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Databases · head to head

Apache Pinot vs Chartio

Apache Pinot logo

Apache Pinot

Databases

Real-time distributed OLAP datastore for analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chartio logo

Chartio

Business Intelligence

Cloud-based data exploration (discontinued)

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apache Pinot has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apache Pinot self-hosted and distributed, so running it means operating a cluster rather than consuming a service; Chartio product was discontinued and sunset on March 1, 2022 after company acquisition by Atlassian
  • They diverge on capability: Apache Pinot covers Real-time Analytics, Chartio covers Visual Query Builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache Pinot and Chartio actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache Pinot and Chartio differ
AttributeApache PinotChartio
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesWeb
CategoryDatabasesBusiness Intelligence
Founded19992010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Pinot

  • Real-time Analytics
  • Column-oriented
  • Distributed Processing
  • SQL Support
  • Pluggable Indexing
  • Star-tree Index
  • Upsert Support
  • Kafka

Only in Chartio

  • Visual Query Builder
  • Interactive Dashboards
  • Data Blending
  • Collaboration
  • Embedding
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Redshift

What people use each for

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

Apache Pinot

  • Sub-second analytics queries on freshly ingested datanot Chartio
  • User-facing dashboards inside a productnot Chartio
  • Real-time metrics at high ingest ratesnot Chartio
  • Petabyte-scale analytics as run at LinkedIn and Ubernot Chartio

Chartio

  • Drag and drop chart building over SQL databasesnot Apache Pinot
  • Shared business dashboards for non-technical teamsnot Apache Pinot
  • Exploring warehouse data without writing SQLnot Apache Pinot

Where each one falls short

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

Apache Pinot

  • Self-hosted and distributed, so running it means operating a cluster rather than consuming a service
  • Managed hosting comes from third parties such as StarTree rather than from the project
  • Built for user-facing real-time OLAP, so it is not a general purpose database

Chartio

  • Product was discontinued and sunset on March 1, 2022 after company acquisition by Atlassian
  • No current pricing available as service no longer operates
  • Users were migrated to alternative Atlassian solutions

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Pinot

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Real-time analytics
    • SQL queries
    • Horizontal scaling

Chartio

On request
  • DiscontinuedFree
    • Service ended March 2022

Which should you pick?

Choose Apache Pinot if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want column-oriented.
Apache Pinot review

Choose Chartio if

  • You need visual query builder.
  • You also want interactive dashboards.
Chartio review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Pinot or Chartio better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Pinot starts at Free and Chartio at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Pinot or Chartio?
Apache Pinot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apache Pinot and On request for Chartio.
Does Apache Pinot or Chartio run on more platforms?
Apache Pinot runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. Chartio runs on Web.
Can I use Apache Pinot for free?
Yes. Apache Pinot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Chartio starts at On request.
What is Apache Pinot best used for?
Apache Pinot is most often used for sub-second analytics queries on freshly ingested data, user-facing dashboards inside a product, real-time metrics at high ingest rates, petabyte-scale analytics as run at linkedin and uber. Of those, sub-second analytics queries on freshly ingested data and user-facing dashboards inside a product are not what Chartio is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Pinot do that Chartio cannot?
Apache Pinot covers Real-time Analytics, Column-oriented, Distributed Processing, SQL Support. Chartio covers Visual Query Builder, Interactive Dashboards, Data Blending, Collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apache Pinot: How much does Apache Pinot cost?

Apache Pinot is free and open-source. It is provided under the Apache License, which allows free use, modification, and distribution.

Source
Chartio: Is Chartio still available?

No, Chartio was discontinued on March 1, 2022. The product was acquired by Atlassian and the service was shut down. Users were offered migration to alternative solutions.

Source
Apache Pinot: Is Apache Pinot free for commercial use?

Yes. Apache Pinot is licensed under the Apache License, which explicitly permits commercial use at no cost.

Source
Chartio: What should I use instead of Chartio after its discontinuation?

Atlassian, which acquired Chartio, recommends users migrate to other data visualization and business intelligence tools within the Atlassian ecosystem or compatible alternatives.

Source
Apache Pinot: Can I run Apache Pinot locally or with Docker?

Yes. Apache Pinot offers a Docker quickstart and free downloads of the latest version (1.5.1 at the time of the page). You are responsible for hosting and infrastructure.

Source
Chartio: Can I still access Chartio's pricing information?

No, historical pricing is not relevant as Chartio ceased operations in March 2022. Any archived pricing information would not reflect current market options.

Source
Apache Pinot: Are there restrictions on how I can use Apache Pinot?

The Apache License permits unrestricted use, but requires retention of license notices and statements. No usage limits or feature restrictions are enforced.

Source
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