whichdb
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IndexedDB vs PouchDB

IndexedDB: The browser's built-in transactional object store, and the storage layer under most web local-first libraries. PouchDB: JavaScript database for browsers and Node that speaks the CouchDB replication protocol.

key differences

  • IndexedDB is primarily a key-value database; PouchDB is document.
  • Transactions: IndexedDB offers full ACID; PouchDB offers limited.
  • Only IndexedDB has transactions.
  • Only PouchDB has json, change data capture, in-memory, offline sync.

choose indexeddb for

  • +Offline caches for progressive web apps
  • +Storage backend for local-first JavaScript libraries
  • +Persisting large client-side datasets and files

best at · Embedded, Local-first, Mobile/offline

choose pouchdb for

  • +Offline-capable web apps with a CouchDB backend
  • +Field data collection that syncs when back online
  • +Electron desktop apps needing replication

best at · Local-first, Mobile/offline, Embedded

IndexedDBThe browser's built-in transactional object store, and the storage layer under most web local-first libraries.
PouchDBJavaScript database for browsers and Node that speaks the CouchDB replication protocol.
overview
Primary model
Key-Value
Document
Also supports
Document
–
Type
Embedded library
Embedded library
Status
Active
Active
Developer
W3C Web Applications Working Group (implemented by browser vendors)
Apache Software Foundation (PouchDB community)
First release
2011
2012
Latest version
–
9.0.0 (Jun 21, 2024)
License
Open source (permissive)W3C Royalty-Free standard (browser implementations vary)
Open source (permissive)Apache License 2.0
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
31.3
23.2
Rank
#78
#130
GitHub stars
264
17.6K
Stack Overflow questions
2.4K
1.5K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
Full
Limited
Consistency
Strong
Eventual
Schema
Flexible
Schemaless
Architecture
Embedded
Embedded
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
IndexedDB API (key ranges and cursors)
Mango (CouchDB find), MapReduce views
Client languages
JavaScript
JavaScript
Best for
Embedded, Local-first, Mobile/offline, Cache
Local-first, Mobile/offline, Embedded
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

IndexedDB vs PouchDB: FAQ

What is the difference between IndexedDB and PouchDB?

IndexedDB: The browser's built-in transactional object store, and the storage layer under most web local-first libraries. PouchDB: JavaScript database for browsers and Node that speaks the CouchDB replication protocol. IndexedDB is primarily a key-value database; PouchDB is document. Transactions: IndexedDB offers full ACID; PouchDB offers limited. Only IndexedDB has transactions.

When should I choose IndexedDB over PouchDB?

Choose IndexedDB for offline caches for progressive web apps; storage backend for local-first JavaScript libraries; and persisting large client-side datasets and files. Choose PouchDB for offline-capable web apps with a CouchDB backend, field data collection that syncs when back online and electron desktop apps needing replication.

Is IndexedDB or PouchDB more popular?

IndexedDB ranks #78 on the WhichDB Score (31.3/100) and PouchDB ranks #130 (23.2/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are IndexedDB and PouchDB open source?

Yes. IndexedDB is open source. License: W3C Royalty-Free standard (browser implementations vary). Yes. PouchDB is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.