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Databases · head to head

Instaclustr vs ScyllaDB

Instaclustr logo

Instaclustr

Databases

NetApp-owned managed service for Cassandra, Kafka, OpenSearch, PostgreSQL and Cadence with a bring-your-own-cloud model

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ScyllaDB logo

ScyllaDB

Databases

The real-time big data database compatible with Cassandra

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ScyllaDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Instaclustr pricing is only obtainable through a configurator or sales conversation, so comparing against AWS MSK or Confluent list prices requires several rounds of quotes rather than a spreadsheet.; ScyllaDB enterprise tier requires custom quote from sales
  • They diverge on capability: Instaclustr covers Unmodified open source, ScyllaDB covers Cassandra Compatible.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Instaclustr and ScyllaDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Instaclustr and ScyllaDB differ
AttributeInstaclustrScyllaDB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, LinuxLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web
FoundedUnknown2015

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

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 Instaclustr

  • Unmodified open source
  • Bring your own cloud
  • Multi technology platform
  • 24/7 operations
  • Managed backups
  • Terraform provider
  • SOC 2 and compliance
  • Consulting and support

Only in ScyllaDB

  • Cassandra Compatible
  • DynamoDB Compatible
  • 10x Throughput
  • Low Latency
  • Auto-tuning
  • Lightweight Transactions
  • Change Data Capture
  • Cassandra Drivers

What people use each for

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

Instaclustr

  • An enterprise running Cassandra and Kafka that cannot hire and retain specialists for bothnot ScyllaDB
  • A company with cloud committed spend that wants managed data infrastructure to draw down that commitment through the bring-your-own-cloud modelnot ScyllaDB
  • A team that left Elastic over the licence change and wants OpenSearch operated by someone else without another proprietary forknot ScyllaDB
  • An organisation migrating off Amazon MSK or Keyspaces that wants the same open source software with vendor operations but portability intactnot ScyllaDB

ScyllaDB

  • Real-time applicationsnot Instaclustr
  • Content managementnot Instaclustr
  • User profilesnot Instaclustr
  • Mobile backendsnot Instaclustr
  • Cachingnot Instaclustr

Where each one falls short

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

Instaclustr

  • Pricing is only obtainable through a configurator or sales conversation, so comparing against AWS MSK or Confluent list prices requires several rounds of quotes rather than a spreadsheet.
  • It manages infrastructure, not data modelling, so a poor Cassandra partition key or a mis-sized Kafka topic still causes outages that the managed service will not prevent.
  • NetApp ownership since 2022 has put the roadmap inside a large storage vendor, and the product is now one line in a portfolio rather than the whole company.
  • The catalogue is broad but each technology is served at a general level, so teams needing deep, vendor-specific tuning often find a specialist provider goes further on their one technology.
  • Bring your own cloud reduces lock-in but shifts networking, IAM and VPC peering complexity onto the customer, which needs cloud engineering capacity the managed service was meant to save.

ScyllaDB

  • Enterprise tier requires custom quote from sales
  • Pricing varies by cloud provider, storage, and instance configuration
  • Contracts available but commitment required for subscription discounts

Pricing, plan by plan

Instaclustr

On request
  • Instaclustr Managed Platform$undefined/month
    • Priced per node size, technology, cloud provider and region
    • Interactive calculator requires configuration before a figure appears
    • Discounts on 12 month commitment

ScyllaDB

Free
  • ScyllaDB Cloud Standard$null/variable
    • Usage-based billing: vCPU, RAM, NVMe SSD storage
    • 2-hour P1 support response time
    • 99.9% uptime SLA
  • ScyllaDB Cloud Professional$null/variable
    • Enterprise-grade scalability
    • 1-hour P1 support response
    • Enhanced features included
  • ScyllaDB Cloud Premium$null/variable
    • Custom security and networking
    • 15-minute P1 support response
    • 99.99% uptime SLA
  • ScyllaDB Enterprise$null/quote
    • Self-managed deployment
    • On-premise or private cloud
    • Custom quote required

Which should you pick?

Choose Instaclustr if

  • You need unmodified open source.
  • You work on Cloud, Linux.
  • You also want bring your own cloud.
Instaclustr review

Choose ScyllaDB if

  • You need cassandra compatible.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web.
  • You also want dynamodb compatible.
ScyllaDB review

Questions people ask

Is Instaclustr or ScyllaDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Instaclustr starts at On request and ScyllaDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Instaclustr or ScyllaDB?
ScyllaDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Instaclustr and Free for ScyllaDB.
Does Instaclustr or ScyllaDB run on more platforms?
Instaclustr runs on Cloud, Linux. ScyllaDB runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web.
Can I use ScyllaDB for free?
Yes. ScyllaDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Instaclustr starts at On request.
What is Instaclustr best used for?
Instaclustr is most often used for an enterprise running cassandra and kafka that cannot hire and retain specialists for both, a company with cloud committed spend that wants managed data infrastructure to draw down that commitment through the bring-your-own-cloud model, a team that left elastic over the licence change and wants opensearch operated by someone else without another proprietary fork, an organisation migrating off amazon msk or keyspaces that wants the same open source software with vendor operations but portability intact. Of those, an enterprise running cassandra and kafka that cannot hire and retain specialists for both and a company with cloud committed spend that wants managed data infrastructure to draw down that commitment through the bring-your-own-cloud model are not what ScyllaDB is typically brought in for.
What can Instaclustr do that ScyllaDB cannot?
Instaclustr covers Unmodified open source, Bring your own cloud, Multi technology platform, 24/7 operations. ScyllaDB covers Cassandra Compatible, DynamoDB Compatible, 10x Throughput, Low Latency.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Instaclustr: Does Instaclustr modify the open source software?

No. Its stated commitment is one hundred per cent open source with no proprietary extensions, which is the main reason licence-averse buyers choose it.

ScyllaDB: How is ScyllaDB Cloud pricing calculated?

ScyllaDB Cloud uses transparent, resource-based billing based on instance type (vCPU and RAM), NVMe SSD storage, service plan tier, deployment model, and cloud provider costs.

Source
Instaclustr: Who owns Instaclustr?

NetApp, which acquired the company in 2022. It is now branded NetApp Instaclustr.

ScyllaDB: Does ScyllaDB offer a free trial?

ScyllaDB offers a 30-day developer trial on smaller instances and a 48-hour production evaluation trial with full-grade instances.

Source
Instaclustr: Is pricing published?

No. There is an interactive calculator, but figures depend on technology, node size, cloud and region, and commitments are negotiated.

ScyllaDB: What cost savings are available for long-term ScyllaDB commitments?

ScyllaDB subscription contracts provide up to 70% or more in savings compared to on-demand hourly billing. 1-year and 3-year contract options are available.

Source
Instaclustr: Can clusters run in my own cloud account?

Yes, through the bring-your-own-cloud model, so the infrastructure spend also counts toward your cloud commitment.

ScyllaDB: How much cheaper is ScyllaDB than DynamoDB?

Unlike DynamoDB which charges per read/write unit, ScyllaDB charges based on resource usage only, potentially delivering 50% or greater cost reduction for high-throughput workloads.

Source
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