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Database & Data Management · head to head

PostgreSQL vs CouchDB

PostgreSQL logo

PostgreSQL

Database & Data Management

The world's most advanced open source relational database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CouchDB logo

CouchDB

Database & Data Management

Seamless multi-master sync with Apache CouchDB

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments; CouchDB append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
  • They diverge on capability: PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PostgreSQL and CouchDB actually diverge.

Attributes where PostgreSQL and CouchDB differ
AttributePostgreSQLCouchDB
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, BSD, UnixDocker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi
CategoryDatabase & Data ManagementUnknown
Founded19961999

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

  • ACID Compliance
  • JSON/JSONB Support
  • Full-text Search
  • Extensibility
  • Advanced Indexing
  • Partitioning
  • Replication
  • pgAdmin

Only in CouchDB

  • Multi-master Replication
  • HTTP/JSON API
  • MapReduce Views
  • ACID Semantics
  • Offline-first
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Fauxton UI
  • PouchDB

Both cover

  • Linux support
  • Windows support
  • Mac support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

PostgreSQL

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

CouchDB

  • Offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environmentsnot PostgreSQL
  • Multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regionsnot PostgreSQL
  • IoT and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivitynot PostgreSQL

Where each one falls short

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

PostgreSQL

  • Requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
  • Performance tuning requires deep knowledge of database internals
  • No built-in graphical admin interface; command-line tools are primary method

CouchDB

  • Append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
  • Requires network synchronisation for cluster data consistency; can introduce latency in multi-master scenarios
  • No explicit support for complex joins; MapReduce queries may be inefficient compared to relational databases

Pricing, plan by plan

PostgreSQL

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.

CouchDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CouchDB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose PostgreSQL if

  • You need acid compliance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
  • You also want json/jsonb support.
PostgreSQL review

Choose CouchDB if

  • You need multi-master replication.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want http/json api.
CouchDB review

Questions people ask

Is PostgreSQL or CouchDB better?
Neither clearly leads. PostgreSQL starts at Free and CouchDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PostgreSQL or CouchDB?
PostgreSQL starts at Free and CouchDB at Free.
Does PostgreSQL or CouchDB run on more platforms?
PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix. CouchDB runs on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
Can I use PostgreSQL for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is PostgreSQL best used for?
PostgreSQL is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what CouchDB is typically brought in for.
What can PostgreSQL do that CouchDB cannot?
PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Full-text Search, Extensibility. CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, HTTP/JSON API, MapReduce Views, ACID Semantics. Both handle Linux support, Windows support, Mac support, Docker support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?

Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.

Source
PostgreSQL: What platforms does PostgreSQL run on?

PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems including Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, and commercial Unix variants, and has been proven highly scalable managing terabytes to petabytes of data.

Source
PostgreSQL: What procedural languages are supported?

PostgreSQL supports stored functions and procedures in multiple languages including PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, Tcl, Java, JavaScript, R, and Rust.

Source
PostgreSQL: What is ACID compliance in PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL has been ACID-compliant since 2001, ensuring data integrity through atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability guarantees for all transactions.

Source
PostgreSQL: Does PostgreSQL support JSON data?

Yes. PostgreSQL supports JSON and JSONB data types for storing and querying JSON documents, along with XML and other document formats.

Source

Related pages

More on PostgreSQL

More on CouchDB

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