Software · head to head
CouchDB vs Amazon Aurora
Amazon Aurora
Software
MySQL and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database built for the cloud
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CouchDB append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates; Amazon Aurora aurora requires AWS ecosystem knowledge and integration with other AWS services
- They diverge on capability: CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, Amazon Aurora covers MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CouchDB and Amazon Aurora actually diverge.
| Attribute | CouchDB | Amazon Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | usage-based |
| Platforms | Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi | AWS Cloud |
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 CouchDB
- Multi-master Replication
- HTTP/JSON API
- MapReduce Views
- ACID Semantics
- Offline-first
- Conflict Resolution
- Fauxton UI
- PouchDB
Only in Amazon Aurora
- MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible
- 5x MySQL Performance
- Auto-scaling Storage
- Global Database
- Serverless v2
- Multi-master
- Fault Tolerant
- AWS Lambda
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CouchDB
- Offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environmentsnot Amazon Aurora
- Multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regionsnot Amazon Aurora
- IoT and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivitynot Amazon Aurora
Amazon Aurora
- Transaction processingnot CouchDB
- Data storagenot CouchDB
- Application backendnot CouchDB
- Reportingnot CouchDB
- Data analyticsnot CouchDB
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CouchDB
- Append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
- Requires network synchronisation for cluster data consistency; can introduce latency in multi-master scenarios
- No explicit support for complex joins; MapReduce queries may be inefficient compared to relational databases
Amazon Aurora
- Aurora requires AWS ecosystem knowledge and integration with other AWS services
- Pricing can become expensive with high-traffic applications using many read replicas
- Limited support for non-relational data types compared to NoSQL alternatives
Pricing, plan by plan
CouchDB
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the CouchDB review.
Amazon Aurora
Free- Serverless v2$0.12/hour
- Auto-scaling
- Pay per ACU
- Instant scaling
- Provisioned$29/month
- Dedicated instances
- Predictable performance
- Reserved capacity
Which should you pick?
Choose CouchDB if
- You need multi-master replication.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
- You also want http/json api.
Choose Amazon Aurora if
- You need mysql/postgresql compatible.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS Cloud.
- You also want 5x mysql performance.
Questions people ask
- Is CouchDB or Amazon Aurora better?
- Neither clearly leads. CouchDB starts at Free and Amazon Aurora at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CouchDB or Amazon Aurora?
- CouchDB starts at Free and Amazon Aurora at Free.
- Does CouchDB or Amazon Aurora run on more platforms?
- CouchDB runs on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi. Amazon Aurora runs on AWS Cloud.
- Can I use CouchDB for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CouchDB best used for?
- CouchDB is most often used for offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environments, multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regions, iot and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivity. Of those, offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environments and multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regions are not what Amazon Aurora is typically brought in for.
- What can CouchDB do that Amazon Aurora cannot?
- CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, HTTP/JSON API, MapReduce Views, ACID Semantics. Amazon Aurora covers MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible, 5x MySQL Performance, Auto-scaling Storage, Global Database.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Amazon Aurora: Is Amazon Aurora compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL?
Yes, Amazon Aurora offers MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility with full compatibility to their open-source counterparts, allowing you to migrate existing databases with standard tools.
SourceAmazon Aurora: What uptime SLA does Amazon Aurora provide?
Aurora is designed for up to 99.99% single-region uptime and 99.999% multi-region uptime with automatic failover.
SourceAmazon Aurora: How much does Amazon Aurora cost?
Aurora uses serverless, usage-based pricing where you pay only for consumed capacity. Typical pricing ranges from $50-70 per month for minimal setups to $400-600 per month for small production clusters.
SourceAmazon Aurora: Can Amazon Aurora scale automatically?
Yes, Aurora automatically scales to match workload demands without performance degradation, supporting both read and write scaling.
SourceAmazon Aurora: How many read replicas does Aurora support?
Aurora supports up to 15 low-latency read replicas for distributing read traffic across your application.
Source