eXist-db vs MongoDB
eXist-db: Open-source native XML database and XQuery application platform for documents and digital editions. MongoDB: The default document database: flexible BSON documents, rich queries and built-in sharding.
key differences
- eXist-db is primarily a XML database; MongoDB is document.
- Licensing: eXist-db is open source (copyleft) (GNU LGPL 2.1); MongoDB is source-available (Server Side Public License v1 (Community); commercial (Enterprise)).
- MongoDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than eXist-db (≤ 100 GB).
- Horizontal scaling is none in eXist-db and native in MongoDB.
- Transactions: eXist-db offers limited ACID; MongoDB offers full.
- Only eXist-db has triggers, stored procedures.
- Only MongoDB has transactions, vector search, geospatial, json, change data capture.
- eXist-db can run embedded in your application process.
choose exist-db for
- +TEI digital editions and scholarly archives
- +XML publishing pipelines
- +Metadata repositories with full-text search
best at · Content, Search, Scientific
choose mongodb for
- +Product catalogs with highly variable attributes
- +Content management and user-generated content
- +Mobile and web backends that evolve their schema weekly
- +IoT and event data with time-series collections
best at · OLTP, Content, Metadata
eXist-db vs MongoDB: FAQ
What is the difference between eXist-db and MongoDB?
eXist-db: Open-source native XML database and XQuery application platform for documents and digital editions. MongoDB: The default document database: flexible BSON documents, rich queries and built-in sharding. eXist-db is primarily a XML database; MongoDB is document. Licensing: eXist-db is open source (copyleft) (GNU LGPL 2.1); MongoDB is source-available (Server Side Public License v1 (Community); commercial (Enterprise)). MongoDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than eXist-db (≤ 100 GB).
When should I choose eXist-db over MongoDB?
Choose eXist-db for TEI digital editions and scholarly archives; XML publishing pipelines; and metadata repositories with full-text search. Choose MongoDB for product catalogs with highly variable attributes; content management and user-generated content; and mobile and web backends that evolve their schema weekly.
Is eXist-db or MongoDB more popular?
MongoDB ranks #4 on the WhichDB Score (80.5/100) and eXist-db ranks #170 (19.3/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are eXist-db and MongoDB open source?
Yes. eXist-db is open source. License: GNU LGPL 2.1. Not in the OSI sense. MongoDB is source-available: you can read the code, but the license restricts some uses, typically offering it as a competing managed service. License: Server Side Public License v1 (Community); commercial (Enterprise).