would love if the guys over at Prisma could improve that.
Undead DomainsJul 2024 ↗When building a relational tool for bookings and contracts, the schema is everything. Prisma makes managing that schema—and migrations—predictable and safe. Tip: Use Prisma Studio locally during beta testing. It’s the fastest way to verify data states without writing SQL queries. Alternatives: Drizzle is catching up, but Prisma’s DX for managing complex relations is still the standard for me.
HardbookSep 2026 ↗Loved and watch-outs
Themes that recur in makers' words and Hacker News comments, each linked to what it summarises, with how Product Hunt tags its reviews.
- Types generated from the schema make queries type-safe, catching data bugs at compile time instead of in production. PHPH 2HN
- One readable schema file drives migrations that are predictable and rarely break production. PHPH 2HN
- It is mainstream enough that docs and best practices are everywhere, which helps developers who are not database experts. PH
- Generated queries can be unexpectedly heavy, causing database spikes and connection latency under concurrent load. HNHN 2
- Postgres extensions like pgvector are poorly supported. PH
- Major version overhauls change the API, making the ORM feel less stable to build on. HN
- Its pgbouncer mode with Supabase multiplied round trips per query, a problem reported years before it was fixed. HN
Reliability and open issues
- Support DynamoDB👍 1,060 · opened Feb 2020 · active May 2026
- Define type of content of `Json` field👍 799 · opened Aug 2020 · active May 2026
- Virtual computed fields👍 694 · opened Oct 2019 · active Oct 2025
- PostGIS/GIS support👍 668 · opened Jun 2020 · active Sep 2026
- Provide `upsertMany()`/`upsertFirst()` operation in the client API👍 514 · opened Nov 2020 · active May 2026
Who switches
Public pull requests on GitHub since Oct 2024 whose title says "X to Y" — real code changes moving a project from one tool to another, by developers in general. Open a row to see the pull requests.
Drizzle ORM → Prisma27 PRs
- feat(db): migrate from Drizzle to Prisma and TypedSQLlaoz40/Horus · 2026-09-17
- Migrate auth (users table) from Drizzle to Prisma, remove Drizzlemouhamed2213/3btrading-erp-crm · 2026-09-08
- Migrate database layer from Drizzle to Prismadinokage/shotgun-mock · 2026-09-07
- Migrated from Drizzle to PrismaAnish-75/backend-exp · 2026-08-20
- chore(backend): migrate drizzle to prisma orm 7jushoo/trade-blotter · 2026-08-20
- feat(drizzle): example application, and two fixes to the prisma example it inherited fromcerbos/query-plan-adapters · 2026-08-10
- ORM migration from Drizzle to Prismaungdev/Integration · 2026-07-06
- refactor: migrate database ORM from Drizzle to Prismajohn-data-chen/sveltekit-starter-kit · 2026-06-12
- refactor(db): migrate ORM from Drizzle to Prismainnovationtreehouse/apps.arbor · 2026-06-09
- feat: Migrate from Drizzle ORM to Prisma 7fatkquladhim/ClassMe · 2026-02-05
Prisma → Drizzle ORM140 PRs
- feat(db): migrate ORM from Prisma 7 to Drizzle (zero DDL, behavior parity)laststance/corelive · 2026-09-29
- Migrate from Prisma to Drizzle for schema-per-tenant supportadeel-boson/UPresent · 2026-09-27
- Refactor/prisma to drizzleAmruthaarunachalam/next.js-backend · 2026-09-24
- test(e2e): benchmark and verify the Prisma to Drizzle migration (ENG-2137)Shamiri-Institute/digitalhub · 2026-09-22
- refactor(db): migrate from prisma to drizzle ormcs-esmaeili/lio_back · 2026-09-20
- Migrate jetstream.spec.ts's direct Board query from Prisma to Drizzlemkizka/linkat · 2026-09-19
- feat: migrate from Prisma to Drizzle v1 RC3exKAZUu-Research/trace-dojo · 2026-09-11
- Pr2/prisma to drizzle api jobsusemarble/marble · 2026-09-11
- feat(error-tracker)!: port @context-kit/error-tracker from Prisma to Drizzlequeso/context-kit-packages · 2026-09-11
- switch from the prisma to the drizzle ORMvirtualabishek/24hoursnews · 2026-09-10
Prisma → Kysely10 PRs
- refactor(db): Phase 3 — migrate Prisma master-table repositories to Kysely (#62)flipslidersand-labs/loopnest-core · 2026-09-06
- fix: three bugs found while scoping the Prisma to Kysely migrationcivitai/civitai · 2026-08-09
- Migrate excavator-web from Prisma to Kysely to fix runaway memory usageloathers/excavator · 2026-07-24
- Migrate database layer from Prisma to Kyselyloathers/museum · 2026-05-10
- Migrate from Prisma to Kyselyloathers/greenbox · 2026-05-10
- Migrate from prisma to kysely because prisma has become annoyingloathers/oaf · 2026-02-13
- Migration from Prisma ORM to Kysely queries + update Zod from v3 to v4introbotai/linkedin-resolver · 2025-12-26
- feat: migrate from Prisma to Kysely for better performanceruidolp/wapp · 2025-11-06
- Migrate from prisma to kyselylpgera/cookbook · 2025-11-02
- feat: Switch from Prisma to Kysely for the meantimeredwoodjs/sdk · 2024-11-26
Alternatives to Prisma
All alternatives by situation →On Product Hunt, people weigh it against: Supabase, Convex, Neon, PlanetScale, Xata, Turso, Xano, InstantDB.
Questions makers ask about Prisma
Which databases does Prisma support?
Prisma ORM 7 supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, SQL Server, CockroachDB and serverless databases. Prisma ORM 8 currently has PostgreSQL as a release candidate, MongoDB in early access and SQLite as experimental, with MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server and CockroachDB still to come. source ↗
Should I start on Prisma ORM 7 or 8?
Prisma ORM 8 is a release candidate, with GA expected in October 2026; its API may still change, and it needs Node.js 22.18+ and TypeScript 5.9+. Prisma ORM 7 receives fixes and security updates for 18 months after 8 reaches GA. source ↗
Can I run Prisma on Cloudflare Workers or other edge runtimes?
Yes. In Prisma ORM 7, driver adapters let Prisma Client run its queries through JavaScript drivers, including serverless drivers, which is what enables edge deployments. source ↗
What changes in Prisma ORM 8?
Your models live in a "contract" file (contract.prisma or contract.ts) that replaces schema.prisma, the database stores which contract it matches, and migrations are TypeScript files you can edit. Each database has its own library, such as @prisma/orm-postgres. source ↗
Do I have to use Prisma ORM with Prisma Postgres?
No. Prisma Postgres accepts direct connections, so any Postgres library or ORM can use it. It is billed by operations and storage, not egress. source ↗
Does Prisma 6 still get updates?
Only security patches, and only until 19 November 2026. source ↗
Is Prisma free?
Yes — there is a free tier a small product can run on; paid use starts at $10/mo. source ↗
Is Prisma open source or self-hostable?
Open source, and you can self-host it. source ↗
Can AI coding agents work with Prisma?
It serves an llms.txt docs index; it has an official MCP server (io.prisma/mcp); it has an official CLI (prisma).
Who uses Prisma?
37 makers' products we track, each with a source, and 111 open-source projects declare it in their code. source ↗