What alternatives to Couchbase are there?

Couchbase offers users numerous advantages. The document-oriented NoSQL database is suitable for a variety of tasks and is particularly useful for interactive applications. It’s a good idea, however, to consider other database options as well. There may be an alternative to Couchbase that is better suited to your project and the tasks you need to carry out. We’ll take a look at five different database solutions.

What is Couchbase and what alternatives are there?

Couchbase is a document-oriented NoSQL database that has been around since 2010 and is particularly well suited to interactive applications. It works non-relationally and stores data in JSON documents without using a predefined schema. It uses its own SQL++ language for queries. This language is based on Structured Query Language, making it relatively easy to learn.

The cloud-native databases that Couchbase enables are suitable for web applications, mobile applications, the Internet of Things and numerous other use cases. Particularly impressive is the database management system’s low latency and high horizontal and vertical scalability. Well-known companies like AT&T, Disney, eBay and LinkedIn use Couchbase.

Couchbase is open source, making it an inexpensive option. However, depending on your requirements and support needs, you may need to use the Enterprise version, which, on the other hand can be very expensive. While we highly recommend this database management system, you may be better off with a different system.

There are other SQL and NoSQL options that not only support more programming languages but can also be used more flexibly and provide better solutions for content management systems. Below are five great alternatives to Couchbase, some of which might be more suited to your specific goals/needs.

MongoDB – Unlimited scalability and maximum flexibility

MongoDB is one of the most popular database management systems in the world and for good reason. The NoSQL solution owes its name to the word ‘humongous’. As reflected in its name, MongoDB is designed to handle large amounts of data . One of its most notable strengths is its almost unbeatable scalability. Data is stored in JSON documents and combined into collections. As a result, the database can accommodate very different data types while still ensuring clarity.

While you can use MongoDB for free, the platform also offers proprietary solutions as well. Thanks to sharding (the use of several nodes), the database is also highly resilient.

Advantages of MongoDB

• Theoretically limitless scalability
• Very flexible
• High availability and reliability
• Suitable for structured, semi-structured and unstructured data
• User-friendly
• Data replication possible
• Ad hoc queries can be made

If you would like to find out more about how MongoDB and Couchbase compare, we recommend reading the detailed article on the two in our Digital Guide.

Apache Cassandra – The column-oriented solution for big data

Another strong alternative to Couchbase is Apache Cassandra. Apache Cassandra follows a similar approach to MONGODB. The column-oriented NoSQL platform is specially designed for big data and is used by companies and platforms such as Apple, Discord and Netflix. Cassandra uses its own language called CQL for queries. This is based on the classic SQL query language, making it easy to understand and quick to learn.

With the appropriate infrastructure, you can also use Cassandra to establish various master nodes. Doing so further minimises the risk of failure. The database is fast compared to other database management systems and can easily scale horizontally.

Advantages of Apache Cassandra

• Open source
• Designed for big data
• Horizontally and vertically scalable
• Cassandra Query Language (CQL) is based on SQL
• High reliability and availability
• Data replication possible
• Suitable for structured, semi-structured and unstructured data
• Meets the ACID criteria (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability)
• Fast read and write access
• High fault tolerance

If you would like to find out more about Apache Cassandra, we recommend reading the comprehensive article about the database in our Digital Guide.

DynamoDB – Amazon’s managed NoSQL database

DynamoDB has made a name for itself in recent years as a powerful solution for large and small companies alike. The NoSQL database from Amazon has been available as a proprietary system within Amazon Web Services (AWS) since 2012. The database is fully managed and is primarily used for (web) applications, e-commerce solutions and gaming platforms.

DynamoDB is a key-value store where data is stored and managed schema-free. The serverless database has high speeds, outstanding user-friendliness and is available on a pay-as-you-go basis. As part of the AWS ecosystem, updates, security scans and scaling are all done automatically.

Advantages of DynamoDB

• Serverless
• Very user-friendly due to complete management
• Strongly embedded in the AWS ecosystem
• Good security architecture
• Theoretically limitless scalability
• Impressive speed for read and write operations
• On-demand options
• High availability

MySQL – The relational option for large amounts of data

Maybe a classical SQL approach is better suited to your project. Using tables to store and manage data can have several advantages (depending on your requirements), and these types of databases can also be combined with NoSQL databases if needed. MySQL is perhaps the best-known and most popular relational database due to its flexibility.

The open-source solution distributed by Oracle works with tables and uses SQL for queries. It’s mainly used for data storage for different types of web services. Companies like Google, YouTube and WordPress all rely on MySQL. Thanks to its large and dedicated community and flat learning curve, it is an ideal option for beginners.

Advantages of MySQL

• Open source
• High stability
• User-friendly and easy to learn
• Strong performance
• Compatible with numerous languages, platforms and operating systems
• Committed community
• High availability
• Many functions
• Well suited for large amounts of data
• Clear user interface

You can find everything you need to know about MySQL, its advantages and suitable use cases in our Digital Guide.

Firebase – The Couchbase alternative from Google

Firebase, Google’s alternative to Couchbase, also deserves a mention. Originally designed as a simple NoSQL solution, Firebase now includes 18 services. It is particularly impressive when working with mobile web applications. The real-time synchronization offers added value for gaming apps, chat programs and social networks.

Data is recorded and processed more quickly than in a lot of other databases, and the system relies on sharding, making it highly reliable. The database has a free trial period, after which, users can choose from a range of packages. The system can also be integrated with lots of Google services.

Advantages of Firebase

• High speed
• Ideal for mobile applications
• Strongly embedded in the Google ecosystem
• Cross-platform
• Free test phase
• Good support
• Impressive cloud connection
• Numerous testing services for analysis and optimisation
• Machine learning kit