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Databases · head to head

Apache Pinot vs Ninox

Apache Pinot logo

Apache Pinot

Databases

Real-time distributed OLAP datastore for analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ninox logo

Ninox

Databases

The database for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apache Pinot self-hosted and distributed, so running it means operating a cluster rather than consuming a service; Ninox free plan limited to 5 users and 5,000 records
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apache Pinot and Ninox differ
AttributeApache PinotNinox
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesWeb
Founded1999Unknown

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

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 Ninox

Nothing recorded that Apache Pinot does not also cover.

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

Ninox

  • No-code database solutions for small to medium teamsnot Apache Pinot
  • Workflow automation and process managementnot Apache Pinot
  • Customer data and project tracking with custom viewsnot 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

Ninox

  • Free plan limited to 5 users and 5,000 records
  • API call limits restrict automation on lower tiers (1,000/month free, 10,000/month team)
  • Only 7-day history on free plan vs. unlimited on Business

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Pinot

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

Ninox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 100 MB storage
    • Up to 5,000 records
  • Team$25/month
    • 5 GB storage per user
    • 50,000 records per user
    • 10,000 API calls per user per month
  • Business$40/month
    • 10 GB storage per user
    • 250,000 records per user
    • 50,000 API calls per user per month
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom pricing available
    • Dedicated support
    • Custom solutions and governance

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 Ninox if

  • You want to start without paying.
Ninox review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Pinot or Ninox better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Pinot starts at Free and Ninox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Pinot or Ninox?
Apache Pinot starts at Free and Ninox at Free.
Does Apache Pinot or Ninox run on more platforms?
Apache Pinot runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. Ninox runs on Web.
Can I use Apache Pinot for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Ninox is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Pinot do that Ninox cannot?
Apache Pinot covers Real-time Analytics, Column-oriented, Distributed Processing, SQL Support.

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
Ninox: How much does Ninox cost?

Ninox is free for individuals with up to 5 users. Team plan is 25 EUR per user per month (billed annually), and Business plan is 40 EUR per user per month (billed annually). Enterprise plans have custom pricing.

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
Ninox: Is Ninox free?

Yes, Ninox offers a free plan for up to 5 users with 100 MB storage and 5,000 records. No payment required to start, and includes all core views: table, form, chart, kanban, maps, and calendar.

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
Ninox: What is Ninox Team plan pricing?

The Team plan costs 25 EUR per user per month (billed annually). It includes 5 GB storage per user, 50,000 records, 10,000 API calls per month per user, and 30-day history. Annual billing is required.

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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