vs

FalkorDB vs LadybugDB

FalkorDB: Low-latency graph database using sparse matrices, the maintained successor to RedisGraph. LadybugDB: Community-maintained continuation of Kùzu: embedded columnar graph database with Cypher.

key differences

  • Licensing: FalkorDB is source-available (Server Side Public License v1); LadybugDB is open source (permissive) (MIT License).
  • Transactions: FalkorDB offers limited ACID; LadybugDB offers full.
  • Only FalkorDB has secondary indexes, geospatial, in-memory, role-based access.
  • Only LadybugDB has transactions, columnar storage, compression, runs in webassembly.
  • LadybugDB can run embedded in your application process.

choose falkordb for

  • +GraphRAG knowledge graphs for LLM apps
  • +Agent and user memory graphs
  • +Migrating off RedisGraph
  • +Real-time recommendation and fraud lookups

best at · Traversal, RAG, Knowledge graph

choose ladybugdb for

  • +Embedded graph analytics in Python notebooks
  • +Local GraphRAG and agent memory
  • +Migrating from archived Kùzu
  • +In-browser graph exploration via WebAssembly

best at · Graph analytics, Embedded, Knowledge graph

overview
Primary model
Graph
Graph
Also supports
Vector
Vector
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
FalkorDB Ltd.
LadybugDB developers (sponsored by Ladybug Memory)
First release
2023
2025
Latest version
6.0.3 (Oct 22, 2026)
0.22.0 (Oct 25, 2026)
License
Source-availableServer Side Public License v1
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
28.5
20.7
Rank
#97
#153
GitHub stars
10.5K
1.9K
Stack Overflow questions
8
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
Limited
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Schemaless
Strict
Architecture
In memory, Primary replica, Client server
Embedded
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
✓
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
—
✓
Edge
—
—
Clouds
AWS, Google Cloud
–
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
Cypher
Cypher
Client languages
Python, JavaScript, Java, Go, Rust, C#
Python, JavaScript, Rust, Java
Best for
Traversal, RAG, Knowledge graph, Vector search
Graph analytics, Embedded, Knowledge graph, RAG

FalkorDB vs LadybugDB: FAQ

What is the difference between FalkorDB and LadybugDB?

FalkorDB: Low-latency graph database using sparse matrices, the maintained successor to RedisGraph. LadybugDB: Community-maintained continuation of Kùzu: embedded columnar graph database with Cypher. Licensing: FalkorDB is source-available (Server Side Public License v1); LadybugDB is open source (permissive) (MIT License). Transactions: FalkorDB offers limited ACID; LadybugDB offers full. Only FalkorDB has secondary indexes, geospatial, in-memory, role-based access.

When should I choose FalkorDB over LadybugDB?

Choose FalkorDB for GraphRAG knowledge graphs for LLM apps; agent and user memory graphs; and migrating off RedisGraph. Choose LadybugDB for embedded graph analytics in Python notebooks; local GraphRAG and agent memory; and migrating from archived Kùzu.

Is FalkorDB or LadybugDB more popular?

FalkorDB ranks #97 on the WhichDB Score (28.5/100) and LadybugDB ranks #153 (20.7/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are FalkorDB and LadybugDB open source?

Not in the OSI sense. FalkorDB 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. Yes. LadybugDB is open source. License: MIT License.