Firebolt vs Greenplum Database
Firebolt
firebolt.ioGreenplum Database
greenplum.orgSide by side
| Figure | Firebolt | Greenplum Database |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Data Warehouse Software | 8.0 (#8) | 8.1 (#7) |
| Spec score · Analytics Databases | 8.0 (#13) | 8.2 (#12) |
| Spec score · OLAP Databases | 7.9 (#14) | 8.1 (#11) |
| Spec score · Analytics Data | 8.0 (#15) | 8.2 (#11) |
| Spec score · Analytical Data Store Software | 7.9 (#14) | 8.1 (#10) |
| Spec score · OLAP Software | 7.9 (#18) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Deployment | It runs as a single binary on a laptop or as a cluster of hundreds of nodes in your own cloud. | The maker lists deployment on public clouds including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, as well as VCF, OpenStack private clouds, and on-premises. |
| Integrations | It integrates with Looker, Tableau, Power BI, Postgres-compatible tools, Go, JDBC, .NET, Node.js, Python, Rust, SQLAlchemy, and REST API clients. | The maker describes streaming ingestion with Tanzu Greenplum Streaming Server on Kubernetes and a certified standalone Apache NiFi connector for Greenplum 7. |
| Product | Firebolt is a high-performance, open-source analytical database for engineers with Postgres-compatible SQL. | Greenplum Database is an open-source data warehouse based on PostgreSQL for analytics on petabyte-scale data. |
| Security | Firebolt lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27018, HIPAA support, GDPR alignment, MFA, RBAC, and encryption in transit and at rest. | The maker states Tanzu Greenplum uses STIG hardening and FIPS 140-3 cryptographic modules for encryption at rest and in transit. |
| Storage | The platform supports Apache Iceberg and DuckLake and uses open storage standards. | It supports append-optimized row or column storage, and its column-oriented storage can be compressed. |
| Support | The pricing page lists audit logs, metrics, and support as managed-service capabilities. | The project repository directs users to online documentation and its wiki for further information. |
Plans
Greenplum Database
- Greenplum Database (open source)Free
- VMware Tanzu GreenplumPriced on request
In their own words
Firebolt
Firebolt is an open-source analytical database for engineers, with Postgres-compatible SQL and options for self-managed or managed deployment. It can run as a single binary on a laptop or scale to a cluster of hundreds of nodes in a customer’s cloud. Firebolt is designed for sub-second query latency and high-concurrency analytics, and supports Apache Iceberg and DuckLake using open storage standards. Deployment choices include a single binary, Helm chart, Kubernetes Operator, and managed service. Firebolt Core is free forever for self-hosted use, with no usage limits; it cannot be used to build a hosted SaaS that competes with Firebolt’s managed service. Managed compute is billed per second, with scale-to-zero, automatic start and stop, and autoscaling. Object storage is pass-through at $0.0264 / GB·mo, and the managed service includes $200 free credits. AI capabilities include query and embedding functions, vector search, an MCP Server, and a preview agent. Self-managed availability includes AWS and GCP, with Azure in preview; the managed service is currently AWS-only.
Greenplum Database
Greenplum Database is a PostgreSQL-based, open-source data warehouse for analytics, machine learning, and AI. Its architecture spreads data and query work across a cluster: a coordinator divides queries among segment servers. The project describes it for large analytical warehouses and business intelligence, including petabyte-scale data. Query planning can use GPORCA alongside the PostgreSQL-based planner. Storage options include append-optimized row and column formats, with compression for column storage. PXF connectors connect to Hadoop, object stores including Azure, Google Cloud Storage, MinIO, and S3, and SQL databases through JDBC. External tables can be queried or used to load outside data; PXF also supports querying Apache Iceberg foreign tables. Clients can connect through psql, ODBC, or JDBC. Greenplum is available as a free open-source project under Apache 2, while the commercial VMware Tanzu Greenplum offering is priced on request. It supports on-premises deployment and data lakes. Documented access control covers object privileges; row-level and column-level access controls are not supported.