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Software · head to head

Couchbase vs Neo4j

Couchbase logo

Couchbase

Software

The modern database for enterprise applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Neo4j logo

Neo4j

Software

The world's leading graph database

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; Neo4j auraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery
  • They diverge on capability: Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Couchbase and Neo4j actually diverge.

Attributes where Couchbase and Neo4j differ
AttributeCouchbaseNeo4j
Founded20112007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web), 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
  • Spark
  • Kubernetes

Only in Neo4j

  • Native Graph Storage
  • Cypher Query Language
  • ACID Transactions
  • High Availability
  • Graph Data Science
  • Native Indexes
  • GraphQL
  • Spring Data

Both cover

  • Full-text Search
  • Kafka
  • Linux support
  • Windows 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 Neo4j
  • Mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud databasenot Neo4j

Neo4j

  • Running a managed graph database on AWS, Azure or Google Cloudnot Couchbase
  • Building knowledge graphs and GraphRAG retrieval for AI applicationsnot Couchbase
  • Fraud detection, recommendations and supply chain analysis over connected datanot 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

Neo4j

  • AuraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery
  • AuraDB Free imposes limits on node and relationship counts and runs single-zone only
  • SSO authentication and role-based access control are excluded from AuraDB Free and AuraDB Professional, starting only at Business Critical at $146 per GB per month with a 2GB minimum cluster
  • AuraDB Professional starts at $65 per GB per month with a minimum 1GB cluster and caps at 128GB memory per instance
  • AuraDB Professional backups are daily with only 7-day retention, against 30 days on Business Critical
  • Customer managed keys and private endpoints are available only on AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud, which is quote only with no published price
  • Change data capture, query log forwarding, secondaries and access to Neo4j Professional Services are excluded below the Business Critical tier
  • Support on AuraDB Free is community only and AuraDB Professional is best effort, with 24x7 one-hour response starting at Business Critical
  • AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud is sold on prepaid contract terms with enterprise commercial negotiation rather than self-serve card payment

Pricing, plan by plan

Couchbase

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

Neo4j

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Single database
    • Cypher queries
    • APOC library
  • AuraDB FreeFree
    • 50K nodes
    • 175K relationships
    • Cloud hosted
  • AuraDB Professional$65/month
    • Dedicated instance
    • 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.
Couchbase review

Choose Neo4j if

  • You need native graph storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
  • You also want cypher query language.
Neo4j review

Questions people ask

Is Couchbase or Neo4j better?
Neither clearly leads. Couchbase starts at Free and Neo4j at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Couchbase or Neo4j?
Couchbase starts at Free and Neo4j at Free.
Does Couchbase or Neo4j run on more platforms?
Both run on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Neo4j is typically brought in for.
What can Couchbase do that Neo4j cannot?
Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, SQL++ Query, Eventing, Analytics. Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, Cypher Query Language, ACID Transactions, High Availability. Both handle Full-text Search, Kafka, Linux support, Windows support.
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