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Databases · head to head

ClickHouse vs Hasura

ClickHouse logo

ClickHouse

Databases

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hasura logo

Hasura

APIs

GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ClickHouse limited multi-row atomic transactions and expensive UPDATE/DELETE operations unsuitable for transactional systems; Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
  • They diverge on capability: ClickHouse covers Column-oriented Storage, Hasura covers GraphQL API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ClickHouse and Hasura actually diverge.

Attributes where ClickHouse and Hasura differ
AttributeClickHouseHasura
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows (via Docker)Web
CategoryDatabasesAPIs
Founded20212017

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

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 Hasura

  • GraphQL API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Access control
  • Webhooks
  • REST APIs
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support

Both cover

  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Docker support
  • Kubernetes support

What people use each for

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

ClickHouse

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

Hasura

  • Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot ClickHouse
  • Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot ClickHouse
  • Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot ClickHouse
  • Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot 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

Hasura

  • Active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
  • Private DDN requires Base or Advanced plan

Pricing, plan by plan

ClickHouse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ClickHouse review.

Hasura

Free
  • DDN FreeFree
    • Unlimited models
    • 1 supergraph developer
    • 15-minute observability retention
  • DDN Base$5/month
    • Per active model billing
    • Unlimited developers
    • 30-day observability retention
  • DDN Advanced$30/month
    • Per active model billing
    • Federated collaboration
    • Multi-repo CI/CD

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 Hasura if

  • You need graphql api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
Hasura review

Questions people ask

Is ClickHouse or Hasura better?
Neither clearly leads. ClickHouse starts at Free and Hasura at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ClickHouse or Hasura?
ClickHouse starts at Free and Hasura at Free.
Does ClickHouse or Hasura run on more platforms?
ClickHouse runs on Linux, macOS, Windows (via Docker). Hasura runs on Web.
Can I use ClickHouse for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Hasura is typically brought in for.
What can ClickHouse do that Hasura cannot?
ClickHouse covers Column-oriented Storage, Real-time Analytics, SQL Support, Linear Scalability. Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, Webhooks. Both handle MySQL, PostgreSQL, Docker support, Kubernetes 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
Hasura: How much does Hasura cost?

Hasura DDN Free is free. DDN Base starts at $5/active model/month, and DDN Advanced starts at $30/active model/month.

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
Hasura: What is an active model in Hasura pricing?

An active model is defined as any model or command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly.

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
Hasura: Is there a free version of Hasura?

Yes, Hasura DDN Free is always free and includes unlimited models, 1 supergraph developer, and 15-minute observability retention.

Source
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