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FaunaDB vs Dgraph

FaunaDB logo

FaunaDB

Software

The distributed serverless database for modern applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dgraph logo

Dgraph

Software

The only native GraphQL database with graph backend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Dgraph the GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README
  • They diverge on capability: FaunaDB covers Document-relational Model, Dgraph covers Native GraphQL.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FaunaDB and Dgraph actually diverge.

Attributes where FaunaDB and Dgraph differ
AttributeFaunaDBDgraph
PlatformsWebLinux, Mac, Docker, Web
Founded20122016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 FaunaDB

  • Document-relational Model
  • GraphQL API
  • Global Distribution
  • Temporal Queries
  • Multi-tenancy
  • Serverless
  • Netlify
  • Vercel

Only in Dgraph

  • Native GraphQL
  • Distributed Architecture
  • GraphQL Subscriptions
  • Full-text Search
  • Geolocation Queries
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Ratel UI
  • Slash GraphQL

Both cover

  • ACID Transactions
  • GraphQL
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

FaunaDB

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

Dgraph

  • Knowledge graphsnot FaunaDB
  • Fraud detectionnot FaunaDB
  • Recommendation enginesnot FaunaDB
  • Network analysisnot FaunaDB
  • Master data managementnot FaunaDB

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Dgraph

  • The GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README

Pricing, plan by plan

FaunaDB

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

Dgraph

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Native GraphQL
    • Graph queries
    • Full-text search
  • Cloud$39/month
    • Managed service
    • Auto-scaling
    • Enterprise support

Which should you pick?

Choose FaunaDB if

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

Choose Dgraph if

  • You need native graphql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
  • You also want distributed architecture.
Dgraph review

Questions people ask

Is FaunaDB or Dgraph better?
Neither clearly leads. FaunaDB starts at Free and Dgraph at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FaunaDB or Dgraph?
FaunaDB starts at Free and Dgraph at Free.
Does FaunaDB or Dgraph run on more platforms?
FaunaDB runs on Web. Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
Can I use FaunaDB for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FaunaDB best used for?
FaunaDB is most often used for serverless applications, rapid prototyping, mobile backends, jamstack. Of those, serverless applications and rapid prototyping are not what Dgraph is typically brought in for.
What can FaunaDB do that Dgraph cannot?
FaunaDB covers Document-relational Model, GraphQL API, Global Distribution, Temporal Queries. Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Distributed Architecture, GraphQL Subscriptions, Full-text Search. Both handle ACID Transactions, GraphQL, Web support.
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