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Databases · head to head

Dgraph vs ESLint

Dgraph logo

Dgraph

Databases

Apache 2.0 distributed graph database written in Go, maintained by Hypermode, queried through GraphQL or its own DQL language.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DgraphFull review
ESLint logo

ESLint

Developer Tools

Find and fix problems in JavaScript code

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ESLintFull review

The short version

  • ESLint is free; Dgraph starts at $39/mo.
  • Where ESLint falls short: slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dgraph and ESLint actually diverge.

Attributes where Dgraph and ESLint differ
AttributeDgraphESLint
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, WebAPI
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools
Founded20162019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for ESLint.

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

  • Apache 2.0 licence
  • Generated GraphQL API
  • DQL query language
  • Predicate sharding
  • Raft replication
  • Distributed ACID transactions
  • Written in Go
  • Full-text and geo indexing

Only in ESLint

Nothing recorded that Dgraph does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Dgraph

  • An application whose core data is a graph, such as permissions, social connections or product relationships, where the frontend already consumes GraphQLnot ESLint
  • A knowledge graph that outgrew a single machine and needs storage distributed across nodes without a per-core licence negotiationnot ESLint
  • Recommendation or fraud-detection features that traverse several hops at request time, where a relational join chain has become the bottlenecknot ESLint
  • Teams that want a graph database they can read, fork and self-host under a permissive licence rather than a source-available onenot ESLint

ESLint

  • Statically analysing JavaScript and JSX to find problems before runtimenot Dgraph
  • Automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewritesnot Dgraph
  • Enforcing a consistent code style across a teamnot Dgraph
  • Running as a CI step to block non-conforming codenot Dgraph
  • Writing custom rules for project-specific conventionsnot Dgraph

Where each one falls short

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

Dgraph

  • Sharding is by predicate, so a single very hot predicate lives entirely in one Raft group and cannot be split further; adding nodes does not relieve it and the fix is a data model change
  • Stewardship passed from Dgraph Labs to Hypermode after the original company stopped operating independently, so anyone building on it is betting on a second custodian rather than on the original team's roadmap
  • The GraphQL layer is generated and opinionated, so anything it does not express drops you into DQL, which is a second language your team must learn and which no other database speaks
  • The community is a fraction of Neo4j's, so operational answers, tuning experience, hiring and third-party tooling are all thinner, and unusual failure modes in a Zero and Alpha cluster leave you reading source rather than a forum
  • There is no portable graph standard to migrate to; Cypher, Gremlin and SPARQL are all different query models, so the schema and every query is a rewrite if you later leave, and that cost grows with the application

ESLint

  • Slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome
  • Complexity in configuration from scratch, particularly for TypeScript support
  • Limited built-in TypeScript support, requiring separate parsers and coordination with new TypeScript features

Pricing, plan by plan

Dgraph

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Native GraphQL
    • Graph queries
    • Full-text search
  • Cloud$39/mo
    • Managed service
    • Auto-scaling
    • Enterprise support

ESLint

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ESLint review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Dgraph if

  • You need apache 2.0 licence.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web.
  • You also want generated graphql api.
Dgraph review

Choose ESLint if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on API.
ESLint review

Questions people ask

Is Dgraph or ESLint better?
Neither clearly leads. Dgraph starts at Free and ESLint at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dgraph or ESLint?
Dgraph starts at Free and ESLint at Free.
Does Dgraph or ESLint run on more platforms?
Dgraph runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web. ESLint runs on API.
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 an application whose core data is a graph, such as permissions, social connections or product relationships, where the frontend already consumes graphql, a knowledge graph that outgrew a single machine and needs storage distributed across nodes without a per-core licence negotiation, recommendation or fraud-detection features that traverse several hops at request time, where a relational join chain has become the bottleneck, teams that want a graph database they can read, fork and self-host under a permissive licence rather than a source-available one. Of those, an application whose core data is a graph, such as permissions, social connections or product relationships, where the frontend already consumes graphql and a knowledge graph that outgrew a single machine and needs storage distributed across nodes without a per-core licence negotiation are not what ESLint is typically brought in for.
What can Dgraph do that ESLint cannot?
Dgraph covers Apache 2.0 licence, Generated GraphQL API, DQL query language, Predicate sharding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dgraph: Is Dgraph open source?

Yes. The current repository is Apache 2.0, which is a permissive OSI licence, and the project is at v25 under Hypermode's maintenance.

ESLint: Does ESLint automatically fix code issues?

Many problems ESLint finds can be automatically fixed via the --fix flag. ESLint fixes are syntax-aware so you won't experience errors introduced by traditional find-and-replace algorithms.

Source
Dgraph: Is it really GraphQL?

It serves a generated GraphQL API, which is real GraphQL for clients. Its native language, DQL, resembles GraphQL syntactically but is Dgraph's own language and is not the GraphQL specification.

ESLint: How much does ESLint cost?

ESLint is completely free and open-source software maintained by the OpenJS Foundation. The project accepts voluntary donations from sponsors.

Source
Dgraph: How does it compare to Neo4j?

Neo4j has the larger ecosystem, Cypher, and far more operational precedent. Dgraph distributes storage across nodes by default and gives you a GraphQL endpoint without writing resolvers. The choice usually turns on whether you need horizontal scale and a GraphQL surface more than you need ecosystem depth.

ESLint: Can I write custom ESLint rules?

Yes. You can develop custom rules that work alongside built-in functionality through ESLint's plugin system, allowing complete customization for your project needs.

Source
Dgraph: What does a production cluster look like?

At minimum a set of Zero nodes for coordination and a replicated set of Alpha nodes for data, typically three of each for fault tolerance, which is a meaningfully larger operational footprint than a single graph server.

Dgraph: Who maintains it now?

Hypermode. Dgraph Labs, the original company, no longer operates it, and that change of custodian is the main non-technical risk to weigh.

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