Actian Zen vs Google Cloud SQL

Actian Zen is an embedded database for managing data from edge devices through on-premises and cloud applications. Its lightweight engine combines relational storage, native vector search, semantic queries, and connectivity for AI agents. Vector search supports up to 1 million vectors, while hybrid queries combine relational filters with semantic similarity. A native MCP server allows agents such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to query local data. Zen supports SQL through ODBC and JDBC, and NoSQL through Btrieve and Btrieve 2 APIs. Semantic search, vector queries, and agent workflows can run offline, including in air-gapped environments. Zen Enterprise is designed for embedded, on-premises, and cloud deployments, including branch and remote field settings, and supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Intel, ARM, VMware, Hyper-V, and Docker. Zen Mobile supports Android and iOS with AES 256-bit encryption for stored data. Edge supports over 100 concurrent users; Enterprise is designed for thousands. A 30-day trial is available, with paid pricing from $417/mo (annual).

Google Cloud SQL is a managed cloud service for relational databases, supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. It provides automated backups, high availability, read replicas, scaling, and point-in-time restoration; retention can extend to 35 days. Database Migration Service can move databases from on-premises systems, Compute Engine, or other clouds, and lift-and-shift migrations to Cloud SQL are available at no additional charge. The service connects with Google Cloud products including Compute Engine, Cloud Run, Google Kubernetes Engine, Cloud IAM, BigQuery, and Datastream, as well as tools such as Looker and Terraform. It encrypts data in transit on Google’s internal networks and at rest, and supports private VPC connectivity and network firewalls. The dedicated trial provides PostgreSQL and MySQL Enterprise Plus instances for 30 days, with no automatic charge, followed by a 90-day stopped state. Cloud SQL is paid, from $0.04; there is no free plan. MySQL use is limited to the InnoDB storage engine.