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Databases · head to head

Dragonfly vs DuckDB

Dragonfly logo

Dragonfly

Databases

High-performance Redis-compatible in-memory datastore with 25x better throughput

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Databases

Fast in-process analytical database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dragonfly flex tier starting at $36/month may be underpriced, requiring careful usage monitoring; DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios
  • They diverge on capability: Dragonfly covers Redis API compatibility, DuckDB covers In-process Execution.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dragonfly and DuckDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Dragonfly and DuckDB differ
AttributeDragonflyDuckDB
Pricing modelUsage-based cloud pricing with flexible tiersopen-source
PlatformsCloud, AWS, GCP, AzureLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly
FoundedUnknown2019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 Dragonfly

  • Redis API compatibility
  • Thread-per-core architecture
  • High-performance caching
  • Memory efficiency
  • Real-time leaderboards
  • Message queue support
  • ML feature serving
  • Cloud deployment

Only in DuckDB

  • In-process Execution
  • Columnar Storage
  • Vectorized Execution
  • Rich SQL Support
  • Parquet Support
  • CSV/JSON Import
  • Zero Dependencies
  • Python

What people use each for

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

Dragonfly

  • High-throughput caching for web applicationsnot DuckDB
  • Real-time leaderboards and rankingsnot DuckDB
  • Message queue and event processingnot DuckDB
  • ML model feature serving at millisecond latenciesnot DuckDB
  • Gaming session state and player data storagenot DuckDB

DuckDB

  • Analytics and data warehousingnot Dragonfly
  • OLAP queries and data explorationnot Dragonfly
  • Data science and machine learning workflowsnot Dragonfly
  • Multi-format data ingestion and processingnot Dragonfly

Where each one falls short

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

Dragonfly

  • Flex tier starting at $36/month may be underpriced, requiring careful usage monitoring
  • Business tier $2,000/month represents significant jump in cost
  • Limited to in-memory storage, not suitable for cold data or archival
  • Bring-your-own-cloud requirement on Business tier adds operational complexity
  • Cloud availability dependent on AWS/GCP/Azure uptime

DuckDB

  • Client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios

Pricing, plan by plan

Dragonfly

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 100 cloud credits for new signups
    • Equivalent to free trial
  • Business$2000/month
    • Starting price for enterprise offering
    • Bring-your-own-cloud deployment
    • Auto-scaling with custom SLAs
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Custom pricing
    • Any-cloud deployment
    • Custom instances and sizing

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Dragonfly if

  • You need redis api compatibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, AWS, GCP, Azure.
  • You also want thread-per-core architecture.
Dragonfly review

Choose DuckDB if

  • You need in-process execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
  • You also want columnar storage.
DuckDB review

Questions people ask

Is Dragonfly or DuckDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Dragonfly starts at Free and DuckDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dragonfly or DuckDB?
Dragonfly starts at Free and DuckDB at Free.
Does Dragonfly or DuckDB run on more platforms?
Dragonfly runs on Cloud, AWS, GCP, Azure. DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
Can I use Dragonfly for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Dragonfly best used for?
Dragonfly is most often used for high-throughput caching for web applications, real-time leaderboards and rankings, message queue and event processing, ml model feature serving at millisecond latencies. Of those, high-throughput caching for web applications and real-time leaderboards and rankings are not what DuckDB is typically brought in for.
What can Dragonfly do that DuckDB cannot?
Dragonfly covers Redis API compatibility, Thread-per-core architecture, High-performance caching, Memory efficiency. DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dragonfly: How much faster is Dragonfly than Redis?

Dragonfly achieves 3.97M queries per second compared to Redis's 718K QPS, representing a 25x improvement. Memory efficiency is also 30% better.

Source
DuckDB: Is DuckDB free to use?

Yes, DuckDB is completely free. There are no subscription tiers, user limits, or paid plans. The software has zero licensing costs.

Source
Dragonfly: Can I migrate from Redis to Dragonfly without code changes?

Yes. Dragonfly maintains full API compatibility with Redis and Memcached, allowing drop-in replacement with minimal to no code modifications.

Source
DuckDB: What license is DuckDB distributed under?

DuckDB is open source under the MIT License, governed by the independent DuckDB Foundation. The MIT License permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.

Source
DuckDB: Can I use DuckDB in commercial applications?

Yes, the MIT License allows commercial use without restrictions or requirements to publish proprietary code. You can deploy DuckDB anywhere from edge devices to high-core servers.

Source
DuckDB: Are there any limitations on how many instances I can run?

No, there are no user limits, usage limits, or instance restrictions. You have unlimited access to all DuckDB features.

Source
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