Best Distributed Databases for Linux of 2025

InterSystems IRIS, a cloud-first data platform, is a multi-model transactional database management engine, application development platform, interoperability engine and open analytics platform. InterSystems IRIS offers a variety of APIs that allow you to work with transactional persistent data simultaneously. These include key-value, relational and object, document, and multidimensional. Data can be managed by SQL, Java, node.js, .NET, C++, Python, and native server-side ObjectScript language. InterSystems IRIS features an Interoperability engine as well as modules for building AI solutions. InterSystems IRIS features horizontal scalability (sharding and ECP), and High Availability features such as Business intelligence, transaction support and backup.

Objectivity/DB (or Object Database Management System) is a distributed, highly scalable, high-performance, and highly scalable Object Database (ODBMS). It excels at complex data handling, including many types of connections between objects as well as many variants. Objectivity/DB can also be used as a graph database that is highly scalable and high-performance. Its DO query language allows for standard data retrieval queries and high-performance path-based navigational inquiries. Objectivity/DB is a distributed data base that presents a single logical view of its managed data. Data can be hosted on one machine or distributed over up to 65,000 machines. Machines can be connected to one another. Objectivity/DB can be used on 32- or 64-bit processors that run Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. APIs are C++, C# Java, Python, and Java. All platforms and languages are interoperable. A C++ program on Linux can store objects and a Java program on Mac OS X can read them.

What makes eXtremeDB platform independent? - Hybrid storage of data. Unlike other IMDS databases, eXtremeDB databases are all-in-memory or all-persistent. They can also have a mix between persistent tables and in-memory table. eXtremeDB's Active Replication Fabric™, which is unique to eXtremeDB, offers bidirectional replication and multi-tier replication (e.g. edge-to-gateway-to-gateway-to-cloud), compression to maximize limited bandwidth networks and more. - Row and columnar flexibility for time series data. eXtremeDB supports database designs which combine column-based and row-based layouts in order to maximize the CPU cache speed. - Client/Server and embedded. eXtremeDB provides data management that is fast and flexible wherever you need it. It can be deployed as an embedded system and/or as a clients/server database system. eXtremeDB was designed for use in resource-constrained, mission-critical embedded systems. Found in over 30,000,000 deployments, from routers to satellites and trains to stock market world-wide.

RavenDB is a pioneering NoSQL Document Database. It is fully transactional (ACID across your database and within your cluster). Our open-source distributed database has high availability and high performance, with minimal administration. It is an all-in-one database that is easy to use. This reduces the need to add on tools or support for developers to increase developer productivity and speed up your project's production. In minutes, you can create and secure a data cluster and deploy it in the cloud, on-premise, or in a hybrid environment. RavenDB offers a Database as a Service, which allows you to delegate all database operations to us, so you can concentrate on your application. RavenDB's built-in storage engine Voron can perform at speeds of up to 1,000,000 reads per second and 150,000 write per second on a single node. This allows you to improve your application's performance by using simple commodity hardware.

Apache Trafodion serves as a webscale SQL-on-Hadoop solution that facilitates transactional or operational processes within the Apache Hadoop ecosystem. By leveraging the inherent scalability, elasticity, and flexibility of Hadoop, Trafodion enhances its capabilities to ensure transactional integrity, which opens the door for a new wave of big data applications to operate seamlessly on Hadoop. The platform supports the full ANSI SQL language, allowing for JDBC/ODBC connectivity suitable for both Linux and Windows clients. It provides distributed ACID transaction protection that spans multiple statements, tables, and rows, all while delivering performance enhancements specifically designed for OLTP workloads through both compile-time and run-time optimizations. Trafodion is also equipped with a parallel-aware query optimizer that efficiently handles large datasets, enabling developers to utilize their existing SQL knowledge and boost productivity. Furthermore, its distributed ACID transactions maintain data consistency across various rows and tables, making it interoperable with a wide range of existing tools and applications. This solution is neutral to both Hadoop and Linux distributions, providing a straightforward integration path into any existing Hadoop infrastructure. Thus, Apache Trafodion not only enhances the power of Hadoop but also simplifies the development process for users.

AntDB is a cloud-native, distributed relational database created by AsiaInfo Technologies, specifically engineered to excel in high-performance online transaction processing and analytical processing tasks. With a reach of over 1 billion subscribers across 24 provinces in China, AntDB effectively manages extensive business data related to telecommunications, internet access, financial transactions, and billing systems. Its innovative cloud-native architecture allows for online scalability, consistent data integrity, and robust high availability across multiple data centers. Furthermore, AntDB adheres to SQL2016 standards and integrates effortlessly with various domestic ecosystems, including leading CPUs and operating systems. The platform provides essential features such as automatic high availability, the ability to expand capacity elastically online, and kernel-level read/write splitting, which optimizes traffic management during peak usage periods. This versatile database system has seen successful implementation in various sectors, including telecommunications, finance, transportation, and energy, showcasing its wide-ranging applicability and importance in modern data management solutions. Additionally, AntDB continues to evolve, adapting to emerging technologies and industry demands.

OrbitDB functions as a decentralized, serverless, peer-to-peer database that leverages IPFS for data storage and utilizes Libp2p Pubsub for seamless synchronization among peers. It incorporates Merkle-CRDTs to facilitate conflict-free writing and merging of database entries, making it ideal for decentralized applications, blockchain projects, and web apps designed to operate primarily offline. The platform provides a range of database types that cater to distinct requirements: 'events' serves as immutable append-only logs, 'documents' allows for JSON document storage indexed by specific keys, 'keyvalue' offers conventional key-value pair storage, and 'keyvalue-indexed' provides LevelDB-indexed key-value data. Each of these database types is constructed on OpLog, a structure that is immutable, cryptographically verifiable, and based on operation-driven CRDT principles. The JavaScript implementation is compatible with both browser and Node.js environments, while a version in Go is actively maintained by the Berty project, ensuring a wide range of support for developers. This flexibility and adaptability make OrbitDB a powerful choice for those looking to implement modern data solutions in distributed systems.

ScyllaDB serves as an ideal database solution for applications that demand high performance and minimal latency, catering specifically to data-intensive needs. It empowers teams to fully utilize the growing computing capabilities of modern infrastructures, effectively removing obstacles to scaling as data volumes expand. Distinct from other database systems, ScyllaDB stands out as a distributed NoSQL database that is completely compatible with both Apache Cassandra and Amazon DynamoDB, while incorporating significant architectural innovations that deliver outstanding user experiences at significantly reduced costs. Over 400 transformative companies, including Disney+ Hotstar, Expedia, FireEye, Discord, Zillow, Starbucks, Comcast, and Samsung, rely on ScyllaDB to tackle their most challenging database requirements. Furthermore, ScyllaDB is offered in various formats, including a free open-source version, a fully-supported enterprise solution, and a fully managed database-as-a-service (DBaaS) available across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility for diverse user needs. This versatility makes it an attractive choice for organizations looking to optimize their database performance.

Greenplum Database® stands out as a sophisticated, comprehensive, and open-source data warehouse solution. It excels in providing swift and robust analytics on data volumes that reach petabyte scales. Designed specifically for big data analytics, Greenplum Database is driven by a highly advanced cost-based query optimizer that ensures exceptional performance for analytical queries on extensive data sets. This project operates under the Apache 2 license, and we extend our gratitude to all current contributors while inviting new ones to join our efforts. In the Greenplum Database community, every contribution is valued, regardless of its size, and we actively encourage diverse forms of involvement. This platform serves as an open-source, massively parallel data environment tailored for analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence applications. Users can swiftly develop and implement models aimed at tackling complex challenges in fields such as cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, risk management, and fraud detection, among others. Dive into the experience of a fully integrated, feature-rich open-source analytics platform that empowers innovation.

The enterprise database for time series, documents, and vectors. Store any type data and combine the simplicity and scalability NoSQL with SQL. CrateDB is a distributed database that runs queries in milliseconds regardless of the complexity, volume, and velocity.

Businesses require a solution to maintain seamless operations of their systems, enhance data processing speed, and ensure storage reliability. In-memory technologies have emerged as effective tools for addressing these challenges. For over a decade, Tarantool has been assisting organizations globally in creating intelligent caches, data marts, and comprehensive client profiles while optimizing server utilization. This approach not only reduces the expenses associated with storing credentials compared to isolated solutions but also enhances both the service and security of client applications. Furthermore, it lowers the costs of data management by minimizing the number of separate systems that hold customer identities. By analyzing user behavior and data, companies can boost sales through improved speed and accuracy in recommending products or services. Additionally, enhancing the performance of mobile and web channels can significantly reduce user attrition. In the context of large organizations, IT systems often operate within a closed network loop, which poses risks as data circulates without adequate protection. Consequently, it becomes imperative for corporations to adopt robust strategies that not only safeguard their data but also ensure optimal system functionality.

Couchbase distinguishes itself from other NoSQL databases by delivering an enterprise-grade, multicloud to edge solution that is equipped with the powerful features essential for mission-critical applications on a platform that is both highly scalable and reliable. This distributed cloud-native database operates seamlessly in contemporary dynamic settings, accommodating any cloud environment, whether it be customer-managed or a fully managed service. Leveraging open standards, Couchbase merges the advantages of NoSQL with the familiar structure of SQL, thereby facilitating a smoother transition from traditional mainframe and relational databases. Couchbase Server serves as a versatile, distributed database that integrates the benefits of relational database capabilities, including SQL and ACID transactions, with the adaptability of JSON, all built on a foundation that is remarkably fast and scalable. Its applications span various industries, catering to needs such as user profiles, dynamic product catalogs, generative AI applications, vector search, high-speed caching, and much more, making it an invaluable asset for organizations seeking efficiency and innovation.

Neo4j's graph platform is designed to help you leverage data and data relationships. Developers can create intelligent applications that use Neo4j to traverse today's interconnected, large datasets in real-time. Neo4j's graph database is powered by a native graph storage engine and processing engine. It provides unique, actionable insights through an intuitive, flexible, and secure database.

JanusGraph stands out as a highly scalable graph database designed for efficiently storing and querying extensive graphs that can comprise hundreds of billions of vertices and edges, all managed across a cluster of multiple machines. This project, which operates under The Linux Foundation, boasts contributions from notable organizations such as Expero, Google, GRAKN.AI, Hortonworks, IBM, and Amazon. It offers both elastic and linear scalability to accommodate an expanding data set and user community. Key features include robust data distribution and replication methods to enhance performance and ensure fault tolerance. Additionally, JanusGraph supports multi-datacenter high availability and provides hot backups for data security. All these capabilities are available without any associated costs, eliminating the necessity for purchasing commercial licenses, as it is entirely open source and governed by the Apache 2 license. Furthermore, JanusGraph functions as a transactional database capable of handling thousands of simultaneous users performing complex graph traversals in real time. It ensures support for both ACID properties and eventual consistency, catering to various operational needs. Beyond online transactional processing (OLTP), JanusGraph also facilitates global graph analytics (OLAP) through its integration with Apache Spark, making it a versatile tool for data analysis and visualization. This combination of features makes JanusGraph a powerful choice for organizations looking to leverage graph data effectively.

Designed specifically for handling super large-scale graphs with latency measured in milliseconds, this graph database continues to engage with the community for its preparation, promotion, and popularization. Nebula Graph ensures that access is secured through role-based access control, allowing only authenticated users. The database supports various types of storage engines and its query language is adaptable, enabling the integration of new algorithms. By providing low latency for both read and write operations, Nebula Graph maintains high throughput, effectively simplifying even the most intricate data sets. Its shared-nothing distributed architecture allows for linear scalability, making it an efficient choice for expanding businesses. The SQL-like query language is not only user-friendly but also sufficiently robust to address complex business requirements. With features like horizontal scalability and a snapshot capability, Nebula Graph assures high availability, even during failures. Notably, major internet companies such as JD, Meituan, and Xiaohongshu have successfully implemented Nebula Graph in their production environments, showcasing its reliability and performance in real-world applications. This widespread adoption highlights the database's effectiveness in meeting the demands of large-scale data management.

A Kudu cluster comprises tables that resemble those found in traditional relational (SQL) databases. These tables can range from a straightforward binary key and value structure to intricate designs featuring hundreds of strongly-typed attributes. Similar to SQL tables, each Kudu table is defined by a primary key, which consists of one or more columns; this could be a single unique user identifier or a composite key such as a (host, metric, timestamp) combination tailored for time-series data from machines. The primary key allows for quick reading, updating, or deletion of rows. The straightforward data model of Kudu facilitates the migration of legacy applications as well as the development of new ones, eliminating concerns about encoding data into binary formats or navigating through cumbersome JSON databases. Additionally, tables in Kudu are self-describing, enabling the use of standard analysis tools like SQL engines or Spark. With user-friendly APIs, Kudu ensures that developers can easily integrate and manipulate their data. This approach not only streamlines data management but also enhances overall efficiency in data processing tasks.

rqlite is a lightweight and easy-to-use distributed relational database that leverages SQLite’s capabilities. It offers high availability and fault tolerance without the usual complexities. By merging SQLite's user-friendly design with a reliable, robust system, rqlite stands out as a developer-oriented solution. Its straightforward operations ensure that users can deploy it in mere seconds, avoiding intricate configurations. The database effortlessly fits into modern cloud environments and is built on SQLite, which is recognized as the most widely used database globally. It features full-text search, Vector Search, and support for JSON documents, catering to various data needs. Enhanced security is provided through access controls and encryption for secure deployments. The platform benefits from rigorous automated testing processes that guarantee its quality. Clustering capabilities further enhance its availability and fault tolerance, while automatic node discovery streamlines the clustering process, making it even more user-friendly. This combination of features makes rqlite an ideal choice for developers looking for simplicity without sacrificing reliability.