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ClickHouse vs DynamoDB

ClickHouse logo

ClickHouse

Software

Fast open-source column-oriented database for real-time analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

Software

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ClickHouse has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ClickHouse limited multi-row atomic transactions and expensive UPDATE/DELETE operations unsuitable for transactional systems; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • They diverge on capability: ClickHouse covers Column-oriented Storage, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ClickHouse and DynamoDB actually diverge.

Attributes where ClickHouse and DynamoDB differ
AttributeClickHouseDynamoDB
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows (via Docker)AWS
Founded20212006

Identical on both: 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 ClickHouse

  • Column-oriented Storage
  • Real-time Analytics
  • SQL Support
  • Linear Scalability
  • Data Compression
  • Vectorized Query Execution
  • Approximate Calculations
  • Kafka

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.

ClickHouse

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

DynamoDB

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

Where each one falls short

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

ClickHouse

  • Limited multi-row atomic transactions and expensive UPDATE/DELETE operations unsuitable for transactional systems
  • Requires upfront schema design discipline with MergeTree engine choices and sort/partition keys
  • Experimental vector search support, not production-ready for vector operations
  • Different query syntax from standard SQL requiring migration planning
  • Limited JOIN capabilities compared to traditional relational databases
  • Migration complexity with 2-4 weeks estimated for data type mapping and query translation

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

ClickHouse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ClickHouse review.

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ClickHouse if

  • You need column-oriented storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows (via Docker).
  • You also want real-time analytics.
ClickHouse review

Choose DynamoDB if

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

Questions people ask

Is ClickHouse or DynamoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. ClickHouse 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, ClickHouse or DynamoDB?
ClickHouse has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ClickHouse and On request for DynamoDB.
Does ClickHouse or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
ClickHouse runs on Linux, macOS, Windows (via Docker). DynamoDB runs on AWS.
Can I use ClickHouse for free?
Yes. ClickHouse has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB starts at On request.
What is ClickHouse best used for?
ClickHouse 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 ClickHouse do that DynamoDB cannot?
ClickHouse covers Column-oriented Storage, Real-time Analytics, SQL Support, Linear Scalability. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ClickHouse: What is ClickHouse best used for?

ClickHouse is optimized for analytical workloads on large datasets. It excels at fast aggregations and queries, being 10-100x faster than PostgreSQL on large aggregations.

Source
ClickHouse: Does ClickHouse support transactions?

ClickHouse has limited transaction support and expensive UPDATE/DELETE operations. It is not suitable for transactional workloads requiring strict ACID guarantees.

Source
ClickHouse: How does ClickHouse compare to PostgreSQL?

ClickHouse is 10-100x faster for analytics but PostgreSQL is better for transactional workloads. Many teams use both: PostgreSQL for writes via MaterializedPostgreSQL replication to ClickHouse for analytics.

Source
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