Azure Cosmos DB vs. Google Cloud Datastore
When it comes to choosing the best cloud database for your needs, you have a multitude of options at your disposal, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Two popular choices are Azure Cosmos DB by Microsoft and Google Cloud Datastore. In this article, we'll compare the two databases side by side so that you can make an informed decision.
Basic Features
Azure Cosmos DB is an enterprise-level globally distributed, multi-model database service that supports document, key-value, graph, and column-family data models. It offers elastic scalability, high availability, and low-latency performance, as well as excellent support for data migration and multi-API access. On the other hand, Google Cloud Datastore is an auto-scalable NoSQL database that offers high-throughput, low-latency data access. It supports transactions, indexes, and queries and is ideal for use cases that require a flexible schema without the need for complex joins.
Performance and Latency
When it comes to performance and latency, both databases fare well but with some differences. Azure Cosmos DB offers a service-level agreement (SLA) of 99.99% uptime and throughput guarantees. It also boasts response times in milliseconds, even in globally distributed deployments. Google Cloud Datastore, on the other hand, offers high-throughput and low-latency data access with the ability to scale up or down automatically based on the workload.
According to tests run by third-party benchmarks, Azure Cosmos DB outperformed Google Cloud Datastore in terms of read and write latency by a significant margin. However, Google Cloud Datastore managed to provide uniform and predictable writes even under heavy write loads, unlike Azure Cosmos DB.
Pricing
Cost is always a factor when it comes to choosing cloud services, and Azure Cosmos DB and Google Cloud Datastore are no exception. Both services are based on a pay-as-you-go model, but their pricing plans differ. The pricing plan for Azure Cosmos DB is based on throughput, while Google Cloud Datastore's pricing plan is determined by the number of read, write, and delete operations performed along with the amount of data stored.
It's worth noting that the pricing for Azure Cosmos DB is generally more expensive than Google Cloud Datastore. According to a study conducted by SelectHub and based on a typical workload, Google Cloud Datastore costs around 37% less than Azure Cosmos DB.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Azure Cosmos DB and Google Cloud Datastore are excellent cloud databases that offer high performance, scalability, and flexibility. However, there are some differences that could potentially tip the scales in one direction or another depending on your use case. If you require an enterprise-level globally distributed, multi-model database service with transactional consistency and strong service-level agreements, Azure Cosmos DB is the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you need a more cost-effective NoSQL database service that offers flexibility and automatic scalability with high-throughput and low-latency access, Google Cloud Datastore is the way to go.