Best Columnar Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: Exasol is ranked #1 of 24 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of InfluxDB and QuestDB. The best-ranked option with a free plan is InfluxDB. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Redshift at $0.54/mo.
Choosing a columnar database starts with how data is stored, deployed, and made available for analysis. Compare deployment model and managed-service availability with object storage support and streaming ingestion to understand the options represented. Supported data formats and included storage add practical details to assess, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer cost context. Exasol, Databend, and QuestDB head the ranking, followed by Apache Doris and Amazon Redshift. Consider how data reaches the database and which formats you use, then weigh those needs against the listed deployment, storage, and service options.
24 columnar databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Exasol Top pick · 7.9 Free plan · $3.30/mo
#2 InfluxDB Runner-up · 7.9 
#3 QuestDB Also great · 7.7 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$3.30/mofirst paid tier About ExasolVisit site - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 250 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$250/mofirst paid tier About MotherDuckVisit site - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebRecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
- Free plan extensionLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Deployment model
- cloud
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiself-hostedWebRecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
- Free plan Linuxself-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - AndroidapiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 290 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$290/mofirst paid tier About GreptimeDBVisit site - Free trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.54/mofirst paid tier About Amazon RedshiftVisit site - Free trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 50 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$53/mofirst paid tier About ClickHouse CloudVisit site - AndroidapiiOSLinuxWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - apiLinuxself-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - LinuxmacOS
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Managed service
- No
- Streaming ingestion
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Linuxself-hosted
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Object storage support
- Yes
- Streaming ingestion
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which columnar database is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Exasol is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 7.9. InfluxDB is second and QuestDB third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 of the 24 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Redshift has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.54/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.