Materialize vs ClickHouse: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Materialize and ClickHouse comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Materialize
The Live Data Layer for Apps and AI Agents, enabling real-time insights with SQL.
Best for you if:
- • You need big data analytics features specifically
- • Provides a live data layer for real-time applications and AI agents.
- • Processes data streams and allows querying fresh data using standard SQL.
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.0/10 vs 7.1/10)
- • You need web analytics features specifically
- • ClickHouse is a column-oriented database for real-time analytics on massive datasets
- • It delivers sub-second query performance on billions of rows for OLAP workloads
| At a Glance |  Materialize |  ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Paid |
Best For | Big Data Analytics | Web Analytics |
Rating | 71/100 | 90/100 |
| Feature | Materialize | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 71 | 90 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Big Data AnalyticsBusiness Intelligence | Web AnalyticsProduct Analytics |
How Materialize and ClickHouse Compare
Materialize
The Live Data Layer for Apps and AI Agents, enabling real-time insights with SQL.
Paid · 71/100 score
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Paid · 90/100 score
Materialize is a big data analytics tool. ClickHouse is in web analytics.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: ClickHouse
Want the highest-rated option?
Materialize: 71/100. ClickHouse: 90/100.
Go with: ClickHouse
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: ClickHouse
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Materialize is a big data analytics tool. ClickHouse is in web analytics. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
ClickHouse scores higher: 90/100 vs 71/100.
Key Takeaways
ClickHouse
- Higher score: 90/100 vs 71
- Our pick for this comparison
Materialize
- Better fit for big data analytics
The Bottom Line
ClickHouse (90/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Materialize or ClickHouse better?
ClickHouse scores 90/100 in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Materialize and ClickHouse used for?
Materialize: The Live Data Layer for Apps and AI Agents, enabling real-time insights with SQL.. ClickHouse: Fast open-source analytics database.
What does Materialize cost vs ClickHouse?
Materialize is a paid tool. ClickHouse is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.