whichdb
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DuckDB vs Valentina Server

DuckDB: In-process columnar SQL database: the SQLite of analytics, running inside your app or notebook. Valentina Server: Paradigma Software's multi-engine server: ValentinaDB, DuckDB and SQLite plus report and form servers.

key differences

  • DuckDB is primarily a columnar / OLAP database; Valentina Server is relational.
  • Licensing: DuckDB is open source (permissive) (MIT License); Valentina Server is proprietary (Commercial).
  • DuckDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than Valentina Server (≤ 100 GB).
  • Only DuckDB has full-text search, vector search, geospatial, json, columnar storage.
  • DuckDB can run embedded in your application process.

choose duckdb for

  • +Local data analysis in notebooks
  • +ETL and data-engineering pipelines on files
  • +Embedded analytics inside applications
  • +Querying data lakes on S3 without a cluster

best at · OLAP, Embedded, Lakehouse

choose valentina-server for

  • +ISVs shipping a database and reporting server with their app
  • +Serving DuckDB or SQLite files to networked clients
  • +Xojo desktop and web applications

best at · OLTP, OLAP, Embedded

DuckDBIn-process columnar SQL database: the SQLite of analytics, running inside your app or notebook.
Valentina ServerParadigma Software's multi-engine server: ValentinaDB, DuckDB and SQLite plus report and form servers.
overview
Primary model
Columnar / OLAP
Relational
Also supports
Relational, Document, Spatial, Vector
Object
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
DuckDB Foundation / DuckDB Labs
Paradigma Software
First release
2019
2001
Latest version
2.0.0 (Oct 21, 2026)
18.2.1 (Sep 29, 2026)
License
Open source (permissive)MIT License
ProprietaryCommercial
Free tier
✓
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
63.7
1.5
Rank
#13
#545
GitHub stars
42.6K
–
Stack Overflow questions
501
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Embedded, Single node, In memory
Client server, Single node
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 (PostgreSQL-like dialect)
SQL
Client languages
Python, R, Java, JavaScript, Go, Rust, C, Swift
Xojo
Best for
OLAP, Embedded, Lakehouse, Warehouse
OLTP, OLAP, Embedded
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

DuckDB vs Valentina Server: FAQ

What is the difference between DuckDB and Valentina Server?

DuckDB: In-process columnar SQL database: the SQLite of analytics, running inside your app or notebook. Valentina Server: Paradigma Software's multi-engine server: ValentinaDB, DuckDB and SQLite plus report and form servers. DuckDB is primarily a columnar / OLAP database; Valentina Server is relational. Licensing: DuckDB is open source (permissive) (MIT License); Valentina Server is proprietary (Commercial). DuckDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than Valentina Server (≤ 100 GB).

When should I choose DuckDB over Valentina Server?

Choose DuckDB for local data analysis in notebooks; ETL and data-engineering pipelines on files; and embedded analytics inside applications. Choose Valentina Server for ISVs shipping a database and reporting server with their app; serving DuckDB or SQLite files to networked clients; and xojo desktop and web applications.

Is DuckDB or Valentina Server more popular?

DuckDB ranks #13 on the WhichDB Score (63.7/100) and Valentina Server ranks #545 (1.5/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are DuckDB and Valentina Server open source?

Yes. DuckDB is open source. License: MIT License. No. Valentina Server is proprietary, closed-source software. License: Commercial.