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Databases · head to head

QuestDB vs RAD Studio

QuestDB logo

QuestDB

Databases

Fast open source time-series database for high throughput ingestion

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit QuestDBFull review
RAD Studio logo

RAD Studio

Developer Tools

Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder

From
$2000/perpetual
Free plan
No
Visit RAD StudioFull review

The short version

  • RAD Studio is a cross-platform IDE.
  • QuestDB is free; RAD Studio starts at $2000/mo.
  • Where QuestDB falls short: open-source edition lacks high-availability, distributed architecture, and enterprise security features.
  • Where RAD Studio falls short: professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which QuestDB and RAD Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where QuestDB and RAD Studio differ
AttributeQuestDBRAD Studio
Starting priceFree$2000/perpetual
Pricing modelOpen-sourceOne-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, WebWeb
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: founded for RAD Studio.

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 QuestDB

  • High Throughput Ingestion
  • SQL Support
  • Time-series Optimization
  • SIMD Vectorization
  • Column-oriented Storage
  • Built-in Web Console
  • InfluxDB Line Protocol
  • PostgreSQL

Only in RAD Studio

Nothing recorded that QuestDB does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

QuestDB

  • Time-series analytics ingesting up to 20M rows/second from IoT sensors or financial data feedsnot RAD Studio
  • Real-time dashboarding with 32ms time-to-first-row latency for minute-level analyticsnot RAD Studio
  • Applications requiring multi-tier storage (hot ingest, real-time SQL, cold Parquet archive)not RAD Studio

RAD Studio

  • Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot QuestDB
  • Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot QuestDB
  • Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot QuestDB
  • Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot QuestDB

Where each one falls short

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

QuestDB

  • Open-source edition lacks high-availability, distributed architecture, and enterprise security features
  • Enterprise edition pricing not published; requires contacting sales for custom quote
  • Ingestion limit of 20M rows/sec platform-dependent; may not scale to extreme throughput requirements

RAD Studio

  • Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
  • The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

QuestDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the QuestDB review.

RAD Studio

$2000/perpetual
  • Professional Edition$2,000 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $599
    • Total $2,599 + Tax
  • Enterprise Edition$3,400 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $1,199
    • Total $4,599 + Tax
  • Architect Edition$4,416 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $2,183
    • Total $6,599 + Tax

Which should you pick?

Choose QuestDB if

  • You need high throughput ingestion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Web.
  • You also want sql support.
QuestDB review

Choose RAD Studio if

Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from QuestDB on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

RAD Studio review

Questions people ask

Is QuestDB or RAD Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. QuestDB starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, QuestDB or RAD Studio?
QuestDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for QuestDB and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
Does QuestDB or RAD Studio run on more platforms?
QuestDB runs on Self-hosted, Web. RAD Studio runs on Web.
Can I use QuestDB for free?
Yes. QuestDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
What is QuestDB best used for?
QuestDB is most often used for time-series analytics ingesting up to 20m rows/second from iot sensors or financial data feeds, real-time dashboarding with 32ms time-to-first-row latency for minute-level analytics, applications requiring multi-tier storage (hot ingest, real-time sql, cold parquet archive). Of those, time-series analytics ingesting up to 20m rows/second from iot sensors or financial data feeds and real-time dashboarding with 32ms time-to-first-row latency for minute-level analytics are not what RAD Studio is typically brought in for.
What can QuestDB do that RAD Studio cannot?
QuestDB covers High Throughput Ingestion, SQL Support, Time-series Optimization, SIMD Vectorization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

QuestDB: How much does QuestDB Enterprise cost?

QuestDB does not publish specific pricing for the Enterprise tier. Customers must contact QuestDB via their enterprise contact form to receive a custom quote.

Source
RAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?

RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).

Source
QuestDB: Does QuestDB offer a free version?

Yes, QuestDB Open Source is completely free and recommended for evaluation, prototyping, and pilot projects. Enterprise features, high availability, security, and dedicated support require the paid Enterprise tier.

Source
RAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?

Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.

Source
QuestDB: What deployment options does QuestDB offer?

QuestDB offers open source deployment, Enterprise deployment, and Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) deployment. Pricing details for BYOC and Enterprise tiers are not published and require direct contact with sales.

Source
RAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?

Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.

Source
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