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Databases · head to head

Dgraph vs GoLand

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
GoLand logo

GoLand

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for developing applications in Go

From
$24/month
Free plan
No
Visit GoLandFull review

The short version

  • Dgraph has a free plan, then $39/mo; GoLand starts at $24/mo.
  • Only Dgraph lists apache 2.0 licence; only GoLand lists smart code completion.
  • Where GoLand falls short: requires a paid subscription with no permanently free tier for commercial use.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dgraph and GoLand actually diverge.

Attributes where Dgraph and GoLand differ
AttributeDgraphGoLand
Starting priceFree$24/month
Pricing modelFreemiumSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, WebWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools
Founded20162000

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 GoLand

  • Smart code completion
  • Integrated debugger
  • Refactoring tools
  • Version control integration
  • Docker and Kubernetes support
  • Built-in terminal and database tools

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 GoLand
  • A knowledge graph that outgrew a single machine and needs storage distributed across nodes without a per-core licence negotiationnot GoLand
  • Recommendation or fraud-detection features that traverse several hops at request time, where a relational join chain has become the bottlenecknot GoLand
  • Teams that want a graph database they can read, fork and self-host under a permissive licence rather than a source-available onenot GoLand

GoLand

  • Developing Go microservices and backend systemsnot Dgraph
  • Debugging and profiling Go applicationsnot Dgraph
  • Working with Docker and Kubernetes deploymentsnot Dgraph
  • Refactoring large Go codebasesnot 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

GoLand

  • Requires a paid subscription with no permanently free tier for commercial use
  • Heavier resource usage than lightweight text editors like Vim or Sublime Text
  • Primarily optimized for Go, so multi-language teams may prefer a broader IDE like VS Code or IntelliJ Ultimate
  • License renewal pricing increases after the first year if a subscription lapses

Pricing, plan by plan

Dgraph

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

GoLand

$24/month
  • Individual$24/mo
    • Personal use license
    • Access to GoLand
    • Free for students and open-source maintainers
  • Organization$34/mo
    • Business use license
    • Access to GoLand
    • Volume and renewal discounts

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 GoLand if

  • You need smart code completion.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want integrated debugger.
GoLand review

Questions people ask

Is Dgraph or GoLand better?
Neither clearly leads. Dgraph starts at Free and GoLand at $24/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dgraph or GoLand?
Dgraph has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dgraph and $24/month for GoLand.
Does Dgraph or GoLand run on more platforms?
Dgraph runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web. GoLand runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Dgraph for free?
Yes. Dgraph has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GoLand starts at $24/month.
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 GoLand is typically brought in for.
What can Dgraph do that GoLand cannot?
Dgraph covers Apache 2.0 licence, Generated GraphQL API, DQL query language, Predicate sharding. GoLand covers Smart code completion, Integrated debugger, Refactoring tools, Version control integration.

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.

GoLand: How much does GoLand cost?

GoLand is sold as a JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with discounts for longer commitments and free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.

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.

GoLand: Is there a free trial?

JetBrains offers a free trial period for GoLand before requiring purchase of a Toolbox subscription license.

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.

GoLand: What platforms does GoLand run on?

GoLand runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux as a desktop application distributed through JetBrains Toolbox.

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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