ArcadeDB
activeby Arcade Data Ltd. · since 2021
Multi-model Java database speaking SQL, Cypher, Gremlin, MongoDB and Redis protocols.
Overview
ArcadeDB is an open-source multi-model database by Luca Garulli, the creator of OrientDB, and is a conceptual successor to it rebuilt for lower overhead. A single engine stores graphs, documents, key-value pairs, time series and vector embeddings, and you can query it with its SQL dialect, openCypher, Gremlin or GraphQL, or connect over the PostgreSQL, MongoDB and Redis wire protocols. It runs embedded in a JVM or as a server with Raft-based replication. It is a good fit when you want one flexible, Apache-licensed store for mixed graph and document data, but it is a small project with modest community adoption.
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
- +Graph, document, key-value, time-series and vector in one ACID engine
- +Many query languages and wire protocols lower migration effort
- +Embeddable in JVM apps or run as a server
- +Apache 2.0 with a monthly release cadence
Trade-offs
- −Small community and few large public references
- −No sharding; scale-out is replication only
- −Protocol compatibility layers cover subsets of each foreign API
Great for
- +Migrating off OrientDB
- +Mixed graph and document app backends
- +Embedded multi-model storage in Java
- +Graph plus vector retrieval
Think twice for
- −Very large distributed graphs
- −RDF/SPARQL workloads
- −Teams wanting a large vendor ecosystem
Capabilities
Native or official first-party support · 9 of 25 tracked
Scale & consistency
- Comfortable data size
- Medium · ≤ 10 TB
- Horizontal scaling
- None
- Multi-region
- No
- Transactions
- Full ACID
- Consistency
- Strong
- Schema
- Flexible
- Architecture
- Single node, Primary replica, Embedded, Client server
- Query languages
- SQL, Cypher, Gremlin, GraphQL, MongoDB query language
Leader-replica HA via Raft; each server holds a full copy.
Deployment
Ecosystem
Alternatives to ArcadeDB
Early Java multi-model database mixing documents, graphs and objects, now in patch-only mode.
arcadedb vs orientdb →Native multi-model database: documents, graphs, search and vectors behind one query language.
arcadedb vs arangodb →Rust multi-model database (documents, graph, vectors, live queries) that runs embedded, in WASM or clustered.
arcadedb vs surrealdb →The default property-graph database, with Cypher, a big ecosystem and a managed cloud.
arcadedb vs neo4j →In-memory, Cypher-compatible graph database in C++ for streaming and real-time graph workloads.
arcadedb vs memgraph →Distributed, horizontally scalable graph database in Go with native GraphQL and DQL.
arcadedb vs dgraph →ArcadeDB FAQ
What is ArcadeDB?
ArcadeDB is a graph database by Arcade Data Ltd., first released in 2021. ArcadeDB is an open-source multi-model database by Luca Garulli, the creator of OrientDB, and is a conceptual successor to it rebuilt for lower overhead. A single engine stores graphs, documents, key-value pairs, time series and vector embeddings, and you can query it with its SQL dialect, openCypher, Gremlin or GraphQL, or connect over the PostgreSQL, MongoDB and Redis wire protocols. It runs embedded in a JVM or as a server with Raft-based replication. It is a good fit when you want one flexible, Apache-licensed store for mixed graph and document data, but it is a small project with modest community adoption.
Is ArcadeDB open source?
Yes. ArcadeDB is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.
Does ArcadeDB support ACID transactions?
Yes. ArcadeDB supports full ACID transactions, with strong consistency.
Does ArcadeDB scale horizontally?
ArcadeDB 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).
How can I run ArcadeDB?
You can self-host it and embed it in your application.
What is ArcadeDB best for?
ArcadeDB is a strong fit for migrating off OrientDB; mixed graph and document app backends; and embedded multi-model storage in Java. Think twice for very large distributed graphs.
What are the best alternatives to ArcadeDB?
Common alternatives to ArcadeDB include OrientDB, ArangoDB, SurrealDB, Neo4j and Memgraph. The right choice depends on your workload, scale and hosting; WhichDB's smart match ranks them against your requirements.
How popular is ArcadeDB?
ArcadeDB ranks #240 of 844 databases on the WhichDB Score (13.9/100), and #19 among graph databases. The score combines public adoption signals such as package downloads, GitHub activity, job posts and developer discussion.