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Databases · head to head

Apache Pinot vs RAD Studio

Apache Pinot logo

Apache Pinot

Databases

Real-time distributed OLAP datastore for analytics

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Apache PinotFull review
RAD Studio logo

RAD Studio

Developer Tools

Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder

From
$2000/perpetual
Free plan
No
Visit RAD StudioFull review

The short version

  • Apache Pinot is a real-time distributed OLAP datastore; RAD Studio is a cross-platform IDE.
  • Apache Pinot is free; RAD Studio starts at $2000/mo.
  • Where Apache Pinot falls short: self-hosted and distributed, so running it means operating a cluster rather than consuming a service.
  • Where RAD Studio falls short: professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache Pinot and RAD Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache Pinot and RAD Studio differ
AttributeApache PinotRAD Studio
Starting priceFree$2000/perpetual
Pricing modelOpen-sourceOne-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Self-hostedWeb
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: founded for RAD Studio.

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 RAD Studio

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

RAD Studio

  • Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot Apache Pinot
  • Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot Apache Pinot
  • Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot Apache Pinot
  • Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot 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

RAD Studio

  • Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
  • The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Pinot

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

RAD Studio

$2000/perpetual
  • Professional Edition$2,000 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $599
    • Total $2,599 + Tax
  • Enterprise Edition$3,400 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $1,199
    • Total $4,599 + Tax
  • Architect Edition$4,416 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $2,183
    • Total $6,599 + Tax

Which should you pick?

Choose Apache Pinot if

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

Choose RAD Studio if

Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from Apache Pinot on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

RAD Studio review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Pinot or RAD Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Pinot starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Pinot or RAD Studio?
Apache Pinot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apache Pinot and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
Does Apache Pinot or RAD Studio run on more platforms?
Apache Pinot runs on Linux, Self-hosted. RAD Studio runs on Web.
Can I use Apache Pinot for free?
Yes. Apache Pinot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
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 RAD Studio is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Pinot do that RAD Studio 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
RAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?

RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).

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
RAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?

Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.

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
RAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?

Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.

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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