Side by side
kdb+ vs StarRocks
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.
Free plan APILinuxMac+2
kdb+ combines time-series storage, analytics, and multiple ingestion paths for real-time and historical data. The free personal edition has strict use and connectivity limits; commercial use requires a license.
Visit kdb+ Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
Choose StarRocks if you need a free, self-hosted SQL analytics database with real-time ingestion, broad data-source coverage, and configurable deployment. Look elsewhere if you need a listed platform beyond Linux or prefer a service that does not require self-hosting.
Visit StarRocksThe facts
| kdb+ | StarRocks | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | kdb+ | Not published |
| Website | kx.com | starrocks.io |
| On database software | #31 of 74 | #55 of 74 |
kdb+: what it does well
- Supports q and q-SQL queries.
- Lists ingestion through Kafka, TCP/IP, and batch mode.
- KX documents cloud deployments on three providers.
- Free interactive on-demand training is available.
What to know first
- Personal edition is non-commercial and local only.
- Personal use requires an always-on internet connection.
- Commercial licensing requires an agreement and valid key.
- Commercial pricing is available on request.
StarRocks: what it does well
- Free Community Edition with real-time ingestion and SQL.
- Vectorized columnar execution uses SIMD instructions.
- Materialized views can refresh and serve rewritten queries automatically.
- Queries supported lake formats through external catalogs without migration.
- Offers row-level security and role- and identity-based access controls.
What to know first
- The listed platform is Linux and self-hosted.
- Official binary packages support x86; ARM deployment files require preparation using the Docker image.
- It requires deployment and management in the user's environment.
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