Freedom251 › Relational Databases
Actian Zen
What Actian Zen is
Actian Zen is a freemium embedded database for managing data from edge environments to on-premises and cloud deployments. Its lightweight engine combines relational data, vector search, semantic queries, and AI-agent connectivity. Native vector search supports up to 1 million vectors, while hybrid queries combine relational filters with semantic similarity. A native MCP server lets AI agents such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini query local data. Semantic search, vector queries, and agent workflows can run offline, including in air-gapped environments. Zen supports SQL through ODBC and JDBC and NoSQL access through Btrieve and Btrieve 2 APIs. Enterprise deployments cover embedded, on-premises, and cloud applications, with support for Windows, Linux, macOS, Intel and ARM, VMware, Hyper-V, and Docker. Zen Mobile supports Android and iOS with AES 256-bit encryption for stored data. A 30-day trial is available, and paid pricing starts at 417 USD per month billed annually.
Who it suits
It suits teams embedding databases in edge, mobile, branch, on-premises, or cloud applications. Developers needing vector search, offline processing, or AI-agent access can use its listed interfaces.
What it does well
- Supports relational and vector data
- Hybrid semantic and metadata queries
- Offline and air-gapped processing
- SQL and NoSQL interfaces
- Android and iOS mobile database
What to know first
- Paid plans start at 417 USD per month
- API and deployment choices may require technical setup
- Trial license lasts 30 days
Limits
The available trial uses a temporary 30-day license. There is no free plan, and paid pricing starts at $417/mo (annual).
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Actian Zen | Public pricing not stated; book a demo or contact Actian for product information | On request |
As actian.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Actian Zen website
- Choose a 30-day Zen Embedded trial download
- Install the package on a supported Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, or iOS environment
- Select SQL access through ODBC or JDBC, or NoSQL access through Btrieve APIs
- Deploy Zen as an embedded, on-premises, or cloud application
- Contact Actian for paid product information
Verdict
Actian Zen combines embedded database deployment with vector search, offline workflows, and AI-agent connectivity. Its broad platform support and enterprise capacity are balanced by substantial paid pricing and product-specific deployment decisions.
Questions
Does Actian Zen have a free plan?
No. Actian lists a 30-day trial, with paid pricing from $417/mo (annual).
Which platforms does Zen support?
Listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, APIs, and self-hosted deployments. Enterprise materials also list Intel and ARM, VMware, Hyper-V, and Docker.
Can Zen work without an internet connection?
Yes. Zen describes local semantic search, vector queries, and AI-agent workflows running offline, including in air-gapped environments.
What interfaces are available?
SQL access uses ODBC and JDBC. NoSQL access uses Btrieve and Btrieve 2 APIs.
Can AI agents query Zen data?
A native MCP server lets AI agents such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini query local data.
Who makes Actian Zen?
Actian makes Zen. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States.
Facts from Actian Zen's own pages
- AI agents
- The Zen product page says it includes a native MCP server for AI agents such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to query local data. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- AI and vector search
- Zen supports native vector search for up to 1 million vectors and hybrid queries that combine relational filters with semantic similarity. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Audit and backups
- Actian describes Audit Master as capturing database access and changes in an audit trail, and Backup Agent as supporting continuous backups and an embeddable API. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Company security
- Actian’s Trust Center lists SOC 2 Type II for Actian Data Platform and Data Intelligence Platform and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for Actian Data Intelligence Platform and Actian Corporation. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Zen Enterprise is described for embedded, on-premises, and cloud applications, including branch and remote field environments. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1980 · actian.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Santa Clara, California, United States · actian.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The product page says Zen Enterprise integrates with existing ERP, point-of-sale, and accounting applications. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- Zen supports both SQL and NoSQL access; the Enterprise datasheet lists ODBC and JDBC for SQL and Btrieve and Btrieve 2 APIs for NoSQL. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Mobile support
- Zen Mobile is an embedded database for Android and iOS and its datasheet lists AES 256-bit encryption for data at rest. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Offline use
- Zen supports local data processing and describes semantic search, vector queries, and AI-agent workflows running offline, including in air-gapped environments. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Platform support
- The Enterprise datasheet lists Windows, Linux, macOS, Intel and ARM, VMware, Hyper-V, and Docker deployments. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- Actian Zen is an embedded database for edge-to-cloud data management that combines relational data, vector search, semantic queries, and AI-agent connectivity in a lightweight engine. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Replication and encryption
- Actian says its DataExchange replication solution synchronizes Zen databases in real time and uses built-in 256-bit encryption. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Actian Support Services says technical expertise, guidance, and knowledge are available 24/7. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Trial
- Actian says its Zen Embedded database trial downloads are full versions with a 30-day temporary license; the downloads page lists v13 packages. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
- User capacity
- The Zen product page says Zen Edge supports over 100 concurrent users and Zen Enterprise is designed for thousands of concurrent users. · actian.com, 7 Oct 2026
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