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Neo4j vs Oracle Database

Neo4j logo

Neo4j

Software

The world's leading graph database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oracle Database logo

Oracle Database

Software

The world's most complete, reliable, and secure database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Neo4j auraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery; Oracle Database high licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost
  • They diverge on capability: Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, Oracle Database covers PL/SQL.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Neo4j and Oracle Database actually diverge.

Attributes where Neo4j and Oracle Database differ
AttributeNeo4jOracle Database
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, Docker, WebOn-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix
Founded20071977

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Neo4j

  • Native Graph Storage
  • Cypher Query Language
  • ACID Transactions
  • High Availability
  • Graph Data Science
  • Full-text Search
  • Native Indexes
  • GraphQL

Only in Oracle Database

  • PL/SQL
  • Real Application Clusters
  • Data Guard
  • Advanced Compression
  • Partitioning
  • In-memory Database
  • Multitenant Architecture
  • Oracle Cloud

Both cover

  • Linux support
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Neo4j

  • Running a managed graph database on AWS, Azure or Google Cloudnot Oracle Database
  • Building knowledge graphs and GraphRAG retrieval for AI applicationsnot Oracle Database
  • Fraud detection, recommendations and supply chain analysis over connected datanot Oracle Database

Oracle Database

  • Transaction processingnot Neo4j
  • Data storagenot Neo4j
  • Application backendnot Neo4j
  • Reportingnot Neo4j
  • Data analyticsnot Neo4j

Where each one falls short

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

Neo4j

  • AuraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery
  • AuraDB Free imposes limits on node and relationship counts and runs single-zone only
  • SSO authentication and role-based access control are excluded from AuraDB Free and AuraDB Professional, starting only at Business Critical at $146 per GB per month with a 2GB minimum cluster
  • AuraDB Professional starts at $65 per GB per month with a minimum 1GB cluster and caps at 128GB memory per instance
  • AuraDB Professional backups are daily with only 7-day retention, against 30 days on Business Critical
  • Customer managed keys and private endpoints are available only on AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud, which is quote only with no published price
  • Change data capture, query log forwarding, secondaries and access to Neo4j Professional Services are excluded below the Business Critical tier
  • Support on AuraDB Free is community only and AuraDB Professional is best effort, with 24x7 one-hour response starting at Business Critical
  • AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud is sold on prepaid contract terms with enterprise commercial negotiation rather than self-serve card payment

Oracle Database

  • High licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost
  • Requires skilled database administrators for proper setup, configuration, and maintenance
  • High hardware requirements increase infrastructure costs; less suitable for resource-constrained environments

Pricing, plan by plan

Neo4j

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Single database
    • Cypher queries
    • APOC library
  • AuraDB FreeFree
    • 50K nodes
    • 175K relationships
    • Cloud hosted
  • AuraDB Professional$65/month
    • Dedicated instance
    • Auto-scaling
    • Enterprise support

Oracle Database

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Oracle Database review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Neo4j if

  • You need native graph storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
  • You also want cypher query language.
Neo4j review

Choose Oracle Database if

  • You need pl/sql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix.
  • You also want real application clusters.
Oracle Database review

Questions people ask

Is Neo4j or Oracle Database better?
Neither clearly leads. Neo4j starts at Free and Oracle Database at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Neo4j or Oracle Database?
Neo4j starts at Free and Oracle Database at Free.
Does Neo4j or Oracle Database run on more platforms?
Neo4j runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. Oracle Database runs on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix.
Can I use Neo4j for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Neo4j best used for?
Neo4j is most often used for running a managed graph database on aws, azure or google cloud, building knowledge graphs and graphrag retrieval for ai applications, fraud detection, recommendations and supply chain analysis over connected data. Of those, running a managed graph database on aws, azure or google cloud and building knowledge graphs and graphrag retrieval for ai applications are not what Oracle Database is typically brought in for.
What can Neo4j do that Oracle Database cannot?
Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, Cypher Query Language, ACID Transactions, High Availability. Oracle Database covers PL/SQL, Real Application Clusters, Data Guard, Advanced Compression. Both handle Linux support, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Oracle Database: What is the licensing cost of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition?

Oracle Database Enterprise Edition is priced at 47,500 USD per processor as of April 2026. Named User Plus licensing costs 950 USD per user. Pricing varies based on licensing metric chosen.

Source
Oracle Database: Does Oracle Database offer a free tier or trial?

Oracle Database offers Oracle Database Free Edition, a no-cost version for development and testing. However, no free trial is available for paid editions.

Source
Oracle Database: What are the deployment options for Oracle Database?

Oracle Database can be deployed on premises or through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Pricing and features vary based on deployment model selected.

Source
Oracle Database: What database management capabilities does Oracle Database provide?

Oracle Database is a converged, multi-model database management system offering in-memory computing, NoSQL, and MySQL database options with comprehensive data management and security features.

Source
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