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Database & Data Management · head to head

DynamoDB vs ELK Stack

DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

Database & Data Management

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ELK Stack logo

ELK Stack

Log Management

Open Source Search and Log Analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ELK Stack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins; ELK Stack the free Basic self managed subscription excludes machine learning, alerting, single sign on via SAML or OpenID Connect, LDAP and Active Directory authentication, field and document level security, searchable snapshots and cross cluster replication
  • They diverge on capability: DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, ELK Stack covers Full-text search.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DynamoDB and ELK Stack actually diverge.

Attributes where DynamoDB and ELK Stack differ
AttributeDynamoDBELK Stack
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsAWSWeb, Api
CategoryDatabase & Data ManagementLog Management
Founded20062011

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 DynamoDB

  • Single-digit Millisecond Latency
  • Serverless
  • Auto-scaling
  • Global Tables
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Encryption
  • Streams
  • Lambda

Only in ELK Stack

  • Full-text search
  • Data visualization
  • Log aggregation
  • Time-series analytics
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Api support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

DynamoDB

  • High-scale, variable-workload applicationsnot ELK Stack
  • Mobile and IoT device backendsnot ELK Stack
  • Real-time analytics and dashboardsnot ELK Stack
  • Multi-region, globally distributed applicationsnot ELK Stack

ELK Stack

  • Centralised log search and analytics over Elasticsearchnot DynamoDB
  • Dashboards and visualisation of machine data in Kibananot DynamoDB
  • Self managing a search and observability cluster on your own hardwarenot DynamoDB

Where each one falls short

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

DynamoDB

  • NoSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • Limited query flexibility; requires thinking in terms of keys and indexes rather than ad-hoc queries

ELK Stack

  • The free Basic self managed subscription excludes machine learning, alerting, single sign on via SAML or OpenID Connect, LDAP and Active Directory authentication, field and document level security, searchable snapshots and cross cluster replication
  • Cross cluster operations require the same subscription tier on every cluster involved
  • The 99.95 percent monthly uptime SLA applies only to the Platinum and Enterprise subscription tiers
  • Three deployment models are priced on three different bases: resource based for Cloud Hosted, usage based for Serverless and licence based on nodes and RAM for self managed
  • Elastic Cloud Serverless does not yet support traffic filtering, cross project search or bring your own key
  • The pricing page publishes no rate for any tier

Pricing, plan by plan

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

ELK Stack

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full-text search
    • Data visualization
    • Log aggregation

Which should you pick?

Choose DynamoDB if

  • You need single-digit millisecond latency.
  • You work on AWS.
  • You also want serverless.
DynamoDB review

Choose ELK Stack if

  • You need full-text search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want data visualization.
ELK Stack review

Questions people ask

Is DynamoDB or ELK Stack better?
Neither clearly leads. DynamoDB starts at On request and ELK Stack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DynamoDB or ELK Stack?
ELK Stack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DynamoDB and Free for ELK Stack.
Does DynamoDB or ELK Stack run on more platforms?
DynamoDB runs on AWS. ELK Stack runs on Web, Api.
Can I use ELK Stack for free?
Yes. ELK Stack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB starts at On request.
What is DynamoDB best used for?
DynamoDB is most often used for high-scale, variable-workload applications, mobile and iot device backends, real-time analytics and dashboards, multi-region, globally distributed applications. Of those, high-scale, variable-workload applications and mobile and iot device backends are not what ELK Stack is typically brought in for.
What can DynamoDB do that ELK Stack cannot?
DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. ELK Stack covers Full-text search, Data visualization, Log aggregation, Time-series analytics. Both handle Web support.
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