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DuckDB vs Firebolt

DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Software

Fast in-process analytical database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Firebolt logo

Firebolt

Software

Sub-second analytics at cloud data warehouse scale

From
$1.84/hour
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DuckDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios; 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: DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Firebolt covers Sub-second Queries.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DuckDB and Firebolt actually diverge.

Attributes where DuckDB and Firebolt differ
AttributeDuckDBFirebolt
Starting priceFree$1.84/hour
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssemblyCloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2019).

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 DuckDB

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

Only in Firebolt

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

What people use each for

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

DuckDB

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

Firebolt

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

Where each one falls short

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

DuckDB

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

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

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

Firebolt

$1.84/hour

No published plan breakdown. See the Firebolt review.

Which should you pick?

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

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 DuckDB or Firebolt better?
Neither clearly leads. DuckDB 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, DuckDB or Firebolt?
DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DuckDB and $1.84/hour for Firebolt.
Does DuckDB or Firebolt run on more platforms?
DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly. Firebolt runs on Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use DuckDB for free?
Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Firebolt starts at $1.84/hour.
What is DuckDB best used for?
DuckDB is most often used for analytics and data warehousing, olap queries and data exploration, data science and machine learning workflows, multi-format data ingestion and processing. Of those, analytics and data warehousing and olap queries and data exploration are not what Firebolt is typically brought in for.
What can DuckDB do that Firebolt cannot?
DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support. Firebolt covers Sub-second Queries, Sparse Indexes, Data Pruning, Decoupled Storage/Compute.
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