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Database & Data Management · head to head

Dgraph vs Firebolt

Dgraph logo

Dgraph

Database & Data Management

The only native GraphQL database with graph backend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Firebolt logo

Firebolt

Database & Data Management

Sub-second analytics at cloud data warehouse scale

From
$1.84/hour
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Dgraph has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Firebolt compute billed per second on Arm-based processors; small instances still incur measurable costs during idle periods despite auto-stop
  • They diverge on capability: Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Firebolt covers Sub-second Queries.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dgraph and Firebolt actually diverge.

Attributes where Dgraph and Firebolt differ
AttributeDgraphFirebolt
Starting priceFree$1.84/hour
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Mac, Docker, WebCloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes
Founded20162019

Identical on both: 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
  • Distributed Architecture
  • ACID Transactions
  • GraphQL Subscriptions
  • Full-text Search
  • Geolocation Queries
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • GraphQL

Only in Firebolt

  • Sub-second Queries
  • Sparse Indexes
  • Data Pruning
  • Decoupled Storage/Compute
  • SQL Support
  • Semi-structured Data
  • Workload Isolation
  • Airflow

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Dgraph

  • Knowledge graphsnot Firebolt
  • Fraud detectionnot Firebolt
  • Recommendation enginesnot Firebolt
  • Network analysisnot Firebolt
  • Master data managementnot Firebolt

Firebolt

  • Data analytics teams running gigabyte-to-petabyte datasets with sub-second query requirementsnot Dgraph
  • Real-time business intelligence platforms requiring ACID transactions and snapshot isolationnot Dgraph
  • Applications needing vector search on analytical data for similarity queriesnot 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

Firebolt

  • Compute billed per second on Arm-based processors; small instances still incur measurable costs during idle periods despite auto-stop
  • Storage pass-through charged at $0.0264/GB monthly on compressed data; uncompressed storage could exceed this
  • Azure deployment currently in Preview status; production recommendations unclear
  • Vector indexes limited to float arrays; other data types require alternative indexing strategies
  • Free tier credits ($200) limited; no perpetual free tier for production use

Pricing, plan by plan

Dgraph

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

Firebolt

$1.84/hour

No published plan breakdown. See the Firebolt review.

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 distributed architecture.
Dgraph review

Choose Firebolt if

  • You need sub-second queries.
  • You work on Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want sparse indexes.
Firebolt review

Questions people ask

Is Dgraph or Firebolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Dgraph starts at Free and Firebolt at $1.84/hour, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dgraph or Firebolt?
Dgraph has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dgraph and $1.84/hour for Firebolt.
Does Dgraph or Firebolt run on more platforms?
Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web. Firebolt runs on Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Dgraph for free?
Yes. Dgraph has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Firebolt starts at $1.84/hour.
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 Firebolt is typically brought in for.
What can Dgraph do that Firebolt cannot?
Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Distributed Architecture, ACID Transactions, GraphQL Subscriptions. Firebolt covers Sub-second Queries, Sparse Indexes, Data Pruning, Decoupled Storage/Compute. Both handle Web support.
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