JayDB
JayDB: A low-cost hosted JSON database for small APIs, with self-hosting and browser tooling. Ranked #26 of 28 in Document Databases by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for small hosted hierarchical JSON APIs.
At a glance
- Editor score6.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSmall hosted hierarchical JSON APIs
- Free planYes
- Paid from$5 one-time
- Managed cloudYes
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free plan includes 1 GB stored and monthly read and write limits
- REST API, ETags, authentication, and typed browser document operations
- Supports S3, filesystem, and in-memory storage drivers
Where it doesn't
- No verified transaction support
- No verified vector-search capability
- Usage-based pricing is less predictable than fixed subscription tiers
Our verdict on JayDB
JayDB is a hierarchical JSON document database for backend-free applications, static frontends, AI-generated applications, multi-user state, and tenant-scoped data. It exposes document paths through a REST HTTP API and includes per-document ETags for compare-and-swap concurrency. Built-in OIDC and PKCE authentication, a browser SDK with typed document operations, and browser-based data and usage views make it suited to small applications that need direct client-to-data-plane access without building a conventional backend.
Pricing uses a free monthly plan alongside one-time usage packs. The Free plan costs $0 per month and includes 1 GB stored, 100,000 reads per month, 10,000 writes per month, and hard usage stops. A $5 one-time usage pack prepays metered usage, while a $10 one-time usage pack prepays a larger metered-usage balance. This structure can work well for prototypes and small workloads that benefit from spend limits, but teams expecting steady or highly variable usage may prefer a database with conventional subscription tiers and clearer recurring capacity planning.
JayDB’s strongest differentiator is its narrow combination of hierarchical documents, direct HTTP access, concurrency controls, and identity features. The open-source Go engine can be embedded or self-hosted, with S3, filesystem, and in-memory drivers; hosted deployments can connect with AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, MinIO, or Wasabi. Document formats include JSON, MsgPack, and Raw. Choose JayDB for small hosted JSON APIs, tenant-scoped data, and lightweight browser applications. Choose an alternative when verified transactions, vector search, or a broader database feature set are central requirements.
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JayDB pricing
All 6 JayDB plans and prices →
JayDB fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $5 one-time |
| Deployment model | Both |
| Managed cloud | Yes |
| Document formats | JSON, MsgPack, Raw |
| Transactions | No |
| Vector search | No |
| Maximum document size | 5 MB |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, MinIO, Wasabi, Google, GitHub … |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | jaydb.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
JayDB integrations
JayDB lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- AWS S3
- Cloudflare R2
- MinIO
- Wasabi
- GitHub
- Microsoft
- OIDC providers
Alternatives to JayDB
- MongoDB AtlasA managed MongoDB platform for production applications across cloud providers and regions.9.4
- Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQLA flexible Azure-native document database with global distribution and multiple throughput models.9.2
- Azure DocumentDBA feature-rich Azure document database with MongoDB compatibility and a free tier.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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