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Database & Data Management · head to head

TimescaleDB vs QuestDB

TimescaleDB logo

TimescaleDB

Database & Data Management

Time-series database built on PostgreSQL for real-time analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QuestDB logo

QuestDB

Database & Data Management

Fast open source time-series database for high throughput ingestion

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: TimescaleDB inherits PostgreSQL write path limitations, creating a ceiling on ingestion throughput; QuestDB open-source edition lacks high-availability, distributed architecture, and enterprise security features
  • They diverge on capability: TimescaleDB covers PostgreSQL Extension, QuestDB covers High Throughput Ingestion.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TimescaleDB and QuestDB actually diverge.

Attributes where TimescaleDB and QuestDB differ
AttributeTimescaleDBQuestDB
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Founded20122014

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 TimescaleDB

  • PostgreSQL Extension
  • Automatic Partitioning
  • Continuous Aggregates
  • Native Compression
  • Full SQL Support
  • Real-time Analytics
  • Prometheus

Only in QuestDB

  • High Throughput Ingestion
  • SQL Support
  • SIMD Vectorization
  • Column-oriented Storage
  • Built-in Web Console
  • InfluxDB Line Protocol
  • Pandas

Both cover

  • Time-series Optimization
  • PostgreSQL
  • Grafana
  • Kafka
  • Telegraf
  • 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.

TimescaleDB

  • Monitoringnot QuestDB
  • IoT datanot QuestDB
  • Financial datanot QuestDB
  • Log analyticsnot QuestDB
  • Observabilitynot QuestDB

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

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

QuestDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the QuestDB review.

Which should you pick?

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.
TimescaleDB review

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.
QuestDB review

Questions people ask

Is TimescaleDB or QuestDB better?
Neither clearly leads. TimescaleDB starts at Free and QuestDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TimescaleDB or QuestDB?
TimescaleDB starts at Free and QuestDB at Free.
Does TimescaleDB or QuestDB run on more platforms?
TimescaleDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure). QuestDB runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP).
Can I use TimescaleDB for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is TimescaleDB best used for?
TimescaleDB is most often used for monitoring, iot data, financial data, log analytics. Of those, monitoring and iot data are not what QuestDB is typically brought in for.
What can TimescaleDB do that QuestDB cannot?
TimescaleDB covers PostgreSQL Extension, Automatic Partitioning, Continuous Aggregates, Native Compression. QuestDB covers High Throughput Ingestion, SQL Support, SIMD Vectorization, Column-oriented Storage. Both handle Time-series Optimization, PostgreSQL, Grafana, Kafka.

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.

Source
TimescaleDB: 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.

Source
TimescaleDB: 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.

Source
TimescaleDB: 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.

Source
TimescaleDB: 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
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