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ArangoDB vs PostgreSQL

ArangoDB logo

ArangoDB

Software

Multi-model database for graph, document, and search

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PostgreSQL logo

PostgreSQL

Software

The world's most advanced open source relational database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
  • They diverge on capability: ArangoDB covers Multi-model Support, PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArangoDB and PostgreSQL actually diverge.

Attributes where ArangoDB and PostgreSQL differ
AttributeArangoDBPostgreSQL
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, Docker, WebLinux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix
Founded20141996

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

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
  • ACID Transactions
  • SmartGraphs
  • Satellite Collections
  • Foxx Microservices
  • Pregel

Only in PostgreSQL

  • ACID Compliance
  • JSON/JSONB Support
  • Extensibility
  • Advanced Indexing
  • Partitioning
  • Replication
  • pgAdmin
  • DBeaver

Both cover

  • Full-text Search
  • 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 PostgreSQL
  • Vector and full-text search alongside graph traversalnot PostgreSQL
  • Avoiding separate stores for related and unstructured datanot PostgreSQL
  • Backing AI applications needing both graph context and vectorsnot PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL

  • Transaction processingnot ArangoDB
  • Data storagenot ArangoDB
  • Application backendnot ArangoDB
  • Reportingnot ArangoDB
  • Data analyticsnot 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

PostgreSQL

  • Requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
  • Performance tuning requires deep knowledge of database internals
  • No built-in graphical admin interface; command-line tools are primary method

Pricing, plan by plan

ArangoDB

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • All data models
    • AQL queries
    • Full-text search
  • ArangoGraph$99/month
    • Managed service
    • Graph analytics
    • Enterprise support

PostgreSQL

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL 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.
ArangoDB review

Choose PostgreSQL if

  • You need acid compliance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
  • You also want json/jsonb support.
PostgreSQL review

Questions people ask

Is ArangoDB or PostgreSQL better?
Neither clearly leads. ArangoDB starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArangoDB or PostgreSQL?
ArangoDB starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free.
Does ArangoDB or PostgreSQL run on more platforms?
ArangoDB runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
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 PostgreSQL is typically brought in for.
What can ArangoDB do that PostgreSQL cannot?
ArangoDB covers Multi-model Support, AQL Query Language, Graph Traversals, ACID Transactions. PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Extensibility, Advanced Indexing. Both handle Full-text Search, Linux support, Windows support, Mac support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?

Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.

Source
PostgreSQL: What platforms does PostgreSQL run on?

PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems including Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, and commercial Unix variants, and has been proven highly scalable managing terabytes to petabytes of data.

Source
PostgreSQL: What procedural languages are supported?

PostgreSQL supports stored functions and procedures in multiple languages including PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, Tcl, Java, JavaScript, R, and Rust.

Source
PostgreSQL: What is ACID compliance in PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL has been ACID-compliant since 2001, ensuring data integrity through atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability guarantees for all transactions.

Source
PostgreSQL: Does PostgreSQL support JSON data?

Yes. PostgreSQL supports JSON and JSONB data types for storing and querying JSON documents, along with XML and other document formats.

Source
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