DocumentDB

Free plan APIExtensionLinuxMacSelf-hostedWindows

What DocumentDB is

DocumentDB is an open-source document database built on PostgreSQL for applications that use MongoDB-compatible clients. It stores native BSON documents, supports document create, read, update, and delete operations, and also allows PostgreSQL SQL operations for more advanced queries. Its index options cover single fields, multiple keys, compound keys, text, and geospatial data, including nested fields. For embedding and similarity search, it uses pgvector. Applications can connect through MongoDB-compatible tools such as mongosh, PyMongo, the official MongoDB Node.js driver, and the VS Code extension. That extension can create a local database, generate credentials, and save a connection. DocumentDB runs locally in Docker or on a user's own infrastructure or cloud, and the project is MIT licensed. The gateway supports SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication, with TLS terminating on the gateway port, which defaults to 10260. Linux packages currently cover Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18, for amd64 and arm64. A Kubernetes operator with lifecycle management, failover, replication, backups, and TLS is available in preview; it requires Kubernetes 1.35 or later and cert-manager. The project lists Discord for community syncs, office hours, technical support, migration assistance, and best-practice sharing.

Who it suits

DocumentDB suits developers who want BSON document storage and MongoDB-compatible clients while retaining PostgreSQL SQL operations. It also fits teams looking to run a database locally, on their own infrastructure, or in their cloud, including those exploring vector search or a preview Kubernetes operator.

What it does well

MIT-licensed and free to use.
Supports BSON documents and PostgreSQL SQL operations.
Offers single-field, compound, text, and geospatial indexes.
Vector search for embeddings uses pgvector.
Works with mongosh, PyMongo, Node.js driver, and VS Code extension.
Can run locally in Docker or on user infrastructure.

What to know first

Current hosted packages cover only Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9.
The Kubernetes operator is marked as a preview.
The VS Code extension is the listed route for creating a local database.

Limits

The current hosted package matrix supports Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18 for amd64 and arm64. The Kubernetes operator is in preview and requires Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
DocumentDB	MIT licensed open-source database; run locally with Docker or install Linux packages	Free

As documentdb.io lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the DocumentDB website.
Choose a deployment route: Docker locally, Linux packages, or your own infrastructure or cloud.
For hosted Linux packages, use Ubuntu 24.04 or EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18 on amd64 or arm64.
Connect with a supported MongoDB-compatible client or tool.
In VS Code, use the extension to create a local database, generate credentials, and save a connection.
For the Kubernetes operator preview, meet its Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager requirements.

Verdict

Choose DocumentDB if you need a free, MIT-licensed PostgreSQL-based document database with MongoDB-compatible clients and SQL operations. Look elsewhere if your Linux environment depends on one of the unsupported package combinations, or if you need a Kubernetes operator outside preview.

Questions

How much does DocumentDB cost?

The listed plan is free, and the project is MIT licensed.

Does DocumentDB have a free plan or trial?

A free plan is listed. There is no free trial.

Which platforms does DocumentDB support?

Its listed platforms are API, extension, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows. Current hosted Linux packages cover Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18, for amd64 and arm64.

Is DocumentDB open source?

Yes. The project is MIT licensed.

Which clients and tools can connect?

DocumentDB supports MongoDB-compatible clients and tools including mongosh, PyMongo, the official MongoDB Node.js driver, and the VS Code extension.

Does it support vector search and Kubernetes?

Vector search for embeddings and similarity search is powered by pgvector. A Kubernetes operator is available in preview and requires Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager.

Facts from DocumentDB's own pages

AI workloads: DocumentDB describes vector search as a capability for embeddings and similarity search on PostgreSQL. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Authentication: The gateway supports SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Client integrations: The gateway supports MongoDB-compatible drivers and tools including mongosh, PyMongo, the MongoDB Node.js driver, and the VS Code extension. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
CRUD and SQL: It supports document CRUD and PostgreSQL compatibility for advanced SQL operations. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Drivers and tools: DocumentDB supports MongoDB-compatible clients and tools, including mongosh, PyMongo, the official MongoDB Node.js driver, and the VS Code extension. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Indexes: Its listed index types include single-field, multi-key, compound, text, and geospatial indexes, including nested fields. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Indexing: Its indexing features include single-field, multi-key, compound, text, and geospatial indexes, including nested fields. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Kubernetes: A Kubernetes operator offers lifecycle management and features including failover, replication, backups, and TLS, and is marked as a preview. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Kubernetes operator: The Kubernetes operator is in preview and lists Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager as requirements. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
License: The project is MIT licensed. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
License and portability: DocumentDB is MIT licensed and described as running locally with Docker or on a user's own infrastructure or cloud. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Linux packages: The current hosted package matrix supports Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18, for amd64 and arm64. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Linux package support: The current hosted package matrix lists Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18, and says packages for Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11/12/13, EL8, and PostgreSQL 16 are no longer published. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Local setup: DocumentDB can run locally in Docker, with a local endpoint on port 10260. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Platform limitation: The current hosted packages are not available for Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11/12/13, EL8, or PostgreSQL 16. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Product: DocumentDB is an open-source, MongoDB-compatible document database built on PostgreSQL. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Security: The project lists SCRAM authentication; its gateway documentation says TLS terminates on the gateway port, whose default is 10260. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Storage: DocumentDB supports native BSON document data and PostgreSQL SQL operations. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The getting-started documentation lists Discord for community syncs, office hours, technical support, migration assistance, and best-practice sharing. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
Vector search: Vector search for embeddings and similarity search is powered by pgvector. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026
VS Code: The VS Code extension can create a local database, generate credentials, and save a connection. · documentdb.io, 9 Oct 2026

Where DocumentDB stands on Freedom251

Document Databases#7 of 28