Introduction
As organizations move to the cloud, managing complex data structures has become a significant challenge. Graph databases are a solution to this problem as they help organize and manage data more efficiently. In this blog, we will compare the top five graph databases: Neo4j, ArangoDB, OrientDB, JanusGraph, and Amazon Neptune. We aim to provide an unbiased comparison of each, giving you insights into which graph database is best for your organization.
Neo4j
Neo4j, launched in 2007, is considered the most popular graph database globally. It is known for its scalability and flexible data modeling. Neo4j supports ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) to maintain data consistency across multiple queries. Neo4j uses the property graph model, which allows developers to add properties to both edges and nodes.
- Queries per second: 50,000
- Maximum data set size: 50 billion nodes
ArangoDB
ArangoDB, launched in 2012, is a multistore database that supports document, key/value, and graph data models. The database allows users to efficiently manage joins and relationships between collections. ArangoDB uses the Arango Query Language (AQL), similar to SQL, to query data.
- Queries per second: 20,000
- Maximum data set size: 5 million nodes
OrientDB
OrientDB, launched in 2010, is a multi-model graph database that supports graph, document, and object data models. OrientDB is known for its distributed architecture, which allows it to scale horizontally across multiple servers. OrientDB supports ACID transactions and can be used with both SQL and a native query language.
- Queries per second: 5,000
- Maximum data set size: 100 million nodes
JanusGraph
JanusGraph, launched in 2017, is an open-source, distributed graph database that supports Apache TinkerPop. TinkerPop is a Gremlin- based graph traversal language that supports a wide range of graph databases. JanusGraph supports ACID transactions and can process complex graph queries efficiently.
- Queries per second: 10,000
- Maximum data set size: 10 million nodes
Amazon Neptune
Amazon Neptune, launched in 2017, is a fully managed graph database service that enables users to store and query data in a graph format. Neptune is built on a purpose-built graph infrastructure optimized for managing billions of relationships between billions of nodes. The database supports both property graphs and RDF-based models. Amazon Neptune is fully managed, which means users do not need to manage hardware or software.
- Queries per second: 50,000
- Maximum data set size: 100 billion nodes
Conclusion
It is clear that these graph databases have unique features that make them stand out from each other. While Neo4j is the most popular database, Amazon Neptune is the newest player in the game, with the ability to handle massive data sets with ease.
When selecting a graph database, consider factors such as scalability, data modeling, query optimization, and cost. Each graph database has its strengths and weaknesses that will be a better fit for specific use cases.
References
- Neo4J Website, https://neo4j.com/
- ArangoDB Website, https://www.arangodb.com/
- OrientDB Website, https://orientdb.org/
- JanusGraph Website,https://janusgraph.org/
- Amazon Neptune Website,https://aws.amazon.com/neptune/