AppBreakup
Submit an app
TiDB logo

TiDB

Open-source, MySQL-compatible distributed SQL database for transactions and real-time analytics.

Open sourceSelf-hostableDatabase management systems

Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, Linux, Self-hosted

Visit TiDBSee 5 alternatives

Is TiDB free?

Yes, free and open source

Free plan:
TiDB Cloud Starter, $0/month base
License:
Apache-2.0

Checked on TiDB's site Nov 8, 2026

Switch from TiDB to

All 5
Verified facts
4 of 4
Alternatives ranked
5
Approved reviews
0
Visits sent from here
0

About TiDB

TiDB is a distributed SQL database from PingCAP that speaks the MySQL protocol, so many MySQL applications and tools can connect to it with few changes. Under the hood it splits data across a row store for transactions and a column store for analytics, letting the same cluster serve OLTP queries and real-time reports without a separate warehouse or ETL step. It scales out by adding nodes and keeps data strongly consistent. The core database is open source under Apache 2.0 and can be run on your own infrastructure; PingCAP also sells TiDB Cloud, a managed service with a free starter tier, usage-based pricing and larger provisioned and dedicated plans on AWS, Google Cloud and Azure. Recent marketing leans on vector search and AI agent workloads. It suits teams that have outgrown a single MySQL server and want horizontal scaling, though running a self-managed cluster involves several components to operate.

Best for: Teams outgrowing a single MySQL server who want horizontal scale without leaving MySQL tools.

TiDB pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)

Each line is quoted from TiDB's own site, with the page it came from.

Plan or termWhat it saysCheckedSource
Free planTiDB Cloud Starter, $0/month baseNov 8, 2026pingcap.com

Pros and cons

What works

  • MySQL-compatible, so many existing apps and drivers work
  • Handles transactions and real-time analytics in one cluster
  • Open source under Apache 2.0 with a self-managed option
  • Managed cloud has a free starter allowance

Why people leave

  • Self-managed clusters have several components to run and monitor
  • Paid cloud tiers with provisioned capacity have high minimum charges
  • Not every MySQL feature behaves identically

TiDB vs CockroachDB, MySQL and MariaDB

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

AttributeTiDBCockroachDBMySQLMariaDB
PricingOpen sourcePaidOpen sourceOpen source
Verified price—30 days with $400 credit——
Free planTiDB Cloud Starter, $0/month baseNoFree appFree app
Open sourceYesNoYesYes
Self-hostableYesYesYesYes
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hostedWeb, Self-hostedLinux, Windows, macOS, Self-hostedLinux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted

Top TiDB alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1CockroachDB logo
    CockroachDB

    Distributed SQL with a Postgres-compatible interface instead of MySQL, strong on multi-region setups.

    71.8
  2. 2MySQL logo
    MySQL

    The original single-server engine, simpler to run when one primary and replicas are enough.

    64.8
  3. 3MariaDB logo
    MariaDB

    MySQL-compatible fork with Galera clustering, familiar to MySQL admins and free to run.

    61.8
  4. 4PostgreSQL logo
    PostgreSQL

    Mature open-source relational database with a vast extension ecosystem, run on a single primary.

    59.4
  5. 5FoundationDB logo
    FoundationDB

    Lower-level distributed transactional store for teams who want to build their own data layers.

    57.5

Why people left TiDB

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from TiDB, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of TiDB
Your rating of TiDB

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

TiDB: common questions

What is TiDB?

TiDB: Open-source, MySQL-compatible distributed SQL database for transactions and real-time analytics. Best for teams outgrowing a single MySQL server who want horizontal scale without leaving MySQL tools. Available for Web and Linux, and you can host it yourself.

Is TiDB free?

Yes. TiDB is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

How much does TiDB cost?

TiDB is free and open source. Free plan: TiDB Cloud Starter, $0/month base. Checked on TiDB's own site, November 2026.

Is TiDB open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at pingcap/tidb. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does TiDB run on?

TiDB is available for Web, Linux and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to TiDB?

The highest-ranked TiDB alternatives right now are CockroachDB, MySQL and MariaDB. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

TiDB vs CockroachDB: what's the difference?

TiDB is free and open source; CockroachDB is a paid product. TiDB is open source and CockroachDB is not. Only TiDB runs on Linux.

See all 5 TiDB alternatives