Software · head to head
QuestDB vs TimescaleDB
QuestDB
Software
Fast open source time-series database for high throughput ingestion
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
TimescaleDB
Software
Time-series database built on PostgreSQL for real-time analytics
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: QuestDB open-source edition lacks high-availability, distributed architecture, and enterprise security features; TimescaleDB inherits PostgreSQL write path limitations, creating a ceiling on ingestion throughput
- They diverge on capability: QuestDB covers High Throughput Ingestion, TimescaleDB covers PostgreSQL Extension.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which QuestDB and TimescaleDB actually diverge.
| Attribute | QuestDB | TimescaleDB |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Unknown |
| Platforms | Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) | Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure) |
| Founded | 2014 | 2012 |
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 QuestDB
- High Throughput Ingestion
- SQL Support
- SIMD Vectorization
- Column-oriented Storage
- Built-in Web Console
- InfluxDB Line Protocol
- Pandas
Only in TimescaleDB
- PostgreSQL Extension
- Automatic Partitioning
- Continuous Aggregates
- Native Compression
- Full SQL Support
- Real-time Analytics
- Prometheus
Both cover
- Time-series Optimization
- PostgreSQL
- Grafana
- Telegraf
- Kafka
- Linux support
- Windows support
- Mac support
- Docker support
- Web support
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 TimescaleDB
- Real-time dashboarding with 32ms time-to-first-row latency for minute-level analyticsnot TimescaleDB
- Applications requiring multi-tier storage (hot ingest, real-time SQL, cold Parquet archive)not TimescaleDB
TimescaleDB
- Monitoringnot QuestDB
- IoT datanot QuestDB
- Financial datanot QuestDB
- Log analyticsnot QuestDB
- Observabilitynot 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
TimescaleDB
- Inherits PostgreSQL write path limitations, creating a ceiling on ingestion throughput
- Operational complexity increases significantly at scale, requiring expertise in chunk tuning and autovacuum management
- Bloom filter indexes on compressed columns can return incorrect query results before upgrade
- PostgreSQL 15 support ending June 2026, forcing mandatory upgrades to PostgreSQL 16 or later
Pricing, plan by plan
QuestDB
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the QuestDB review.
TimescaleDB
Free- Open SourceFree
- Self-hosted TimescaleDB
- MIT-licensed core
- Full PostgreSQL compatibility
- Scale Plan (Cloud)$36/month
- Compute and storage charges
- Multi-node HA
- Unlimited VPCs
Which should you pick?
Choose QuestDB if
- You need high throughput ingestion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- You also want sql support.
Choose TimescaleDB if
- You need postgresql extension.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure).
- You also want automatic partitioning.
Questions people ask
- Is QuestDB or TimescaleDB better?
- Neither clearly leads. QuestDB starts at Free and TimescaleDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, QuestDB or TimescaleDB?
- QuestDB starts at Free and TimescaleDB at Free.
- Does QuestDB or TimescaleDB run on more platforms?
- QuestDB runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP). TimescaleDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure).
- Can I use QuestDB for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 TimescaleDB is typically brought in for.
- What can QuestDB do that TimescaleDB cannot?
- QuestDB covers High Throughput Ingestion, SQL Support, SIMD Vectorization, Column-oriented Storage. TimescaleDB covers PostgreSQL Extension, Automatic Partitioning, Continuous Aggregates, Native Compression. Both handle Time-series Optimization, PostgreSQL, Grafana, Telegraf.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
TimescaleDB: Is TimescaleDB free?
Yes. TimescaleDB is free and open source under the Timescale License. The managed cloud service offers a free trial with $1,000 in credits expiring in 30 days.
SourceTimescaleDB: What database does TimescaleDB run on top of?
TimescaleDB is a PostgreSQL extension that runs on top of PostgreSQL. You retain full PostgreSQL compatibility including SQL queries, transactions, and ecosystem tools.
SourceTimescaleDB: How much can TimescaleDB compress data?
TimescaleDB offers transparent columnar compression that can reduce storage by up to 95%. Newer data remains in row-oriented format for fast writes, while older data is automatically compressed to the column store.
SourceTimescaleDB: Does TimescaleDB require manual partitioning?
No. TimescaleDB handles automatic time-based partitioning through hypertables. Data is automatically chunked based on time intervals, requiring no manual partition management.
SourceTimescaleDB: What PostgreSQL versions does TimescaleDB support?
As of October 2025, TimescaleDB requires PostgreSQL 16 or greater. PostgreSQL 15 support will end with the June 2026 release, after which all instances must upgrade to PostgreSQL 16.
Source