Apache Kudu vs Databend
Apache Kudu
kudu.apache.org
Databend
databend.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache Kudu | Databend |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $23/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Spec score · Columnar Databases | 8.1 (#11) | 9.2 (#3) |
| Integrations | The project lists Apache Impala, Apache NiFi, Apache Spark SQL, and Presto among its frequently used integrations. | Databend says it has more than 50 integrations spanning relational databases, streams and orchestrators, lake formats, cloud storage, visualization tools, languages and drivers. |
| Support | The project points users to documentation, mailing lists, and its chat room for help; training may be offered by third-party vendors. | The company page advertises 24/7 support, while plan details specify tier-specific response commitments. |
Plans
Databend
- CommunityFree
- Databend CommunityFree
- Business$23 a month
- Personal$23 a month
- DedicatedPriced on request
In their own words
Apache Kudu
Apache Kudu is an open-source distributed storage engine for analytics on rapidly changing data. It combines fast inserts and updates with efficient columnar scans in one storage layer. Tables use strongly typed columns and primary keys, allowing reads, updates, and deletes by key, with millisecond-scale access to individual rows. Java, C++, and Python APIs are provided, and frequently used integrations include Apache Impala, Apache NiFi, Apache Spark SQL, and Presto. Kudu runs on Linux, stores data in the Linux filesystem, and recommends ext4 or XFS for storage directories. Raft replicates tablet operations, while clients can use strict snapshot consistency. Security options include Kerberos authentication, TLS for authenticated internal connections, and fine-grained Apache Ranger authorization. It is self-hosted, supports Parquet, and is free under the Apache 2.0 license. Kudu is not designed as an OLTP system and does not currently support automatic record deletion through a time-to-live property. The listed latest release is 1.18.1, released January 9, 2026.