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Database & Data Management · head to head

BigQuery vs DynamoDB

BigQuery logo

BigQuery

Database & Data Management

Serverless, highly scalable enterprise data warehouse

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 BigQuery has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BigQuery query costs can become substantial for organizations with high query volumes; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • They diverge on capability: BigQuery covers Serverless Architecture, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BigQuery and DynamoDB actually diverge.

Attributes where BigQuery and DynamoDB differ
AttributeBigQueryDynamoDB
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Cloud APIAWS
Founded20082006

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), 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 BigQuery

  • Serverless Architecture
  • Petabyte Scale
  • Real-time Analytics
  • Machine Learning
  • Geospatial Analysis
  • Streaming Ingestion
  • Standard SQL
  • Looker

Only in DynamoDB

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BigQuery

  • Business intelligencenot DynamoDB
  • Data warehousingnot DynamoDB
  • Real-time analyticsnot DynamoDB
  • Reportingnot DynamoDB
  • Machine learningnot DynamoDB

DynamoDB

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BigQuery

  • Query costs can become substantial for organizations with high query volumes
  • Data egress from Google Cloud incurs additional charges

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

BigQuery

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1TB queries/month
    • 10GB storage/month
    • Standard support
  • On-demand$6.25/TB
    • Pay per query
    • Pay per storage
    • All features

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose BigQuery if

  • You need serverless architecture.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud API.
  • You also want petabyte scale.
BigQuery review

Choose DynamoDB if

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

Questions people ask

Is BigQuery or DynamoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. BigQuery 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, BigQuery or DynamoDB?
BigQuery has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for BigQuery and On request for DynamoDB.
Does BigQuery or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
BigQuery runs on Web, Cloud API. DynamoDB runs on AWS.
Can I use BigQuery for free?
Yes. BigQuery has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB starts at On request.
What is BigQuery best used for?
BigQuery is most often used for business intelligence, data warehousing, real-time analytics, reporting. Of those, business intelligence and data warehousing are not what DynamoDB is typically brought in for.
What can BigQuery do that DynamoDB cannot?
BigQuery covers Serverless Architecture, Petabyte Scale, Real-time Analytics, Machine Learning. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BigQuery: How is BigQuery priced?

BigQuery charges $5 per terabyte of data processed in on-demand queries. Storage is billed separately: active storage is charged per GB, and data inactive for 90+ days moves to long-term storage at reduced rates.

Source
BigQuery: What is BigQuery's architecture?

BigQuery separates compute and storage, using Google's Colossus for distributed storage and Borg for computation, allowing independent scaling of each.

Source
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