SingleStore vs ClickHouse: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between SingleStore 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.
Bottom line: ClickHouse is our overall pick for data & databases workflows. Pick SingleStore if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
SingleStore
Distributed SQL database for real-time analytics
Best for you if:
- • SingleStore is a distributed SQL database for real-time analytics
- • It handles transactional and analytical workloads in one system
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Best for you if:
- • 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 |  SingleStore |  ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $0.69/moS-00 | Custom |
Best For | Data & Databases | Data & Databases |
Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose SingleStore or ClickHouse?
Choose SingleStore if
Distributed SQL database for real-time analytics
- Fast analytics database
- Good performance
- SQL compatible
Choose ClickHouse if
Fast open-source analytics database
- Extremely fast analytics
- Good compression
- SQL interface
| Feature | SingleStore | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.5/5 157 reviews | ★4.4/5 20 reviews |
| Categories | Data & DatabasesAnalytics | Data & DatabasesAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
SingleStore
Distributed SQL database for real-time analytics
Strengths
- +Fast analytics database
- +Good performance
- +SQL compatible
- +Active development
- +Good for real-time
Weaknesses
- -Expensive
- -Learning curve
- -Vendor lock-in
- -Complex pricing
- -Enterprise focus
Key features
Value 65/100. SingleStore's pricing, starting at $0.69/hour for S-00 ($374/month reserved) and quickly scaling to $2.75/hour for S-1 ($1,497/month reserved), appears expensive for smaller use cases when compared to other cloud database offerings.
Watch out: Reserved pricing requires commitment
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Strengths
- +Extremely fast analytics
- +Good compression
- +SQL interface
- +Column-oriented
- +Open source
Weaknesses
- -Not for OLTP
- -Updates expensive
- -Operations complex
- -Learning curve
- -Specific use cases
Key features
Value 80/100. ClickHouse Cloud is genuinely cheap for read-heavy analytical workloads thanks to aggressive columnar compression and per-minute compute billing.
Watch out: Internet egress fees ($0.0312-$0.162/GB depending on region) add up fast if you export query results to external dashboards or applications. A team exporting 100 GB/month from AWS us-east-1 pays an extra $11.50/month in egress alone.
Pricing: SingleStore vs ClickHouse
| Plan | SingleStore | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0.69 S-00 | Basic |
| Tier 2 | $1.38 S-0 | usage-based Scale |
| Tier 3 | $2.75 S-1 | custom Enterprise |
| Tier 4 | Custom Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on SingleStore pricing and ClickHouse pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: ClickHouse
Want the highest-rated option?
SingleStore: 4.5/5 (157 reviews). ClickHouse: 4.4/5 (20 reviews).
Go with: SingleStore
Value user reviews?
SingleStore: 157 reviews (4.5/5). ClickHouse: 20 reviews (4.4/5).
Go with: SingleStore
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?
Both are data & databases tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
SingleStore is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
ClickHouse
- Our pick for this comparison
SingleStore
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5
- Larger review base (157 reviews)
The Bottom Line
ClickHouse is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SingleStore or ClickHouse better?
ClickHouse is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are SingleStore and ClickHouse used for?
SingleStore: Distributed SQL database for real-time analytics. ClickHouse: Fast open-source analytics database.
What does SingleStore cost vs ClickHouse?
SingleStore is a paid tool. ClickHouse is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.