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Database & Data Management · head to head

Apache Pinot vs DynamoDB

Apache Pinot logo

Apache Pinot

Database & Data Management

Real-time distributed OLAP datastore for analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

Database & Data Management

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

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; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • They diverge on capability: Apache Pinot covers Real-time Analytics, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apache Pinot and DynamoDB differ
AttributeApache PinotDynamoDB
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesAWS
Founded19992006

Identical on both: 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 Pinot

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

Only in DynamoDB

  • Single-digit Millisecond Latency
  • Serverless
  • Auto-scaling
  • Global Tables
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Encryption
  • Streams
  • Lambda

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 DynamoDB
  • User-facing dashboards inside a productnot DynamoDB
  • Real-time metrics at high ingest ratesnot DynamoDB
  • Petabyte-scale analytics as run at LinkedIn and Ubernot DynamoDB

DynamoDB

  • High-scale, variable-workload applicationsnot Apache Pinot
  • Mobile and IoT device backendsnot Apache Pinot
  • Real-time analytics and dashboardsnot Apache Pinot
  • Multi-region, globally distributed applicationsnot 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

DynamoDB

  • NoSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • Limited query flexibility; requires thinking in terms of keys and indexes rather than ad-hoc queries

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Pinot

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

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

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 DynamoDB if

  • You need single-digit millisecond latency.
  • You work on AWS.
  • You also want serverless.
DynamoDB review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Pinot or DynamoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Pinot starts at Free and DynamoDB at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Pinot or DynamoDB?
Apache Pinot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apache Pinot and On request for DynamoDB.
Does Apache Pinot or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
Apache Pinot runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. DynamoDB runs on AWS.
Can I use Apache Pinot for free?
Yes. Apache Pinot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB 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 DynamoDB is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Pinot do that DynamoDB cannot?
Apache Pinot covers Real-time Analytics, Column-oriented, Distributed Processing, SQL Support. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables.
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