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Aerospike Graph vs Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server

Aerospike Graph: Gremlin graph layer on the Aerospike database for billion-edge graphs with predictable latency. Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server: Apache TinkerPop's reference server for running Gremlin traversals over any compatible graph.

key differences

  • Licensing: Aerospike Graph is proprietary (Proprietary (Aerospike Enterprise)); Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0).
  • Aerospike Graph is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server (≤ 100 GB).
  • Horizontal scaling is native in Aerospike Graph and none in Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server.
  • Transactions: Aerospike Graph offers limited ACID; Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server offers none.
  • Only Aerospike Graph has secondary indexes, durable persistence, compression, encryption at rest, role-based access.
  • Only Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server has geospatial, in-memory.
  • Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server can run embedded in your application process.

choose aerospike-graph for

  • +Identity resolution graphs in ad tech
  • +Real-time fraud detection
  • +Customer 360 at large scale
  • +Device graphs

best at · Traversal, OLTP, Real-time analytics

choose apache-tinkerpop-gremlin-server for

  • +Local testing for Neptune or JanusGraph apps
  • +Prototyping Gremlin traversals
  • +Hosting a custom TinkerPop graph provider
  • +Teaching graph traversal concepts

best at · Traversal, Graph analytics

Aerospike GraphGremlin graph layer on the Aerospike database for billion-edge graphs with predictable latency.
Apache TinkerPop Gremlin ServerApache TinkerPop's reference server for running Gremlin traversals over any compatible graph.
overview
Primary model
Graph
Graph
Also supports
–
–
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Aerospike, Inc.
Apache Software Foundation
First release
2023
2015
Latest version
3.3.3 (Oct 21, 2026)
3.8.2 (Sep 1, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary (Aerospike Enterprise)
Open source (permissive)Apache License 2.0
Free tier
—
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
1.7
32.1
Rank
#518
#73
GitHub stars
–
2.2K
Stack Overflow questions
–
531
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
Native
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
None
ACID
Limited
None
Consistency
Strong, Eventual
Strong
Schema
Schemaless
Schemaless
Architecture
Distributed, Client server
In memory, Client server, Single node
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
—
✓
Edge
—
—
Clouds
AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
–
capabilities
Transactions
—
—
Joins
—
—
Secondary indexes
✓
—
Full-text search
—
—
Vector search
—
—
Geospatial
—
✓
JSON
—
—
Change data capture
—
—
Triggers
—
—
Stored procedures
—
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
—
—
Pub/Sub
—
—
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
—
✓
Durable persistence
✓
—
Compression
✓
—
Encryption at rest
✓
—
Role-based access
✓
—
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
✓
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
Gremlin
Gremlin
Client languages
Java, Python, JavaScript, .NET, Go
Java, Python, JavaScript, .NET, Go
Best for
Traversal, OLTP, Real-time analytics
Traversal, Graph analytics
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

Aerospike Graph vs Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server: FAQ

What is the difference between Aerospike Graph and Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server?

Aerospike Graph: Gremlin graph layer on the Aerospike database for billion-edge graphs with predictable latency. Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server: Apache TinkerPop's reference server for running Gremlin traversals over any compatible graph. Licensing: Aerospike Graph is proprietary (Proprietary (Aerospike Enterprise)); Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0). Aerospike Graph is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server (≤ 100 GB). Horizontal scaling is native in Aerospike Graph and none in Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server.

When should I choose Aerospike Graph over Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server?

Choose Aerospike Graph for identity resolution graphs in ad tech, real-time fraud detection and customer 360 at large scale. Choose Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server for local testing for Neptune or JanusGraph apps, prototyping Gremlin traversals and hosting a custom TinkerPop graph provider.

Is Aerospike Graph or Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server more popular?

Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server ranks #73 on the WhichDB Score (32.1/100) and Aerospike Graph ranks #518 (1.7/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Aerospike Graph and Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server open source?

No. Aerospike Graph is proprietary, closed-source software. Yes. Apache TinkerPop Gremlin Server is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.