RxDB review
A strong fit for offline-first JavaScript apps that need local data and synchronization.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
RxDB is an open-source, local-first NoSQL database for JavaScript applications. It stores JSON documents in browsers, mobile apps, desktop environments, and servers, making it suited to offline-capable products that need local persistence and synchronization. Its core capabilities include reactive observable queries, JSON Schema validation, schema migrations, conflict handling, revisions, encrypted fields and attachments, and JSON import and export. RxDB supports web, iOS, and Android applications, with storage options that include IndexedDB, SQLite, Dexie, and LocalStorage.
The Free plan provides the open-source core, schemas, queries, hooks, replication, realtime sync, schema validation, migrations, and Dexie, Memory, and LokiJS storage. It supports up to 13 open collections in parallel. Pro costs $99 per month billed annually and adds OPFS, IndexedDB, SQLite, and Filesystem storage, plus WebCrypto encryption, Fulltext Search, and unlimited developers. Pro Plus costs $239 per month billed annually and adds Worker and Shared Worker storage, sharding, memory-mapped storage, a Query Optimizer, and Fastify and Koa server adapters. Enterprise adds a custom commercial license and MSA, support SLA, architecture review and onboarding, and source code access.
Integration breadth is a major consideration: RxDB can replicate through RxServer, GraphQL, Firebase, Supabase, MongoDB, NATS, HTTP, CouchDB, WebRTC, Appwrite, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or custom servers. The trade-off is that deployment is self-hosted rather than a managed RxDB cloud service, so teams choose and operate the synchronization backend or service. RxDB also does not provide transactions or a dedicated vector-database plugin. Choose it for offline-first applications where local data, reactive access, and synchronization are central. Consider an alternative when managed hosting, transactions, or dedicated vector search is a primary requirement.
RxDB pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Reactive queries, replication, conflict handling, and schema migrations
- Open-source Free plan with multiple storage engines
- Integrates with GraphQL, Firebase, Supabase, MongoDB, and CouchDB
- Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires a separate backend or service
- No transactions or dedicated vector-search plugin
- Paid plans start at $99 per month billed annually
RxDB fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update