Side by side

Apache Cassandra vs Apache HBase

Both stand on database software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Apache Cassandra

Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3

Cassandra offers a distributed, self-managed database with multiple deployment options and tunable consistency. The project identifies 5.0 as its latest GA version and says it is maintained until the 8.0 release.

Visit Apache Cassandra

Apache HBase

Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted

Apache HBase targets distributed data workloads where real-time access and strict consistency matter. It is free, but deployment, security configuration and ongoing operations rest with the operator.

Visit Apache HBase

The facts

	Apache Cassandra	Apache HBase
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	Yes
Runs on	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows	API, Linux, Self-hosted
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Apache Cassandra	Not published
Website	cassandra.apache.org	hbase.apache.org
On database software	#2 of 74	#9 of 74

Apache Cassandra: what it does well

Masterless architecture gives nodes equal functionality
Replication across multiple data centers
Tunable query consistency
Drivers for Java, Go, Python, and Node.js
Supports horizontal scaling

What to know first

Self-managed database
Third-party ecosystem projects are not supported by the Cassandra community

Apache HBase: what it does well

Provides strictly consistent random reads and writes.
Scales across commodity clusters.
Offers Java API and REST and Thrift gateways.
Free and self-hosted.
Security guidance covers Kerberos, SASL and optional TLS.

What to know first

Authentication and authorization are off by default.
Operation requires systems, software and networking skills.
Services should not be exposed directly to the public internet.
Misconfiguration and hardware problems can affect performance.

Alternatives to Apache Cassandra Alternatives to Apache HBase The whole list