Apache IoTDB vs TimescaleDB
Apache IoTDB: Apache time-series database for industrial IoT with tree and table models and edge-to-cloud sync. TimescaleDB: PostgreSQL extension adding hypertables, columnar compression and continuous aggregates for time series.
key differences
- Licensing: Apache IoTDB is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); TimescaleDB is source-available (Apache-2.0 core + Timescale License (TSL) for advanced features).
- Apache IoTDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than TimescaleDB (≤ 10 TB).
- Horizontal scaling is native in Apache IoTDB and none in TimescaleDB.
- Transactions: Apache IoTDB offers none ACID; TimescaleDB offers full.
- Only Apache IoTDB has streaming ingest.
- Only TimescaleDB has transactions, secondary indexes, full-text search, vector search, json.
choose apache-iotdb for
- +Industrial equipment and PLC data
- +Power plant and wind turbine monitoring
- +Edge gateways syncing to a central cluster
- +Rail and vehicle telemetry
best at · IoT, Time-series, Edge
choose timescaledb for
- +IoT and sensor data joined with relational metadata
- +Financial tick and market data analytics in SQL
- +Product and application metrics dashboards
- +Energy and utility metering
best at · Time-series, Real-time analytics, IoT
Apache IoTDB vs TimescaleDB: FAQ
What is the difference between Apache IoTDB and TimescaleDB?
Apache IoTDB: Apache time-series database for industrial IoT with tree and table models and edge-to-cloud sync. TimescaleDB: PostgreSQL extension adding hypertables, columnar compression and continuous aggregates for time series. Licensing: Apache IoTDB is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); TimescaleDB is source-available (Apache-2.0 core + Timescale License (TSL) for advanced features). Apache IoTDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than TimescaleDB (≤ 10 TB). Horizontal scaling is native in Apache IoTDB and none in TimescaleDB.
When should I choose Apache IoTDB over TimescaleDB?
Choose Apache IoTDB for industrial equipment and PLC data; power plant and wind turbine monitoring; and edge gateways syncing to a central cluster. Choose TimescaleDB for IoT and sensor data joined with relational metadata; financial tick and market data analytics in SQL; and product and application metrics dashboards.
Is Apache IoTDB or TimescaleDB more popular?
TimescaleDB ranks #34 on the WhichDB Score (47.1/100) and Apache IoTDB ranks #133 (22.8/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are Apache IoTDB and TimescaleDB open source?
Yes. Apache IoTDB is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Not in the OSI sense. TimescaleDB is source-available: you can read the code, but the license restricts some uses, typically offering it as a competing managed service. License: Apache-2.0 core + Timescale License (TSL) for advanced features.