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Database & Data Management · head to head

Apache Druid vs Neo4j

Apache Druid logo

Apache Druid

Database & Data Management

Real-time analytics database for sub-second OLAP queries

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Neo4j logo

Neo4j

Database & Data Management

The world's leading graph database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apache Druid open-source offering lacks high-availability, distributed architecture, and enterprise security features; Neo4j auraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery
  • They diverge on capability: Apache Druid covers Real-time Ingestion, Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache Druid and Neo4j actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache Druid and Neo4j differ
AttributeApache DruidNeo4j
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsDocker, Kubernetes, Native deployment (Java-based)Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web
Founded19992007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apache Druid

  • Real-time Ingestion
  • Sub-second Queries
  • Column-oriented Storage
  • Streaming Integration
  • Approximate Algorithms
  • Flexible Schemas
  • Time-based Partitioning
  • Hadoop

Only in Neo4j

  • Native Graph Storage
  • Cypher Query Language
  • ACID Transactions
  • High Availability
  • Graph Data Science
  • Full-text Search
  • Native Indexes
  • GraphQL

Both cover

  • Kafka
  • Linux support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apache Druid

  • Real-time analytics platforms ingesting millions of events per second from streaming sourcesnot Neo4j
  • Applications requiring sub-second queries over high-cardinality datasets (billions to trillions of rows)not Neo4j
  • Time-series and event analysis at massive scale with columnar storage efficiencynot Neo4j

Neo4j

  • Running a managed graph database on AWS, Azure or Google Cloudnot Apache Druid
  • Building knowledge graphs and GraphRAG retrieval for AI applicationsnot Apache Druid
  • Fraud detection, recommendations and supply chain analysis over connected datanot Apache Druid

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apache Druid

  • Open-source offering lacks high-availability, distributed architecture, and enterprise security features
  • Requires native integration with Apache Kafka or Amazon Kinesis for real-time ingestion; custom integrations need development
  • High-concurrency query support (hundreds of thousands QPS) requires significant cluster infrastructure investment

Neo4j

  • AuraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery
  • AuraDB Free imposes limits on node and relationship counts and runs single-zone only
  • SSO authentication and role-based access control are excluded from AuraDB Free and AuraDB Professional, starting only at Business Critical at $146 per GB per month with a 2GB minimum cluster
  • AuraDB Professional starts at $65 per GB per month with a minimum 1GB cluster and caps at 128GB memory per instance
  • AuraDB Professional backups are daily with only 7-day retention, against 30 days on Business Critical
  • Customer managed keys and private endpoints are available only on AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud, which is quote only with no published price
  • Change data capture, query log forwarding, secondaries and access to Neo4j Professional Services are excluded below the Business Critical tier
  • Support on AuraDB Free is community only and AuraDB Professional is best effort, with 24x7 one-hour response starting at Business Critical
  • AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud is sold on prepaid contract terms with enterprise commercial negotiation rather than self-serve card payment

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Druid

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Apache Druid review.

Neo4j

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Single database
    • Cypher queries
    • APOC library
  • AuraDB FreeFree
    • 50K nodes
    • 175K relationships
    • Cloud hosted
  • AuraDB Professional$65/month
    • Dedicated instance
    • Auto-scaling
    • Enterprise support

Which should you pick?

Choose Apache Druid if

  • You need real-time ingestion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Docker, Kubernetes, Native deployment (Java-based).
  • You also want sub-second queries.
Apache Druid review

Choose Neo4j if

  • You need native graph storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
  • You also want cypher query language.
Neo4j review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Druid or Neo4j better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Druid starts at Free and Neo4j at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Druid or Neo4j?
Apache Druid starts at Free and Neo4j at Free.
Does Apache Druid or Neo4j run on more platforms?
Apache Druid runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Native deployment (Java-based). Neo4j runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
Can I use Apache Druid for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apache Druid best used for?
Apache Druid is most often used for real-time analytics platforms ingesting millions of events per second from streaming sources, applications requiring sub-second queries over high-cardinality datasets (billions to trillions of rows), time-series and event analysis at massive scale with columnar storage efficiency. Of those, real-time analytics platforms ingesting millions of events per second from streaming sources and applications requiring sub-second queries over high-cardinality datasets (billions to trillions of rows) are not what Neo4j is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Druid do that Neo4j cannot?
Apache Druid covers Real-time Ingestion, Sub-second Queries, Column-oriented Storage, Streaming Integration. Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, Cypher Query Language, ACID Transactions, High Availability. Both handle Kafka, Linux support, Docker support.
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