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Databases · head to head

Neo4j vs SQLite

Neo4j logo

Neo4j

Databases

The world's leading graph database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SQLite logo

SQLite

Databases

Small, fast, self-contained SQL database engine

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; SQLite supports only serialized write operations; only one process can modify the database at any moment, limiting concurrent users
  • They diverge on capability: Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, SQLite covers Serverless Operation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Neo4j and SQLite actually diverge.

Attributes where Neo4j and SQLite differ
AttributeNeo4jSQLite
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, Docker, WebLinux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Founded20072000

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Neo4j

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

Only in SQLite

  • Serverless Operation
  • Zero Configuration
  • Single File Database
  • Cross-platform
  • Full SQL Support
  • ACID Compliance
  • Self-contained
  • Browser Storage

Both cover

  • Linux support
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

What people use each for

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

Neo4j

  • Graph database for learning and explorationnot SQLite
  • Production workloads requiring high availability and multi-zone redundancynot SQLite
  • Enterprise deployments needing custom infrastructurenot SQLite

SQLite

  • 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

SQLite

  • Supports only serialized write operations; only one process can modify the database at any moment, limiting concurrent users
  • No multi-user support or granular access control; relies on file system permissions for security only
  • Limited ALTER TABLE functionality cannot edit or modify columns in existing tables

Pricing, plan by plan

Neo4j

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Learning and exploration access
    • No credit card required
    • All graph tools included
  • AuraDB Professional$65/GB/month
    • 1GB minimum cluster
    • Hourly billing available ($0.09/hour for 1GB)
    • Daily backups with 7-day retention
  • AuraDB Business Critical$146/GB/month
    • 2GB minimum cluster
    • Hourly billing available ($0.40/hour for 2GB)
    • Up to 512GB maximum
  • Virtual Dedicated Cloud$null/custom
    • Custom pricing via sales contact
    • Dedicated VPC infrastructure
    • Hourly backups with 60-day retention

SQLite

Free
  • Public DomainFree
    • Serverless
    • Zero-configuration
    • Cross-platform

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 SQLite if

  • You need serverless operation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want zero configuration.
SQLite review

Questions people ask

Is Neo4j or SQLite better?
Neither clearly leads. Neo4j starts at Free and SQLite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Neo4j or SQLite?
Neo4j starts at Free and SQLite at Free.
Does Neo4j or SQLite run on more platforms?
Neo4j runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. SQLite runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
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 graph database for learning and exploration, production workloads requiring high availability and multi-zone redundancy, enterprise deployments needing custom infrastructure. Of those, graph database for learning and exploration and production workloads requiring high availability and multi-zone redundancy are not what SQLite is typically brought in for.
What can Neo4j do that SQLite cannot?
Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, Cypher Query Language, ACID Transactions, High Availability. SQLite covers Serverless Operation, Zero Configuration, Single File Database, Cross-platform. Both handle Linux support, Windows support, Mac support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Neo4j: Is Neo4j free?

Neo4j offers a free tier (AuraDB Free) for learning and exploration with no credit card required. Community Edition is also free and GPL3-licensed. Paid tiers start at $65/GB per month for AuraDB Professional.

Source
SQLite: Is SQLite free and open source?

Yes, SQLite is open source and in the public domain. The complete source code and binaries are free to download and use for any purpose without restrictions.

Source
Neo4j: What does Neo4j's Professional tier include?

AuraDB Professional costs $65/GB per month with a 1GB minimum cluster, includes daily backups with 7-day retention, single-zone availability, and best-effort support. Hourly billing is available at $0.09/hour per GB.

Source
SQLite: How does SQLite work and what is its design?

SQLite is a self-contained, serverless SQL database engine that reads and writes directly to disk files. It requires no separate server process and runs within your application, making it ideal for embedded systems and local storage.

Source
Neo4j: What is Neo4j's most advanced pricing tier?

AuraDB Business Critical costs $146/GB per month with a 2GB minimum and includes multi-zone redundancy, 99.95% uptime SLA, 24/7 premium support with one-hour response times, and point-in-time recovery.

Source
SQLite: What are SQLite's limitations for scaling?

SQLite does not support true multi-user concurrency. Only one process can write to the database at a time, and it lacks user management and access control features. It is designed for small to medium projects, not enterprise applications with many concurrent users.

Source
SQLite: Can I use SQLite for production web applications?

SQLite can work for single-server web applications with modest concurrency needs. However, it lacks features like user management, granular security, and sophisticated query optimization needed for large-scale applications.

Source
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