Database & Data Management · head to head
Convex vs DuckDB
Convex
Database & Data Management
The reactive backend platform that keeps up with you and your agents
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only DuckDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Convex the Free and Starter tier includes only 1 million function calls and 0.5 GB of database storage per month before per-unit overage charges of $2.20 per million calls apply, as of August 2026.; DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Convex and DuckDB actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Convex
Nothing recorded that DuckDB does not also cover.
Only in DuckDB
- In-process Execution
- Columnar Storage
- Vectorized Execution
- Rich SQL Support
- Parquet Support
- CSV/JSON Import
- Zero Dependencies
- Python
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Convex
No use cases recorded yet. See the Convex review.
DuckDB
- Analytics and data warehousingnot Convex
- OLAP queries and data explorationnot Convex
- Data science and machine learning workflowsnot Convex
- Multi-format data ingestion and processingnot Convex
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Convex
- The Free and Starter tier includes only 1 million function calls and 0.5 GB of database storage per month before per-unit overage charges of $2.20 per million calls apply, as of August 2026.
DuckDB
- Client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios
Pricing, plan by plan
Convex
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Convex review.
DuckDB
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Convex if
Nothing in the data separates Convex from DuckDB on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose DuckDB if
- You need in-process execution.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
- You also want columnar storage.
Questions people ask
- Is Convex or DuckDB better?
- Neither clearly leads. Convex starts at On request and DuckDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Convex or DuckDB?
- DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Convex and Free for DuckDB.
- Does Convex or DuckDB run on more platforms?
- Convex runs on Web. DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
- Can I use DuckDB for free?
- Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Convex starts at On request.
- What can Convex do that DuckDB cannot?
- DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support.
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- DuckDB vs DynamoDB
- DuckDB vs MariaDB
- DuckDB vs Oracle Database
- DuckDB vs Amazon RDS
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