Database & Data Management · head to head
Dgraph vs PostgreSQL
Dgraph
Database & Data Management
The only native GraphQL database with graph backend
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
PostgreSQL
Database & Data Management
The world's most advanced open source relational database
- 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; PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
- They diverge on capability: Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Dgraph and PostgreSQL actually diverge.
| Attribute | Dgraph | PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Linux, Mac, Docker, Web | Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix |
| Founded | 2016 | 1996 |
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
- Distributed Architecture
- ACID Transactions
- GraphQL Subscriptions
- Geolocation Queries
- Horizontal Scaling
- GraphQL
- Ratel UI
Only in PostgreSQL
- ACID Compliance
- JSON/JSONB Support
- Extensibility
- Advanced Indexing
- Partitioning
- Replication
- pgAdmin
- DBeaver
Both cover
- Full-text Search
- Linux support
- Mac support
- Docker support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Dgraph
- Knowledge graphsnot PostgreSQL
- Fraud detectionnot PostgreSQL
- Recommendation enginesnot PostgreSQL
- Network analysisnot PostgreSQL
- Master data managementnot PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
- Transaction processingnot Dgraph
- Data storagenot Dgraph
- Application backendnot Dgraph
- Reportingnot Dgraph
- Data analyticsnot 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
PostgreSQL
- Requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
- Performance tuning requires deep knowledge of database internals
- No built-in graphical admin interface; command-line tools are primary method
Pricing, plan by plan
Dgraph
Free- CommunityFree
- Native GraphQL
- Graph queries
- Full-text search
- Cloud$39/month
- Managed service
- Auto-scaling
- Enterprise support
PostgreSQL
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL 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.
Choose PostgreSQL if
- You need acid compliance.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
- You also want json/jsonb support.
Questions people ask
- Is Dgraph or PostgreSQL better?
- Neither clearly leads. Dgraph starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Dgraph or PostgreSQL?
- Dgraph starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free.
- Does Dgraph or PostgreSQL run on more platforms?
- Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web. PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
- 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 PostgreSQL is typically brought in for.
- What can Dgraph do that PostgreSQL cannot?
- Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Distributed Architecture, ACID Transactions, GraphQL Subscriptions. PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Extensibility, Advanced Indexing. Both handle Full-text Search, Linux support, Mac support, Docker support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?
Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.
SourcePostgreSQL: What platforms does PostgreSQL run on?
PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems including Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, and commercial Unix variants, and has been proven highly scalable managing terabytes to petabytes of data.
SourcePostgreSQL: What procedural languages are supported?
PostgreSQL supports stored functions and procedures in multiple languages including PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, Tcl, Java, JavaScript, R, and Rust.
SourcePostgreSQL: What is ACID compliance in PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL has been ACID-compliant since 2001, ensuring data integrity through atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability guarantees for all transactions.
SourcePostgreSQL: Does PostgreSQL support JSON data?
Yes. PostgreSQL supports JSON and JSONB data types for storing and querying JSON documents, along with XML and other document formats.
Source