RisingWave vs ClickHouse: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between RisingWave 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:
RisingWave
Enterprise-grade event streaming platform for real-time agents, apps, and analytics.
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need big data analytics features specifically
- • Real-time event streaming platform with sub-100ms latency.
- • Unifies streaming and lakehouse with built-in Apache Iceberg integration.
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.0/10 vs 7.7/10)
- • 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 |  RisingWave |  ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Big Data Analytics | Web Analytics |
Rating | 77/100 | 90/100 |
| Feature | RisingWave | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 77 | 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 RisingWave and ClickHouse Compare
RisingWave
Enterprise-grade event streaming platform for real-time agents, apps, and analytics.
Free tier available · 77/100 score
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Paid · 90/100 score
RisingWave is a big data analytics tool. ClickHouse is in web analytics.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
RisingWave has a free tier. ClickHouse is paid only.
Go with: RisingWave
Want the highest-rated option?
RisingWave: 77/100. 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?
RisingWave is freemium. ClickHouse is paid. RisingWave lets you start free.
What's your use case?
RisingWave 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 77/100.
Key Takeaways
ClickHouse
- Higher score: 90/100 vs 77
- Our pick for this comparison
RisingWave
- Has a free tier
- Better fit for big data analytics
The Bottom Line
ClickHouse (90/100) is our pick. RisingWave has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RisingWave or ClickHouse better?
ClickHouse scores 90/100 in our evaluation. RisingWave is freemium and ClickHouse is paid.
What are RisingWave and ClickHouse used for?
RisingWave: Enterprise-grade event streaming platform for real-time agents, apps, and analytics.. ClickHouse: Fast open-source analytics database.
What does RisingWave cost vs ClickHouse?
RisingWave is freemium (free tier + paid plans). ClickHouse is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.