whichdb
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dqlite vs rqlite

dqlite: Canonical's embeddable C library that makes SQLite highly available with Raft replication. rqlite: Lightweight distributed database that replicates SQLite over Raft behind a simple HTTP API.

key differences

  • Licensing: dqlite is open source (copyleft) (LGPL-3.0 with static-linking exception); rqlite is open source (permissive) (MIT License).
  • Transactions: dqlite offers full ACID; rqlite offers limited.
  • Only rqlite has full-text search, change data capture, in-memory.
  • dqlite can run embedded in your application process.

choose dqlite for

  • +Cluster state for infrastructure software (LXD, MicroK8s)
  • +Kubernetes datastore replacement for etcd via kine
  • +HA configuration stores in edge appliances
  • +Embedding a replicated database in Go services

best at · Coordination, Metadata, Embedded

choose rqlite for

  • +Control-plane and configuration state for distributed systems
  • +Small HA databases at the edge or in IoT gateways
  • +Service metadata where SQLite simplicity is wanted with failover
  • +Read-heavy reference data across sites

best at · Coordination, Metadata, Edge

dqliteCanonical's embeddable C library that makes SQLite highly available with Raft replication.
rqliteLightweight distributed database that replicates SQLite over Raft behind a simple HTTP API.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
–
–
Type
Embedded library
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Canonical
Philip O'Toole and contributors
First release
2017
2014
Latest version
1.18.7 (Jul 2, 2026)
10.6.5 (Oct 24, 2026)
License
Open source (copyleft)LGPL-3.0 with static-linking exception
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
8.4
14.5
Rank
#324
#230
GitHub stars
4.4K
17.9K
Stack Overflow questions
–
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
Read replicas
ACID
Full
Limited
Consistency
Strong
Strong, Eventual
Schema
Flexible
Flexible
Architecture
Embedded, Distributed
Distributed, Client server
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
✓
—
Edge
✓
✓
Clouds
–
–
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
SQL
SQL
Client languages
C, Go, Python
Go, Python, JavaScript, Java, Rust, C#
Best for
Coordination, Metadata, Embedded, Edge
Coordination, Metadata, Edge, OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

dqlite vs rqlite: FAQ

What is the difference between dqlite and rqlite?

dqlite: Canonical's embeddable C library that makes SQLite highly available with Raft replication. rqlite: Lightweight distributed database that replicates SQLite over Raft behind a simple HTTP API. Licensing: dqlite is open source (copyleft) (LGPL-3.0 with static-linking exception); rqlite is open source (permissive) (MIT License). Transactions: dqlite offers full ACID; rqlite offers limited. Only rqlite has full-text search, change data capture, in-memory.

When should I choose dqlite over rqlite?

Choose dqlite for cluster state for infrastructure software (LXD, MicroK8s); kubernetes datastore replacement for etcd via kine; and HA configuration stores in edge appliances. Choose rqlite for control-plane and configuration state for distributed systems; small HA databases at the edge or in IoT gateways; and service metadata where SQLite simplicity is wanted with failover.

Is dqlite or rqlite more popular?

rqlite ranks #230 on the WhichDB Score (14.5/100) and dqlite ranks #324 (8.4/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are dqlite and rqlite open source?

Yes. dqlite is open source. License: LGPL-3.0 with static-linking exception. Yes. rqlite is open source. License: MIT License.