ClickHouse vs Cassandra
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading database & data management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose ClickHouse if you need Column-oriented Storage and prefer a free starting option. Choose Cassandra if you prioritize Linear Scalability and want a free tier to start. ClickHouse has a higher user rating (4.7 vs 4.4).
ClickHouse vs Cassandra: At a Glance
| Criteria | ClickHouse | Cassandra |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.7 | 4.4 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | freemium | open-source |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Linux, Mac, Docker, Kubernetes, Web | Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker |
| Category | Database & Data Management | Database & Data Management |
| Founded | 2021 | 1999 |
Feature Comparison: ClickHouse vs Cassandra
| Feature | ClickHouse | Cassandra |
|---|---|---|
| Column-oriented Storage | ||
| Real-time Analytics | ||
| SQL Support | ||
| Linear Scalability | ||
| Data Compression | ||
| Vectorized Query Execution | ||
| Approximate Calculations | ||
| Kafka | ||
| S3 | ||
| MySQL | ||
| PostgreSQL | ||
| Grafana | ||
| Linux support | ||
| Mac support | ||
| Docker support | ||
| Fault Tolerance | ||
| Multi-datacenter Replication | ||
| Tunable Consistency | ||
| CQL Query Language | ||
| Distributed Architecture | ||
| No Single Point of Failure | ||
| DataStax | ||
| Apache Spark | ||
| Apache Kafka | ||
| Presto | ||
| cqlsh | ||
| Windows support |
ClickHouse vs Cassandra: Pricing Breakdown
ClickHouse Pricing
Model: freemium
- Full functionality
- Self-hosted
- Community support
- $300 credits
- Managed service
- Auto-scaling
Cassandra Pricing
Model: open-source
- Linear scalability
- Fault tolerance
- Multi-datacenter replication
- CQL query language
Pros and Cons
ClickHouse
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.7/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 5 platforms (Linux, Mac, Docker, Kubernetes, Web)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Column-oriented Storage functionality
- Strong Real-time Analytics functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Cassandra
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 4 platforms (Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Linear Scalability functionality
- Strong Fault Tolerance functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use ClickHouse vs Cassandra?
Choose ClickHouse if you:
- Need Column-oriented Storage
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Linux and Mac
- Value Real-time Analytics
Choose Cassandra if you:
- Need Linear Scalability
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Linux and Windows
- Value Fault Tolerance
Frequently Asked Questions: ClickHouse vs Cassandra
Is ClickHouse better than Cassandra?
It depends on your needs. ClickHouse has a 4.7/5 user rating while Cassandra has 4.4/5. ClickHouse excels in Column-oriented Storage and Real-time Analytics, while Cassandra stands out with Linear Scalability and Fault Tolerance. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, ClickHouse or Cassandra?
ClickHouse offers a free plan and starts at Free. Cassandra offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use ClickHouse and Cassandra together?
While both are database & data management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core database & data management needs.
What are the main differences between ClickHouse and Cassandra?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs open-source), platform support (Linux, Mac, Docker, Kubernetes, Web vs Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker), and feature focus. ClickHouse emphasizes Column-oriented Storage, Real-time Analytics, SQL Support while Cassandra focuses on Linear Scalability, Fault Tolerance, Multi-datacenter Replication. User ratings differ slightly: 4.7 vs 4.4 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both ClickHouse and Cassandra.