Best Time-Series Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: InfluxDB is ranked #1 of 36 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of QuestDB and VictoriaMetrics. The best-ranked option with a free plan is QuestDB. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Grafana k6 at $19/mo.
When your data arrives as measurements over time, a time-series database can shape how you ingest, retain, and query it. Compared on deployment, ingestion methods, query languages, and retention policies, the entries also provide details on horizontal scaling and SQL support. These distinctions can help you match a database to the way your data is collected and the queries your work requires. InfluxDB, QuestDB, and VictoriaMetrics are among the named options, alongside DolphinDB and TDengine. Check which deployment approaches and ingestion methods suit your environment, then weigh retention and scaling needs. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add further points to consider when comparing the available choices.
36 time-series databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 InfluxDB Top pick · 8.0 
#2 QuestDB Runner-up · 7.8 Free plan · Free
#3 VictoriaMetrics Also great · 7.8 Free plan · $200/mo
- Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- No
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$200/mofirst paid tier About VictoriaMetricsVisit site - Free planFree trial apiextensionLinuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$281.25/mofirst paid tier About TDengineVisit site - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- SQL support
- No
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - AndroidapiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 290 /mo
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$290/mofirst paid tier About GreptimeDBVisit site - Free plan Linux
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- SQL support
- No
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$19/mofirst paid tier About Grafana k6Visit site - Free trial self-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 30 /mo
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$30/mofirst paid tier About TimescaleDBVisit site - apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free trial Web
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 499 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$599/mofirst paid tier About GroveStreamsVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebWindowsmacOSLinux
- Deployment
- both
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebWindowsLinux
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- SQL support
- No
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebWindowsLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment
- cloud
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxmacOS
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebLinux
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebWindowsLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- self_hosted
- SQL support
- No
- Retention policies
- No
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- SQL support
- No
- Retention policies
- Yes
- Horizontal scaling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which time-series database is ranked first on Specifiction?
InfluxDB is ranked #1 of 36 with a score of 8.0. QuestDB is second and VictoriaMetrics third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Grafana k6 has the lowest first paid tier we found: $19/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.