SingleStore
Distributed SQL database that runs transactions and analytics in one engine, as a cloud service or self-managed.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About SingleStore
SingleStore is a distributed SQL database built to handle fast transactional writes and heavy analytical queries in the same engine, an approach usually called HTAP. Teams use it when they would otherwise copy data from an operational database into a separate warehouse just to run reports or power real-time dashboards. It speaks a MySQL-compatible dialect, stores data in both row and column formats, and has added vector search and connections to open table formats like Apache Iceberg for AI and lakehouse work. The main offering is Helios, a managed cloud service on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud billed by compute credits per hour plus storage; there is a small free shared workspace for testing and new accounts get starting credits. A self-managed edition can be installed on your own servers or Kubernetes under a commercial licence. It suits engineering teams building data-heavy apps, customer-facing analytics and real-time features who are comfortable with usage-based pricing.
Best for: Teams that need real-time analytics on live operational data without a separate warehouse.
Pros and cons
What works
- One engine for transactions and analytics cuts out ETL pipelines between databases
- MySQL wire compatibility lets many existing drivers and tools connect
- Managed service on all three major clouds, plus a self-managed edition
Why people leave
- Credit-based hourly billing makes monthly costs harder to predict
- Free tier is a single shared workspace meant only for evaluation
- Not open source, unlike TiDB or ClickHouse
Top SingleStore alternatives
See all 6- 1
CockroachDB64.8Distributed SQL with strong consistency, better suited when transactions matter more than analytics.
- 2
PlanetScale61.8Managed MySQL-compatible database with branching, a natural fit for app teams already on MySQL.
- 3
Tiger Data59.4Postgres-based option for time-series and real-time analytics if you prefer the Postgres ecosystem.
- 4
MongoDB Atlas55.9Managed document database with built-in vector search, for apps that fit a flexible schema.
- 5
ClickHouse54.5Open-source column store that is faster to adopt for pure real-time analytics and logs.
Why people left SingleStore
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SingleStore: common questions
Is SingleStore free?
SingleStore has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: 1 free shared workspace (checked on SingleStore's own site).
Is SingleStore open source?
No, SingleStore is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Tiger Data.
What platforms does SingleStore run on?
SingleStore is available for Web and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to SingleStore?
The highest-ranked SingleStore alternatives right now are CockroachDB, PlanetScale and Tiger Data. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.