Database & Data Management · head to head
Dgraph vs Elasticsearch
Dgraph
Database & Data Management
The only native GraphQL database with graph backend
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Elasticsearch
Database & Data Management
The heart of the Elastic Stack for search and analytics
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; Elasticsearch eventual consistency model with 1-second default refresh interval, not suitable for real-time transactional requirements
- They diverge on capability: Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Elasticsearch covers Real-time Analytics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Dgraph and Elasticsearch actually diverge.
| Attribute | Dgraph | Elasticsearch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Linux, Mac, Docker, Web | Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Kubernetes |
| Founded | 2016 | 2010 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management).
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 Dgraph
- Native GraphQL
- ACID Transactions
- GraphQL Subscriptions
- Geolocation Queries
- Horizontal Scaling
- GraphQL
- Ratel UI
- Slash GraphQL
Only in Elasticsearch
- Real-time Analytics
- RESTful API
- Schema-free JSON
- Aggregations
- Machine Learning
- Kibana
- Logstash
- Beats
Both cover
- Distributed Architecture
- 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.
Dgraph
- Knowledge graphsnot Elasticsearch
- Fraud detectionnot Elasticsearch
- Recommendation enginesnot Elasticsearch
- Network analysisnot Elasticsearch
- Master data managementnot Elasticsearch
Elasticsearch
- Real-time applicationsnot Dgraph
- Content managementnot Dgraph
- User profilesnot Dgraph
- Mobile backendsnot Dgraph
- Cachingnot Dgraph
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Elasticsearch
- Eventual consistency model with 1-second default refresh interval, not suitable for real-time transactional requirements
- No support for ACID transactions or rollbacks; updates delete and re-insert documents
- JVM-dependent architecture requires careful memory management and monitoring to prevent garbage collection issues at scale
Pricing, plan by plan
Dgraph
Free- CommunityFree
- Native GraphQL
- Graph queries
- Full-text search
- Cloud$39/month
- Managed service
- Auto-scaling
- Enterprise support
Elasticsearch
Free- Self-ManagedFree
- Open source
- Self-hosted
- Elasticsearch Cloud$16.4/month
- Managed service
- 14-day free trial
Which should you pick?
Choose Dgraph if
- You need native graphql.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want acid transactions.
Choose Elasticsearch if
- You need real-time analytics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Kubernetes.
- You also want restful api.
Questions people ask
- Is Dgraph or Elasticsearch better?
- Neither clearly leads. Dgraph starts at Free and Elasticsearch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Dgraph or Elasticsearch?
- Dgraph starts at Free and Elasticsearch at Free.
- Does Dgraph or Elasticsearch run on more platforms?
- Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web. Elasticsearch runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Kubernetes.
- Can I use Dgraph for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Dgraph best used for?
- Dgraph is most often used for knowledge graphs, fraud detection, recommendation engines, network analysis. Of those, knowledge graphs and fraud detection are not what Elasticsearch is typically brought in for.
- What can Dgraph do that Elasticsearch cannot?
- Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, ACID Transactions, GraphQL Subscriptions, Geolocation Queries. Elasticsearch covers Real-time Analytics, RESTful API, Schema-free JSON, Aggregations. Both handle Distributed Architecture, Full-text Search, Linux support, Mac support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Elasticsearch: Is Elasticsearch free?
Yes, Elasticsearch can be deployed as free and open-source software for self-managed installations. Elastic Cloud managed service starts at $16.40 per month, with a free 14-day trial available.
SourceElasticsearch: Can I use Elasticsearch without Kibana?
Yes, Elasticsearch is a search engine independent of Kibana. Kibana is a visualization and analytics tool that works with Elasticsearch but is optional. You can use the Elasticsearch API directly for searching.
SourceElasticsearch: Does Elasticsearch support real-time indexing?
Elasticsearch indexes data with a refresh interval, typically 1 second. Data becomes searchable after the refresh cycle, making it near-real-time but not instantaneous. This can be configured but impacts performance.
SourceElasticsearch: What are Elasticsearch's scaling limitations?
Elasticsearch requires careful operational management at scale, including shard balancing, heap sizing, and monitoring. Large clusters can suffer from garbage collection issues and become expensive to operate.
SourceElasticsearch: Does Elasticsearch support transactions and rollbacks?
No, Elasticsearch does not support ACID transactions or rollbacks. Updates are expensive operations that delete and re-insert documents, making it unsuitable for transactional workloads.
Source