Apache AGE
activeby Apache Software Foundation · since 2020 · also known as AGE, A Graph Extension
PostgreSQL extension that adds openCypher graph queries alongside SQL.
Overview
Apache AGE is a PostgreSQL extension that stores property graphs in Postgres tables and lets you query them with openCypher embedded in SQL, so graph and relational data share transactions, backups and tooling. It grew out of Bitnine's AgensGraph and became a top-level Apache project; releases track each Postgres major (1.8.0 for PostgreSQL 18 in 2026), and Azure Database for PostgreSQL offers it as a supported extension. It is the pragmatic option when your data already lives in Postgres and you need moderate graph querying, but deep traversals are slower than in native graph engines.
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
- +Graph queries and SQL joins over the same data in one ACID transaction
- +Reuses the whole Postgres toolchain: backups, replication, security, monitoring
- +Open source under Apache 2.0 with ASF governance
- +Available as a managed extension on Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Trade-offs
- −Traversals become relational joins, so deep multi-hop queries are slow
- −openCypher coverage is incomplete and error messages can be cryptic
- −Not available on many managed Postgres services (e.g. Amazon RDS)
- −Lags Postgres majors; separate builds per PostgreSQL version
Great for
- +Adding graph queries to an existing Postgres app
- +Moderate-size knowledge graphs
- +Hierarchies and dependency graphs
- +Prototyping graph features without a new database
Think twice for
- −Deep traversals on billion-edge graphs
- −Graph algorithms at scale
- −RDF/SPARQL workloads
Capabilities
Native or official first-party support · 8 of 25 tracked
Scale & consistency
- Comfortable data size
- Medium · ≤ 10 TB
- Horizontal scaling
- None
- Multi-region
- Read replicas
- Transactions
- Full ACID
- Consistency
- Strong
- Schema
- Flexible
- Architecture
- Single node, Primary replica, Client server
- Query languages
- openCypher, SQL
Inherits PostgreSQL scaling: vertical plus streaming replicas.
Deployment
available on · Azure
Ecosystem
Alternatives to Apache AGE
The extensible, standards-first open-source relational database.
apache-age vs postgresql →The default property-graph database, with Cypher, a big ecosystem and a managed cloud.
apache-age vs neo4j →In-memory, Cypher-compatible graph database in C++ for streaming and real-time graph workloads.
apache-age vs memgraph →Community-maintained continuation of Kùzu: embedded columnar graph database with Cypher.
apache-age vs ladybugdb →Zero-ETL graph query engine that runs Cypher and Gremlin directly on your lakehouse and SQL tables.
apache-age vs puppygraph →PostgreSQL fork with a built-in property graph model, mixing SQL, openCypher and ISO GQL.
apache-age vs agensgraph →Apache AGE FAQ
What is Apache AGE?
Apache AGE is a graph database by Apache Software Foundation, first released in 2020. Apache AGE is a PostgreSQL extension that stores property graphs in Postgres tables and lets you query them with openCypher embedded in SQL, so graph and relational data share transactions, backups and tooling. It grew out of Bitnine's AgensGraph and became a top-level Apache project; releases track each Postgres major (1.8.0 for PostgreSQL 18 in 2026), and Azure Database for PostgreSQL offers it as a supported extension. It is the pragmatic option when your data already lives in Postgres and you need moderate graph querying, but deep traversals are slower than in native graph engines.
Is Apache AGE open source?
Yes. Apache AGE is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.
Does Apache AGE support ACID transactions?
Yes. Apache AGE supports full ACID transactions, with strong consistency.
Does Apache AGE scale horizontally?
Apache AGE does not scale horizontally; it runs on a single node, so you scale it up rather than out. It is comfortable at medium scale (≤ 10 TB). It supports cross-region read replicas.
How can I run Apache AGE?
You can self-host it. Managed offerings include Azure Database for PostgreSQL (AGE extension). It is available on Azure.
What is Apache AGE best for?
Apache AGE is a strong fit for adding graph queries to an existing Postgres app; moderate-size knowledge graphs; and hierarchies and dependency graphs. Think twice for deep traversals on billion-edge graphs.
What are the best alternatives to Apache AGE?
Common alternatives to Apache AGE include PostgreSQL, Neo4j, Memgraph, LadybugDB and PuppyGraph. The right choice depends on your workload, scale and hosting; WhichDB's smart match ranks them against your requirements.
How popular is Apache AGE?
Apache AGE ranks #160 of 844 databases on the WhichDB Score (20.2/100), and #14 among graph databases. The score combines public adoption signals such as package downloads, GitHub activity, job posts and developer discussion.