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CouchDB

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Document database with sync and offline support

Data & DatabasesServerless DatabasesHosting & Deployment
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Reviews onG2
64 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Easy replication

Biggest con

Slower than alternatives

TL;DR - CouchDB

  • CouchDB is a document-oriented database that uses JSON and JavaScript for queries
  • It provides built-in replication, offline-first sync, and a RESTful HTTP API
  • Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
3.9/5 across review platforms

What is CouchDB?

Editorial review
CouchDB stores JSON documents with built-in synchronization and conflict resolution. Deploy it anywhere, work offline, and trust that data will sync when connectivity returns. The replication protocol is elegant and proven. REST API makes access straightforward. The focus on reliability over speed serves specific use cases well. Applications with offline requirements or multi-master replication needs choose CouchDB for a database designed around sync.

Available on: Linux

how we evaluateSourcecouchdb.apache.org ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Easy replication
  • HTTP API
  • Offline-first friendly
  • Reliable sync
  • Good for mobile

Cons

  • Slower than alternatives
  • Limited query options
  • Smaller community
  • Resource usage
  • Less active development

Ratings Across the Web

3.9(64 reviews)
G264 reviews
3.9/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Document databaseMulti-master replicationOffline firstHTTP APIACIDOpen source

Pricing Plans

Open Source

Free

Apache 2.0

  • Document database
  • Multi-master sync
  • RESTful HTTP API
  • Full features
Calculate your costView full pricing

Reviews

3.9/5

Across 64 verified user reviews on G2

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Best CouchDB Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

MongoDB logo
MongoDBFreemium

Document database that made NoSQL mainstream

4.6
Couchbase logo
CouchbasePaid

Distributed NoSQL cloud database

4.3
RethinkDB logo
RethinkDBFree

Real-time database for modern apps

3.6
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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

CouchDB vs MongoDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsCouchDB vs CouchbaseHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsCouchDB vs RethinkDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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CouchDB FAQ

Is CouchDB free?

Yes, Apache CouchDB is free and open source. Apache 2.0 license. Document database.

What is CouchDB?

CouchDB is a document database with HTTP API. Built-in replication and offline-first design. JSON documents.

CouchDB vs MongoDB?

CouchDB has master-master replication. MongoDB is more popular with more features. CouchDB for sync scenarios.

What is CouchDB good for?

Offline-first apps, multi-device sync, distributed systems. Built-in conflict resolution.

Source: couchdb.apache.org