Softwr

Databases · head to head

DuckDB vs Jedox

DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Databases

MIT-licensed analytical SQL database that runs inside your process, with no server, no dependencies and one writer at a time.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Jedox logo

Jedox

Business Intelligence

Excel-native planning and OLAP modelling for finance teams that refuse to leave spreadsheets

From
On request
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 a database file accepts one read-write process at a time; other processes must open it read-only and will not see subsequent writes, so DuckDB cannot be the shared database behind several services.; Jedox cube modelling is a specialist skill closer to IBM TM1 than to a modern SaaS planning tool, so most customers depend on a partner or a single internal expert whose departure leaves the model unmaintainable.
  • They diverge on capability: DuckDB covers In-process execution, Jedox covers In-memory OLAP cube.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DuckDB and Jedox actually diverge.

Attributes where DuckDB and Jedox differ
AttributeDuckDBJedox
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssemblyWeb, Windows, Linux, Cloud
CategoryDatabasesBusiness Intelligence
Founded2019Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Vectorised columnar engine
  • Direct file querying
  • Zero dependencies
  • Larger-than-memory queries
  • MIT licence
  • Postgres-flavoured SQL
  • Extension ecosystem

Only in Jedox

  • In-memory OLAP cube
  • Excel add-in
  • Web spreadsheet
  • Integrator ETL
  • Workflow and approvals
  • AIssisted planning
  • Financial consolidation
  • Report designer

What people use each for

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

DuckDB

  • Transformation steps in a data pipeline that would otherwise need Spark, replaced by SQL over Parquet in a single processnot Jedox
  • Analytical queries embedded in an application or a dashboard where shipping a database server alongside it is not acceptablenot Jedox
  • Local exploration of files that are too large for a pandas dataframe but far too small to justify a warehousenot Jedox
  • Continuous integration and testing of analytical SQL, where a real engine can run in the test process without provisioning anythingnot Jedox

Jedox

  • A manufacturer whose budget process is hundreds of Excel files emailed between plants and needs one governed cube without retraining plant controllersnot DuckDB
  • A mid-market group doing statutory consolidation and management reporting on the same data instead of in two systemsnot DuckDB
  • A finance team that priced IBM Planning Analytics, found it unaffordable, and still wants cube-based modellingnot DuckDB
  • A retailer running driver-based sales and workforce plans that must reconcile to the financial budgetnot DuckDB

Where each one falls short

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

DuckDB

  • A database file accepts one read-write process at a time; other processes must open it read-only and will not see subsequent writes, so DuckDB cannot be the shared database behind several services.
  • There is no network protocol, authentication or user management, so exposing it to remote clients means writing and securing your own service around it.
  • It is built for scans and aggregations, not for many small transactions, so a workload of high-frequency single-row inserts and updates performs badly compared with SQLite or Postgres.
  • Storage files are backwards compatible but not forwards compatible, so a file written by a newer version cannot be read by an older one and every consumer of a shared file must be upgraded together.
  • Query memory settings matter: some operations still need to hold significant state, so an under-configured memory limit turns a large join or a high-cardinality aggregation into a spill-heavy query or an out-of-memory failure rather than a slow success.

Jedox

  • Cube modelling is a specialist skill closer to IBM TM1 than to a modern SaaS planning tool, so most customers depend on a partner or a single internal expert whose departure leaves the model unmaintainable.
  • Almost every deployment carries a partner implementation fee that frequently matches or exceeds the first year of licence, and that cost never appears in the vendor comparison you are shown.
  • The Excel add-in is the strongest client, which means Mac-based and browser-only users get a materially thinner experience than the Windows majority.
  • Dashboards and visual analytics are weaker than dedicated BI tools, so organisations typically keep Power BI or Tableau alongside Jedox and pay for both.
  • Insight Partners took a majority stake in 2021, and the pressure toward a cloud subscription base has meant self-managed customers see new capability later than cloud ones.

Pricing, plan by plan

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

Jedox

On request
  • Jedox$undefined/year
    • Named user subscription, tiered by user count
    • Cloud or self-managed deployment
    • Modules priced separately for consolidation and add-ons

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 vectorised columnar engine.
DuckDB review

Choose Jedox if

  • You need in-memory olap cube.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Linux, Cloud.
  • You also want excel add-in.
Jedox review

Questions people ask

Is DuckDB or Jedox better?
Neither clearly leads. DuckDB starts at Free and Jedox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DuckDB or Jedox?
DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DuckDB and On request for Jedox.
Does DuckDB or Jedox run on more platforms?
DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly. Jedox runs on Web, Windows, Linux, Cloud.
Can I use DuckDB for free?
Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Jedox starts at On request.
What is DuckDB best used for?
DuckDB is most often used for transformation steps in a data pipeline that would otherwise need spark, replaced by sql over parquet in a single process, analytical queries embedded in an application or a dashboard where shipping a database server alongside it is not acceptable, local exploration of files that are too large for a pandas dataframe but far too small to justify a warehouse, continuous integration and testing of analytical sql, where a real engine can run in the test process without provisioning anything. Of those, transformation steps in a data pipeline that would otherwise need spark, replaced by sql over parquet in a single process and analytical queries embedded in an application or a dashboard where shipping a database server alongside it is not acceptable are not what Jedox is typically brought in for.
What can DuckDB do that Jedox cannot?
DuckDB covers In-process execution, Vectorised columnar engine, Direct file querying, Zero dependencies. Jedox covers In-memory OLAP cube, Excel add-in, Web spreadsheet, Integrator ETL.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DuckDB: Can multiple applications share one DuckDB database?

Not for writing. One process holds the database read-write; others may attach read-only and will not see later writes. Shared multi-writer access needs a different database or a table format with a catalogue.

Jedox: Does Jedox publish pricing?

No. It is quoted per named user with tiering by volume, and modules such as consolidation are priced separately.

DuckDB: Is it a replacement for a data warehouse?

For single-node analytical workloads up to a few hundred gigabytes it very often is. It is not a replacement when many concurrent users need a shared, governed, always-on service.

Jedox: Is Jedox a BI tool or a planning tool?

A planning tool with reporting attached. Organisations almost always keep a separate BI tool for visual analysis.

DuckDB: Do I have to load data into it?

No. It queries Parquet, CSV, JSON and Arrow in place, including on object storage. Its own storage format is optional and mainly useful when you want indexes, constraints and faster repeated access.

Jedox: Can it run on premises?

Yes, on Windows or Linux, though the vendor pushes cloud and self-managed customers receive features later.

DuckDB: What is MotherDuck's relationship to it?

MotherDuck is a separate company offering a managed and hybrid service built on the DuckDB engine. DuckDB itself remains MIT-licensed and independent of it, with the IP held by the DuckDB Foundation.

Jedox: How does it compare to IBM Planning Analytics?

Similar cube architecture at a lower price point, with a friendlier web layer and a smaller partner ecosystem.

DuckDB: Is it suitable for OLTP?

No. It is designed for analytical scans. For transactional workloads with frequent small writes, SQLite or Postgres is the right tool.

Share

Related pages

More on DuckDB

More on Jedox

Keep looking

Other head to heads