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MongoDB vs DynamoDB

MongoDB logo

MongoDB

Technology

The developer data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

Database & Data Management

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MongoDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MongoDB 16 MB maximum document size limits large single objects; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • They diverge on capability: MongoDB covers Document model, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MongoDB and DynamoDB actually diverge.

Attributes where MongoDB and DynamoDB differ
AttributeMongoDBDynamoDB
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud (Atlas), Self-hosted, Multi-cloud (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)AWS
CategoryTechnologyDatabase & Data Management
Founded20072006

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 MongoDB

  • Document model
  • Distributed architecture
  • ACID transactions
  • Real-time analytics
  • Full-text search
  • Time series data
  • Geospatial queries
  • Aggregation framework

Only in DynamoDB

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

Both cover

  • Encryption

What people use each for

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

MongoDB

  • Mobile applicationsnot DynamoDB
  • Content managementnot DynamoDB
  • Real-time analyticsnot DynamoDB
  • IoT applicationsnot DynamoDB
  • Gaming backendsnot DynamoDB

DynamoDB

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

Where each one falls short

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

MongoDB

  • 16 MB maximum document size limits large single objects
  • No native JOIN support for relational data operations
  • Higher memory usage due to storing field names with each document
  • Eventual consistency in distributed deployments can cause data stale reads

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

Pricing, plan by plan

MongoDB

Free
  • M0Free
    • 512 MB storage
    • Learning and exploration
  • M2$9/month
    • 2 GB storage
    • Development and testing
  • M5$25/month
    • 5 GB storage
  • M10+$56.94/month
    • Dedicated clusters for production

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose MongoDB if

  • You need document model.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud (Atlas), Self-hosted, Multi-cloud (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure).
  • You also want distributed architecture.
MongoDB review

Choose DynamoDB if

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

Questions people ask

Is MongoDB or DynamoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. MongoDB starts at Free and DynamoDB at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MongoDB or DynamoDB?
MongoDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MongoDB and On request for DynamoDB.
Does MongoDB or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
MongoDB runs on Cloud (Atlas), Self-hosted, Multi-cloud (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure). DynamoDB runs on AWS.
Can I use MongoDB for free?
Yes. MongoDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB starts at On request.
What is MongoDB best used for?
MongoDB is most often used for mobile applications, content management, real-time analytics, iot applications. Of those, mobile applications and content management are not what DynamoDB is typically brought in for.
What can MongoDB do that DynamoDB cannot?
MongoDB covers Document model, Distributed architecture, ACID transactions, Real-time analytics. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. Both handle Encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MongoDB: Does MongoDB offer a free tier?

Yes. MongoDB Atlas offers an M0 free tier with 512 MB storage for learning and exploration, plus paid options starting at $9/month for M2 with 2 GB storage.

Source
MongoDB: Can I self-host MongoDB?

Yes. You can run MongoDB Community Edition on your own servers, or use MongoDB Enterprise Advanced for self-managed production deployments with enterprise features.

Source
MongoDB: What is the maximum document size in MongoDB?

Documents are limited to 16 MB. For documents exceeding this limit, you can use MongoDB's GridFS API to store files larger than the maximum size.

Source
MongoDB: Does MongoDB support ACID transactions?

Yes. MongoDB supports ACID transactions within a single document by default, and multi-document ACID transactions are available for replica sets and sharded clusters in MongoDB 4.0+.

Source
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