Database & Data Management · head to head
ArangoDB vs CouchDB
ArangoDB
Database & Data Management
Multi-model database for graph, document, and search
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
CouchDB
Database & Data Management
Seamless multi-master sync with Apache CouchDB
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ArangoDB the company has repositioned around a wider platform, so ArangoDB is now described as the foundation inside Arango rather than the product itself; CouchDB append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
- They diverge on capability: ArangoDB covers Multi-model Support, CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ArangoDB and CouchDB actually diverge.
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 ArangoDB
- Multi-model Support
- AQL Query Language
- Graph Traversals
- Full-text Search
- ACID Transactions
- SmartGraphs
- Satellite Collections
- Foxx Microservices
Only in CouchDB
- Multi-master Replication
- HTTP/JSON API
- MapReduce Views
- ACID Semantics
- Offline-first
- Conflict Resolution
- Fauxton UI
- PouchDB
Both cover
- Linux support
- Windows support
- Mac support
- Docker support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ArangoDB
- Graph, document and key-value data in one databasenot CouchDB
- Vector and full-text search alongside graph traversalnot CouchDB
- Avoiding separate stores for related and unstructured datanot CouchDB
- Backing AI applications needing both graph context and vectorsnot CouchDB
CouchDB
- Offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environmentsnot ArangoDB
- Multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regionsnot ArangoDB
- IoT and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivitynot ArangoDB
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
ArangoDB
- The company has repositioned around a wider platform, so ArangoDB is now described as the foundation inside Arango rather than the product itself
- Neither the community licence terms nor cloud pricing are stated on the main site
- arangodb.com redirects to arango.ai
CouchDB
- Append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
- Requires network synchronisation for cluster data consistency; can introduce latency in multi-master scenarios
- No explicit support for complex joins; MapReduce queries may be inefficient compared to relational databases
Pricing, plan by plan
ArangoDB
Free- CommunityFree
- All data models
- AQL queries
- Full-text search
- ArangoGraph$99/month
- Managed service
- Graph analytics
- Enterprise support
CouchDB
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the CouchDB review.
Which should you pick?
Choose ArangoDB if
- You need multi-model support.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want aql query language.
Choose CouchDB if
- You need multi-master replication.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
- You also want http/json api.
Questions people ask
- Is ArangoDB or CouchDB better?
- Neither clearly leads. ArangoDB starts at Free and CouchDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ArangoDB or CouchDB?
- ArangoDB starts at Free and CouchDB at Free.
- Does ArangoDB or CouchDB run on more platforms?
- ArangoDB runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. CouchDB runs on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
- Can I use ArangoDB for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is ArangoDB best used for?
- ArangoDB is most often used for graph, document and key-value data in one database, vector and full-text search alongside graph traversal, avoiding separate stores for related and unstructured data, backing ai applications needing both graph context and vectors. Of those, graph, document and key-value data in one database and vector and full-text search alongside graph traversal are not what CouchDB is typically brought in for.
- What can ArangoDB do that CouchDB cannot?
- ArangoDB covers Multi-model Support, AQL Query Language, Graph Traversals, Full-text Search. CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, HTTP/JSON API, MapReduce Views, ACID Semantics. Both handle Linux support, Windows support, Mac support, Docker support.