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DynamoDB vs FaunaDB

DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

Software

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FaunaDB logo

FaunaDB

Software

The distributed serverless database for modern applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FaunaDB 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; FaunaDB the Internet Archive's capture of FaunaDB's homepage on 5 January 2019 confirmed a free 'Try Cloud' tier alongside a self-hosted download, with a separate Pricing page linked but not itself retrievable from the archive within two attempts.
  • They diverge on capability: DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, FaunaDB covers ACID Transactions.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DynamoDB and FaunaDB actually diverge.

Attributes where DynamoDB and FaunaDB differ
AttributeDynamoDBFaunaDB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsAWSWeb
Founded20062012

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

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
  • Auto-scaling
  • Global Tables
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Encryption
  • Streams
  • Lambda
  • API Gateway

Only in FaunaDB

  • ACID Transactions
  • Document-relational Model
  • GraphQL API
  • Global Distribution
  • Temporal Queries
  • Multi-tenancy
  • GraphQL
  • Netlify

Both cover

  • Serverless
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

DynamoDB

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

FaunaDB

  • Serverless applicationsnot DynamoDB
  • Rapid prototypingnot DynamoDB
  • Mobile backendsnot DynamoDB
  • JAMstacknot DynamoDB
  • Microservicesnot 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

FaunaDB

  • The Internet Archive's capture of FaunaDB's homepage on 5 January 2019 confirmed a free 'Try Cloud' tier alongside a self-hosted download, with a separate Pricing page linked but not itself retrievable from the archive within two attempts.

Pricing, plan by plan

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

FaunaDB

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100K read ops
    • 50K write ops
    • 1GB storage
  • Pro$25/month
    • Pay per use
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose DynamoDB if

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

Choose FaunaDB if

  • You need acid transactions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want document-relational model.
FaunaDB review

Questions people ask

Is DynamoDB or FaunaDB better?
Neither clearly leads. DynamoDB starts at On request and FaunaDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DynamoDB or FaunaDB?
FaunaDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DynamoDB and Free for FaunaDB.
Does DynamoDB or FaunaDB run on more platforms?
DynamoDB runs on AWS. FaunaDB runs on Web.
Can I use FaunaDB for free?
Yes. FaunaDB 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 FaunaDB is typically brought in for.
What can DynamoDB do that FaunaDB cannot?
DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Auto-scaling, Global Tables, Point-in-time Recovery. FaunaDB covers ACID Transactions, Document-relational Model, GraphQL API, Global Distribution. Both handle Serverless, Web support.
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