Dgraph vs SurrealDB
Dgraph: Distributed, horizontally scalable graph database in Go with native GraphQL and DQL. SurrealDB: Rust multi-model database (documents, graph, vectors, live queries) that runs embedded, in WASM or clustered.
key differences
- Dgraph is primarily a graph database; SurrealDB is document.
- Licensing: Dgraph is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); SurrealDB is source-available (Business Source License 1.1 (converts to Apache 2.0 after 4 years)).
- Dgraph is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than SurrealDB (≤ 10 TB).
- Horizontal scaling is native in Dgraph and addon in SurrealDB.
- Only Dgraph has compression, encryption at rest.
- Only SurrealDB has joins, triggers, stored procedures, materialized views, pub/sub.
- SurrealDB can run embedded in your application process.
choose dgraph for
- +GraphQL application backends
- +Knowledge graphs and content relationships
- +Real-time recommendations
- +Metadata and lineage graphs
best at · OLTP, Traversal, Knowledge graph
choose surrealdb for
- +Greenfield apps wanting one backend for documents and relationships
- +Agent memory and knowledge graphs for AI applications
- +Local-first or in-browser data with WASM
- +Realtime collaborative features
best at · OLTP, Traversal, Vector search
Dgraph vs SurrealDB: FAQ
What is the difference between Dgraph and SurrealDB?
Dgraph: Distributed, horizontally scalable graph database in Go with native GraphQL and DQL. SurrealDB: Rust multi-model database (documents, graph, vectors, live queries) that runs embedded, in WASM or clustered. Dgraph is primarily a graph database; SurrealDB is document. Licensing: Dgraph is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); SurrealDB is source-available (Business Source License 1.1 (converts to Apache 2.0 after 4 years)). Dgraph is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than SurrealDB (≤ 10 TB).
When should I choose Dgraph over SurrealDB?
Choose Dgraph for GraphQL application backends; knowledge graphs and content relationships; and real-time recommendations. Choose SurrealDB for greenfield apps wanting one backend for documents and relationships; agent memory and knowledge graphs for AI applications; and local-first or in-browser data with WASM.
Is Dgraph or SurrealDB more popular?
SurrealDB ranks #94 on the WhichDB Score (28.8/100) and Dgraph ranks #137 (22.4/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are Dgraph and SurrealDB open source?
Yes. Dgraph is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Not in the OSI sense. SurrealDB is source-available: you can read the code, but the license restricts some uses, typically offering it as a competing managed service. License: Business Source License 1.1 (converts to Apache 2.0 after 4 years).