RethinkDB

Name: RethinkDB
Brand: RethinkDB
Rating: 3.6 (17 reviews)

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Real-time database for modern apps

Data & Databases WebSocket Tools

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3.6(17 across the web)

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Reviews onG2Capterra

17 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Real-time database

Biggest con

Less popular now

TL;DR - RethinkDB

RethinkDB is a real-time document database with push-based architecture
It pushes changes to applications in real-time for live updates
Completely free and open-source

Pricing: Free forever

Best for: Individuals & startups

3.6/5 across review platforms

What is RethinkDB?

Editorial review

RethinkDB stores data with real-time push. Database that pushes changes to applications-reactive data without polling. The real-time is native. The queries are expressive. The use cases are specific. Applications needing reactive data explore RethinkDB for push-based database.

Available on: Linux, macOS

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcerethinkdb.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Real-time database
Good for live updates
Open source
Good query language
Push architecture

Cons

Less popular now
Company dissolved
Community smaller
Production concerns
Better alternatives exist

Ratings Across the Web

3.6(17 reviews)

RethinkDB holds an aggregate rating of 3.6 out of 5 from 17 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked March 18, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Real-time databaseChangefeedsJSON documentsJoinsClusteringOpen source

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Aug 23, 2026

Open Source

Free

Full database features
Realtime push queries
JSON document store
Self-hosted

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is RethinkDB worth the price?

100/100

RethinkDB's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely open-source and free.

This makes it an incredibly fair and accessible option compared to proprietary database solutions. It's best for developers and organizations looking for a powerful real-time database without any direct licensing costs.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Infrastructure hosting costs

Operational management overhead

Developer time for setup

No official commercial support

How RethinkDB Compares to Competitors

Unlike commercial real-time databases like Firebase, which offers a free tier but scales to paid plans based on usage (e.g., $0.18/GB storage, $1/GB bandwidth), RethinkDB has no direct software cost. Similarly, MongoDB Atlas, another popular NoSQL database, has a free tier but quickly moves to paid clusters starting around $9/month for basic instances, whereas RethinkDB remains free regardless of scale (excluding infrastructure).

Reviews

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3.6/5

Across 17 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra

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Best RethinkDB Alternatives

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

View full list →

PostgreSQLFree

Advanced open source SQL database

4.5

Amazon DynamoDBPaid

Serverless NoSQL database with single-digit millisecond latency

4.4

SupabaseFreemium

Open source Firebase alternative

4.6

RedisFreemium

Managed in-memory database for real-time data across clouds

4.6

CockroachDBFreemium

Distributed SQL database built for cloud

4.3

Firebase FirestoreFreemium

Flexible, scalable NoSQL cloud database

4.6

See all data & databases tools →

Still deciding?

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

All RethinkDB alternatives6+ tools ranked, pricing + verdict per pick RethinkDB vs PostgreSQLHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins RethinkDB vs Amazon DynamoDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins RethinkDB vs SupabaseHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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RethinkDB FAQ

How does RethinkDB facilitate real-time application development?

RethinkDB natively pushes data changes to applications, eliminating the need for constant polling. This push-based architecture allows applications to react instantly to updates, making it suitable for live features.

Which teams would benefit most from using RethinkDB?

Teams building modern applications that require reactive data and live updates would find RethinkDB beneficial. Its push architecture is particularly well-suited for applications needing immediate data synchronization.

How is RethinkDB priced?

RethinkDB is free to use, as it is an open-source database. There are no paid plans or subscriptions required to utilize its features.

What kind of trade-offs should be considered when choosing RethinkDB?

A key trade-off is its current popularity and community size, which are smaller compared to other databases. The original company behind RethinkDB also dissolved, which can raise production concerns for some users.

Can RethinkDB be used for building WebSocket-driven applications?

Yes, RethinkDB is categorized under WebSocket Tools and is well-suited for such applications due to its real-time, push-based data delivery. It can efficiently power applications that rely on persistent, two-way communication.

How does RethinkDB compare to Firebase Firestore for real-time data?

RethinkDB offers native real-time push capabilities and an expressive query language, similar to Firebase Firestore's real-time features. However, RethinkDB is open-source and free to use, whereas Firebase Firestore is a managed service with its own pricing structure.

Source: rethinkdb.com

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