Apache IoTDB vs GreptimeDB

Apache IoTDB9.3Visit GGreptimeDB7.7Visit

Higher score Apache IoTDB #1 in Time-Series Databases 9.3/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Apache IoTDB

vs

G GreptimeDB #13 in Time-Series Databases 7.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit GreptimeDB

• Apache IoTDB fits best

  IoT data with SQL and many ingestion options

• GreptimeDB fits best

  Observability data across metrics, logs, and traces

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Side by side

Feature	Apache IoTDB 9.3/10 Visit ↗	GGreptimeDB 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	7.7
Ranking	#1 in Time-Series Databases	#13 in Time-Series Databases
Best for	IoT data with SQL and many ingestion options	Observability data across metrics, logs, and traces
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Open source	$290/mo
Free plan	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, Linux	Web, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs · 24/7
Integrations	4 integrations	20 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache IoTDB 3/3 · GreptimeDB 3/3
SQL support	✓	✓
Retention policies	✓	✓
Horizontal scaling	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment	Both	Both
Query languages	IoTDB-SQL; Tree Mode SQL; Table Mode SQL	SQL, PromQL, Log Query
Ingestion methods	INSERT SQL; Java JDBC; Java, C++, Python, and Go native APIs; REST API; MQTT; CSV; TsFile	Prometheus Remote Write, OpenTelemetry OTLP/HTTP, Loki Push API, Elasticsearch Bulk API, InfluxDB Line Protocol, MySQL, PostgreSQL, gRPC, HTTP
Our review
Pros	High-throughput real-time and batch ingestion across multiple interfaces SQL with tree and table models, filtering, aggregation, and grouping TTL retention, cluster scaling, and broad analytics integrations	SQL and PromQL querying across observability data Ingests OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Loki, Elasticsearch, and InfluxDB Supports retention, continuous aggregation, and distributed deployment
Cons	Self-managed deployment places operations and maintenance on the organization Uses IoTDB SQL dialects rather than a single conventional SQL model Its broad ingestion and integration surface may exceed smaller IoT projects	Log Query is listed as experimental Self-managed deployment requires infrastructure ownership Bring Your Own Cloud pricing is custom
Our verdict	Apache IoTDB is an open-source, IoT-native time-series database for organizations managing large volumes of device and sensor data. It suits industrial use cases across energy, transportation, aerospace, manufacturing, and general IoT… Read the review →	GreptimeDB is an open-source, columnar database for storing and querying metrics, logs, traces, and other time-indexed data. It is aimed at teams that want one observability data layer with SQL for cross-signal analysis and PromQL for… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apache IoTDB — where it wins

  • High-throughput real-time and batch ingestion across multiple interfaces
  • SQL with tree and table models, filtering, aggregation, and grouping
  • TTL retention, cluster scaling, and broad analytics integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-managed deployment places operations and maintenance on the organization
  • Uses IoTDB SQL dialects rather than a single conventional SQL model
  • Its broad ingestion and integration surface may exceed smaller IoT projects

• GreptimeDB — where it wins

  • SQL and PromQL querying across observability data
  • Ingests OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Loki, Elasticsearch, and InfluxDB
  • Supports retention, continuous aggregation, and distributed deployment

  Where it doesn't

  • Log Query is listed as experimental
  • Self-managed deployment requires infrastructure ownership
  • Bring Your Own Cloud pricing is custom

• Apache IoTDB9.3/10 · Open source

  A focused open-source choice for high-volume IoT ingestion, SQL, retention, and scaling.

  Visit Apache IoTDBFull verdict →
• GGreptimeDB7.7/10 · Free plan

  A flexible observability database that combines SQL, PromQL, and broad ingestion support.

  Visit GreptimeDBFull verdict →