Bigtable vs. Cosmos DB: A Cloud Architecture Comparison
When it comes to cloud architecture, no two databases are created equal. This is exactly why we're here to compare two popular options: Google's Bigtable and Microsoft's Cosmos DB. Let's jump right in and compare their features and see which one comes out on top.
Basics
Taking London and New York as an example, we find the following data:
| Database | Latency London | Latency New York |
|---|---|---|
| Google Bigtable | 36ms | 19ms |
| Microsoft Cosmos DB | 36ms | 20ms |
Scalability
When it comes to scalability, both Bigtable and Cosmos DB can easily scale up to millions of requests per second. However, Bigtable tends to be more flexible in this regard, because it can handle huge amounts of data with low latency requirements. Cosmos DB, on the other hand, is a little more rigid in its scalability and requires many more nodes to achieve the same performance as Bigtable.
Cost
The cost of Bigtable varies depending on the location, the amount of data, and the number of requests you make. You can expect to pay around $0.65 per node per hour, plus additional costs for storage and data transfer.
Cosmos DB pricing is more complex, with different pricing plans available depending on how much data you're storing, how much you're transferring, and how much throughput you need. You can expect a basic plan to start at around $0.008 per hour, which includes up to 400 requests per second.
Features
Both Bigtable and Cosmos DB come with a range of features, including:
Google Bigtable
- Replication
- Indexing
- Authentication
- Security
Microsoft Cosmos DB
- Replication
- Indexing
- Authentication
- Security
- Multi-model support (document, graph, key-value, column-family)
The key feature that sets Cosmos DB apart is its multi-model support, which allows it to handle various types of databases. However, Bigtable stands out in its ease of use and its scalability.
Conclusion
So, which one is better? The answer depends on your needs. If you need a flexible database that can handle huge amounts of data with low latency requirements, go for Bigtable. If you need a more rigid database that can handle multiple database types, Cosmos DB is the way to go.
At the end of the day, both Bigtable and Cosmos DB are great databases for cloud architecture. It's up to you to determine which one works best for you, based on the specific requirements of your application.