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Couchbase vs FaunaDB

Couchbase logo

Couchbase

Software

The modern database for enterprise applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FaunaDB logo

FaunaDB

Software

The distributed serverless database for modern applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; FaunaDB the Internet Archive's capture of FaunaDB's homepage on 5 January 2019 confirmed a free 'Try Cloud' tier alongside a self-hosted download, with a separate Pricing page linked but not itself retrievable from the archive within two attempts.
  • They diverge on capability: Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, FaunaDB covers ACID Transactions.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Couchbase and FaunaDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Couchbase and FaunaDB differ
AttributeCouchbaseFaunaDB
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, Docker, WebWeb
Founded20112012

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
  • Full-text Search
  • Eventing
  • Analytics
  • Mobile Sync
  • Multi-dimensional Scaling
  • Kafka

Only in FaunaDB

  • ACID Transactions
  • Document-relational Model
  • GraphQL API
  • Global Distribution
  • Temporal Queries
  • Multi-tenancy
  • Serverless
  • GraphQL

Both cover

  • 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 FaunaDB
  • Mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud databasenot FaunaDB

FaunaDB

  • Serverless applicationsnot Couchbase
  • Rapid prototypingnot Couchbase
  • Mobile backendsnot Couchbase
  • JAMstacknot Couchbase
  • Microservicesnot 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

FaunaDB

  • The Internet Archive's capture of FaunaDB's homepage on 5 January 2019 confirmed a free 'Try Cloud' tier alongside a self-hosted download, with a separate Pricing page linked but not itself retrievable from the archive within two attempts.

Pricing, plan by plan

Couchbase

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full features
    • Community support
    • Self-managed
  • Capella FreeFree
    • Managed service
    • Limited resources
    • Cloud hosted

FaunaDB

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100K read ops
    • 50K write ops
    • 1GB storage
  • Pro$25/month
    • Pay per use
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

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.
Couchbase review

Choose FaunaDB if

  • You need acid transactions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want document-relational model.
FaunaDB review

Questions people ask

Is Couchbase or FaunaDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Couchbase starts at Free and FaunaDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Couchbase or FaunaDB?
Couchbase starts at Free and FaunaDB at Free.
Does Couchbase or FaunaDB run on more platforms?
Couchbase runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. FaunaDB runs on 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 FaunaDB is typically brought in for.
What can Couchbase do that FaunaDB cannot?
Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, SQL++ Query, Full-text Search, Eventing. FaunaDB covers ACID Transactions, Document-relational Model, GraphQL API, Global Distribution. Both handle Web support.
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