Softwr

Databases · head to head

DataStax vs Zilliz

DataStax logo

DataStax

Databases

The real-time data company for AI applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zilliz logo

Zilliz

Databases

Managed vector database and vector lakebase for AI applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: DataStax dataStax's own Astra DB documentation states the Enterprise plan is an annual, contract-based plan with negotiated pricing, meaning list prices are not published for that tier; Zilliz pricing structure not publicly disclosed, requires sales contact
  • They diverge on capability: DataStax covers Cassandra Compatible, Zilliz covers Vector indexing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DataStax and Zilliz actually diverge.

Attributes where DataStax and Zilliz differ
AttributeDataStaxZilliz
Pricing modelfreemiumcontact-sales
PlatformsWeb, Aws, Azure, GcpCloud, Self-hosted
Founded20102017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 DataStax

  • Cassandra Compatible
  • Vector Search
  • Serverless
  • Multi-cloud
  • Streaming
  • CDC
  • GraphQL API
  • LangChain

Only in Zilliz

  • Vector indexing
  • Distributed architecture
  • SQL interface
  • Tensor support
  • Real-time search
  • Cloud-native
  • Open-source compatible

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DataStax

  • Real-time applicationsnot Zilliz
  • Content managementnot Zilliz
  • User profilesnot Zilliz
  • Mobile backendsnot Zilliz
  • Cachingnot Zilliz

Zilliz

  • Build retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systemsnot DataStax
  • Implement semantic search over documentsnot DataStax
  • Create multimodal search with text and imagesnot DataStax
  • Power recommendation engines with vector similaritynot DataStax
  • Enable similarity search on user embeddingsnot DataStax

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DataStax

  • DataStax's own Astra DB documentation states the Enterprise plan is an annual, contract-based plan with negotiated pricing, meaning list prices are not published for that tier
  • DataStax's Astra DB documentation directs Standard plan customers to IBM's watsonx.data pricing for exact consumption-based rates following the DataStax/IBM deal, rather than publishing them on DataStax's own site

Zilliz

  • Pricing structure not publicly disclosed, requires sales contact
  • Operational complexity for self-hosted Milvus deployments
  • Learning curve for those unfamiliar with vector databases
  • Limited built-in analytics compared to some alternatives

Pricing, plan by plan

DataStax

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5GB storage
    • 40M read/write ops
    • Vector search
  • Pay As You GoFree
    • Usage-based pricing
    • Multi-region
    • Enterprise support

Zilliz

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zilliz review.

Which should you pick?

Choose DataStax if

  • You need cassandra compatible.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp.
  • You also want vector search.
DataStax review

Choose Zilliz if

  • You need vector indexing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Self-hosted.
  • You also want distributed architecture.
Zilliz review

Questions people ask

Is DataStax or Zilliz better?
Neither clearly leads. DataStax starts at Free and Zilliz at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DataStax or Zilliz?
DataStax starts at Free and Zilliz at Free.
Does DataStax or Zilliz run on more platforms?
DataStax runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp. Zilliz runs on Cloud, Self-hosted.
Can I use DataStax for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is DataStax best used for?
DataStax is most often used for real-time applications, content management, user profiles, mobile backends. Of those, real-time applications and content management are not what Zilliz is typically brought in for.
What can DataStax do that Zilliz cannot?
DataStax covers Cassandra Compatible, Vector Search, Serverless, Multi-cloud. Zilliz covers Vector indexing, Distributed architecture, SQL interface, Tensor support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DataStax: Is DataStax available as a managed service?

Yes, DataStax is available as Astra DB, a managed database service. Users can sign up for Astra DB directly to create accounts and access the platform.

Source
Zilliz: What is the difference between Milvus and Zilliz Cloud?

Milvus is the open-source vector database that you can self-host. Zilliz Cloud is the fully managed service built on Milvus that removes operational overhead and handles scaling automatically.

Source
DataStax: How is DataStax priced?

DataStax (now part of IBM) does not publish pricing on its documentation homepage. Pricing information would need to be obtained through the Astra DB signup page or by contacting IBM directly.

Source
Zilliz: How many vectors can Zilliz handle?

Milvus and Zilliz Cloud can store and search billions of vectors through their distributed architecture that separates storage and compute layers.

Source
DataStax: Is there an enterprise licensing option?

DataStax is now part of IBM. Enterprise customers should contact IBM directly for licensing agreements and enterprise-specific pricing.

Source
Zilliz: Is Milvus open-source?

Yes, Milvus is open-source under the Apache License 2.0 and is part of the LF AI & Data Foundation.

Source
DataStax: Can I try DataStax without an account?

To use DataStax Astra DB, account creation is required. The documentation does not mention a free trial or demonstration environment that does not require signup.

Source
Zilliz: What pricing does Zilliz Cloud offer?

Zilliz Cloud pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting their team to discuss your specific scale and use case requirements.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on DataStax

More on Zilliz

Keep looking

Other head to heads