FoundationDB vs Google Cloud Spanner
FoundationDB: Apple's ordered, strictly serializable distributed key-value store, built to have layers on top. Google Cloud Spanner: Google's globally consistent, horizontally scaling SQL service with graph, vector and full-text built in.
key differences
- FoundationDB is primarily a key-value database; Google Cloud Spanner is relational.
- Licensing: FoundationDB is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); Google Cloud Spanner is proprietary (Proprietary (Google Cloud service)).
- Google Cloud Spanner is built for larger datasets (Multi-PB) than FoundationDB (≤ 1 PB).
- Only FoundationDB has pub/sub.
- Only Google Cloud Spanner has joins, secondary indexes, full-text search, vector search, json.
choose foundationdb for
- +Metadata stores for larger systems (catalogs, object stores)
- +Foundation for custom databases and layers
- +Multi-tenant app backends via the Record Layer
- +Transactional queues and job systems
best at · OLTP, Metadata, Queue
choose google-cloud-spanner for
- +Global financial ledgers and payment systems
- +Gaming backends with worldwide player state
- +Inventory and supply-chain systems of record
- +Identity and metadata services at very high write rates
best at · OLTP, Traversal, Vector search
FoundationDB vs Google Cloud Spanner: FAQ
What is the difference between FoundationDB and Google Cloud Spanner?
FoundationDB: Apple's ordered, strictly serializable distributed key-value store, built to have layers on top. Google Cloud Spanner: Google's globally consistent, horizontally scaling SQL service with graph, vector and full-text built in. FoundationDB is primarily a key-value database; Google Cloud Spanner is relational. Licensing: FoundationDB is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); Google Cloud Spanner is proprietary (Proprietary (Google Cloud service)). Google Cloud Spanner is built for larger datasets (Multi-PB) than FoundationDB (≤ 1 PB).
When should I choose FoundationDB over Google Cloud Spanner?
Choose FoundationDB for metadata stores for larger systems (catalogs, object stores); foundation for custom databases and layers; and multi-tenant app backends via the Record Layer. Choose Google Cloud Spanner for global financial ledgers and payment systems; gaming backends with worldwide player state; and inventory and supply-chain systems of record.
Is FoundationDB or Google Cloud Spanner more popular?
FoundationDB ranks #54 on the WhichDB Score (36.8/100) and Google Cloud Spanner ranks #59 (34.5/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are FoundationDB and Google Cloud Spanner open source?
Yes. FoundationDB is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. No. Google Cloud Spanner is proprietary, closed-source software.