What is Azure Cosmos DB and what are its top alternatives?
Azure Cosmos DB is a globally distributed, multi-model database service by Microsoft that allows users to elastically and independently scale throughput and storage across any number of Azure regions. Key features include support for multiple data models (document, key-value, graph, column-family), guaranteed low latency, multi-region replication, and automatic indexing. However, some limitations include high cost for small workloads, complexity in managing throughput, and limited support for complex queries.
- MongoDB: MongoDB is a popular open-source NoSQL database that offers flexibility in data modeling and scalability. It supports document-oriented storage, sharding for horizontal scaling, and rich query capabilities. Pros: Flexible schema design, suitable for large-scale applications. Cons: May require more manual management compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- Couchbase: Couchbase is a distributed NoSQL database with support for key-value and document data models. It offers high performance, built-in caching, and easy scalability. Pros: High performance, built-in caching, and easy scalability. Cons: Limited support for complex querying compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- Amazon DynamoDB: DynamoDB is a serverless NoSQL database service provided by AWS that offers seamless scalability, high availability, and low latency. Pros: Fully managed service, seamless scalability. Cons: Limited querying capabilities compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- Google Cloud Firestore: Firestore is a flexible, scalable database service by Google Cloud that supports real-time updates, offline access, and automatic scaling. Pros: Real-time updates, offline access. Cons: Limited querying capabilities compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- Cassandra: Apache Cassandra is a distributed NoSQL database known for its high availability, fault tolerance, and linear scalability. Pros: High availability, fault tolerance. Cons: Complex setup and management compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- ScyllaDB: ScyllaDB is a highly performant, distributed NoSQL database compatible with Apache Cassandra. It offers low latency, high throughput, and seamless scalability. Pros: High performance, low latency. Cons: Limited querying capabilities compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- RethinkDB: RethinkDB is an open-source, distributed database focused on real-time applications with support for flexible queries and changefeeds. Pros: Real-time functionality, flexible queries. Cons: Limited scalability options compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- ArangoDB: ArangoDB is a multi-model NoSQL database that supports document, graph, and key-value data models. It offers a flexible query language, multi-model transactions, and horizontal scaling. Pros: Multi-model support, flexible query language. Cons: May require more manual management compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- FaunaDB: FaunaDB is a globally distributed, serverless database service that provides real-time, consistent access to data. It offers built-in support for transactions, GraphQL API, and fine-grained access control. Pros: Globally distributed, serverless. Cons: Limited support for complex queries compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
- JanusGraph: JanusGraph is an open-source, distributed graph database that supports Apache TinkerPop framework for graph traversal. It offers scalability, high performance, and flexibility in graph modeling. Pros: Support for complex graph queries, high performance. Cons: Steeper learning curve compared to Azure Cosmos DB.
Top Alternatives to Azure Cosmos DB
Azure SQL DatabaseIt is the intelligent, scalable, cloud database service that provides the broadest SQL Server engine compatibility and up to a 212% return on investment. It is a database service that can quickly and efficiently scale to meet demand, is automatically highly available, and supports a variety of third party software. ...
MongoDB AtlasMongoDB Atlas is a global cloud database service built and run by the team behind MongoDB. Enjoy the flexibility and scalability of a document database, with the ease and automation of a fully managed service on your preferred cloud. ...
MongoDBMongoDB stores data in JSON-like documents that can vary in structure, offering a dynamic, flexible schema. MongoDB was also designed for high availability and scalability, with built-in replication and auto-sharding. ...
Neo4jNeo4j stores data in nodes connected by directed, typed relationships with properties on both, also known as a Property Graph. It is a high performance graph store with all the features expected of a mature and robust database, like a friendly query language and ACID transactions. ...
MySQLThe MySQL software delivers a very fast, multi-threaded, multi-user, and robust SQL (Structured Query Language) database server. MySQL Server is intended for mission-critical, heavy-load production systems as well as for embedding into mass-deployed software. ...
CassandraPartitioning means that Cassandra can distribute your data across multiple machines in an application-transparent matter. Cassandra will automatically repartition as machines are added and removed from the cluster. Row store means that like relational databases, Cassandra organizes data by rows and columns. The Cassandra Query Language (CQL) is a close relative of SQL. ...
PostgreSQLPostgreSQL is an advanced object-relational database management system that supports an extended subset of the SQL standard, including transactions, foreign keys, subqueries, triggers, user-defined types and functions. ...
RedisRedis is an open source (BSD licensed), in-memory data structure store, used as a database, cache, and message broker. Redis provides data structures such as strings, hashes, lists, sets, sorted sets with range queries, bitmaps, hyperloglogs, geospatial indexes, and streams. ...