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Database & Data Management · head to head

PostgreSQL vs ScyllaDB

PostgreSQL logo

PostgreSQL

Database & Data Management

The world's most advanced open source relational database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ScyllaDB logo

ScyllaDB

Database & Data Management

The real-time big data database compatible with Cassandra

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments; ScyllaDB aWS Marketplace lists ScyllaDB Enterprise (sold directly by ScyllaDB, Inc) at $1.63 per hour for the recommended i3.4xlarge instance size, license and enterprise support bundled in
  • They diverge on capability: PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, ScyllaDB covers Cassandra Compatible.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PostgreSQL and ScyllaDB actually diverge.

Attributes where PostgreSQL and ScyllaDB differ
AttributePostgreSQLScyllaDB
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, BSD, UnixLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web
Founded19962015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management).

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 ScyllaDB

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

Both cover

  • Linux support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

PostgreSQL

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

ScyllaDB

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

ScyllaDB

  • AWS Marketplace lists ScyllaDB Enterprise (sold directly by ScyllaDB, Inc) at $1.63 per hour for the recommended i3.4xlarge instance size, license and enterprise support bundled in

Pricing, plan by plan

PostgreSQL

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.

ScyllaDB

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full features
    • Community support
    • Self-managed
  • Cloud$0.3/hour
    • Managed service
    • Pay per hour
    • Enterprise support

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 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 PostgreSQL or ScyllaDB better?
Neither clearly leads. PostgreSQL starts at Free and ScyllaDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PostgreSQL or ScyllaDB?
PostgreSQL starts at Free and ScyllaDB at Free.
Does PostgreSQL or ScyllaDB run on more platforms?
PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix. ScyllaDB runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web.
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 ScyllaDB is typically brought in for.
What can PostgreSQL do that ScyllaDB cannot?
PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Full-text Search, Extensibility. ScyllaDB covers Cassandra Compatible, DynamoDB Compatible, 10x Throughput, Low Latency. Both handle Linux 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
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