Software · head to head
Couchbase vs Dgraph
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Couchbase the free tier is a single node with 8 GB of storage and forum support only; Dgraph the GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README
- They diverge on capability: Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, Dgraph covers Native GraphQL.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Couchbase and Dgraph actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Couchbase
- JSON Document Model
- SQL++ Query
- Eventing
- Analytics
- Mobile Sync
- Multi-dimensional Scaling
- Kafka
- Spark
Only in Dgraph
- Native GraphQL
- Distributed Architecture
- ACID Transactions
- GraphQL Subscriptions
- Geolocation Queries
- Horizontal Scaling
- GraphQL
- Ratel UI
Both cover
- Full-text Search
- Linux support
- Mac support
- Docker support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Couchbase
- Running a distributed NoSQL document database as a managed servicenot Dgraph
- Mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud databasenot Dgraph
Dgraph
- Knowledge graphsnot Couchbase
- Fraud detectionnot Couchbase
- Recommendation enginesnot Couchbase
- Network analysisnot Couchbase
- Master data managementnot Couchbase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Couchbase
- The free tier is a single node with 8 GB of storage and forum support only
- Node rates are hourly and quoted as starting figures, from $0.15 an hour on Basic to $0.49 on Enterprise
- The Developer Pro and Enterprise plans require 3 nodes, so the hourly rate multiplies before any usage
- Backup storage is billed separately at $0.07 per GB a month, and analytics backups at $0.14
- Support response time is a plan feature, at 8 hours on Developer Pro against 30 minutes on Enterprise
- AI and analytics run as separately priced planes at up to $0.86 an hour per node
Dgraph
- The GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README
Pricing, plan by plan
Couchbase
Free- CommunityFree
- Full features
- Community support
- Self-managed
- Capella FreeFree
- Managed service
- Limited resources
- Cloud hosted
Dgraph
Free- CommunityFree
- Native GraphQL
- Graph queries
- Full-text search
- Cloud$39/month
- Managed service
- Auto-scaling
- Enterprise support
Which should you pick?
Choose Couchbase if
- You need json document model.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want sql++ query.
Choose Dgraph if
- You need native graphql.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want distributed architecture.
Questions people ask
- Is Couchbase or Dgraph better?
- Neither clearly leads. Couchbase starts at Free and Dgraph at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Couchbase or Dgraph?
- Couchbase starts at Free and Dgraph at Free.
- Does Couchbase or Dgraph run on more platforms?
- Couchbase runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
- Can I use Couchbase for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Couchbase best used for?
- Couchbase is most often used for running a distributed nosql document database as a managed service, mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud database. Of those, running a distributed nosql document database as a managed service and mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud database are not what Dgraph is typically brought in for.
- What can Couchbase do that Dgraph cannot?
- Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, SQL++ Query, Eventing, Analytics. Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Distributed Architecture, ACID Transactions, GraphQL Subscriptions. Both handle Full-text Search, Linux support, Mac support, Docker support.