NoSQL Tech Comparison 2014: Cassandra (DataStax), MongoDB, and Couchbase

by Alex KhizhniakOctober 2, 2014

The new study compares the popular NoSQL databases across 21 criteria: performance, scalability, availability, ease of installation, maintenance, etc.

Today, we are announcing the results of our latest performance benchmark report. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the leading NoSQL systems—Cassandra (DataStax), MongoDB, and Couchbase Server. Each of the databases was scored on a scale from 1 to 10 across 21 criteria.

Table of Contents

Evaluating NoSQL solutions

Despite vast experience with data-intensive apps, one may face challenges in selecting a NoSQL data store for a particular case with multiple options to choose from. The number of databases goes way beyond sheer numbers, so you have to carefully compare and benchmark several options before choosing the most appropriate solution.

To help companies select the best database based on particular use cases, workloads, or requirements, Altoros decided to create a comprehensive template for evaluating NoSQL solutions. While other comparisons focus only on several dimensions, the engineers at Altoros compiled a scoring framework that approaches the databases from 20+ angles, including performance, scalability, availability, ease of installation, maintenance, data consistency, fault tolerance, replication, recovery, etc.

With 29 charts and 30 tables, this paper features a scoring template for evaluating and comparing NoSQL data stores for your particular use case—depending on the weight of each criterion. The report also provides recommendations on the best ways to configure, install, and use NoSQL databases depending on their specific features.

Altoros at the Couchbase Connect Conference

On October 7, the scoring framework was presented at the Couchbase Connect Conference in San Francisco. Renat Khasanshyn, CEO at Altoros, demonstrated templates for evaluating architectures of NoSQL databases and overviewed tools for benchmarking NoSQL/Hadoop workloads designed to fit custom project needs. The speaker also featured a sample benchmark of Cassandra, MongoDB, and Couchbase architectures from the most recent NoSQL database research.

To learn more about the results of the performance benchmark, please check out the full research.

Alex Khizhniak is Director of Technical Content Strategy at Altoros and a cofounder of a local Java User Group. Managing distributed teams since 2004, he has gained experience as a journalist, an editor-in-chief, a technical writer, a technology evangelist, a project manager, and a product owner. Alex is obsessed with AI/ML, data science, data integration, ETL/DWH, data quality, databases (SQL/NoSQL), big data, IoT, and BI. The articles and industry reports he created or helped to publish reached out to 3,000,000+ tech-savvy readers. Some of the pieces were covered on TechRepublic, ebizQ, NetworkWorld, CIO.com, etc. Find him on Twitter at @alxkh.