CouchDB
Fastest to get started
Why teams pick it
Docker and VS Code dev-container for instant cluster setup
Open-source alternatives to Azure Cosmos DB
Compare community-driven replacements for Azure Cosmos DB in document databases workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB is a fully managed, globally distributed NoSQL database service that provides low-latency data access and offers multiple data models (key-value, document, graph, column-family) under a single service. It automatically replicates data across regions, provides tunable consistency levels, and scales throughput and storage elastically, making it suitable for modern applications requiring high performance and global availability of data.Read more
Key stats
- 9Alternatives
- 9Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
- 4Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses
Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Azure Cosmos DB.
Start with these picks
These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Azure Cosmos DB.
SurrealDB
AI-powered workflows
Why teams pick it
Scales from single‑node to highly‑available distributed deployments
All open-source alternatives
CouchDB
Reliable, multi-master JSON database with built-in replication
Active developmentPermissive licenseFast to deployErlang
Why teams choose it
- Multi-master replication with conflict resolution
- HTTP/JSON API for any language
- Fauxton web UI for admin and monitoring
Watch for
Erlang runtime may be unfamiliar to new contributors
Migration highlight
Offline-first mobile app
Users can create, edit, and view data without network, syncing automatically when connectivity returns.
SurrealDB
Unified database and API platform for real‑time modern apps
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyRust
Why teams choose it
- Built‑in real‑time API layer with WebSocket support
- Multi‑model storage: tables, documents, and graph in one engine
- ACID‑compliant transactions across single‑node and distributed clusters
Watch for
Learning curve for multi‑model schema and permission system
Migration highlight
Live collaborative editing tool
Provides instant data sync across users via WebSocket, eliminating a separate real‑time server.
RavenDB
High‑performance ACID‑compliant document database with developer‑first experience
Active developmentFast to deployAI-powered workflowsC#
Why teams choose it
- ACID transactions and security by default
- Rich web-based Management Studio with live query and indexing
- Multi‑platform support including Docker, .deb, and Raspberry Pi
Watch for
AGPLv3 license may restrict commercial redistribution without compliance
Migration highlight
E‑commerce platform order management
Ensures transactional consistency for orders, inventory, and payments while providing full‑text product search and real‑time analytics.
PoloDB
Rust‑powered embedded NoSQL database with MongoDB‑style API
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyRust
Why teams choose it
- MongoDB‑like API for familiar query syntax
- Embeddable library and optional standalone server
- Multi‑threading and multi‑session support
Watch for
Smaller ecosystem and tooling compared to SQLite
Migration highlight
Desktop note‑taking app
Store user notes as JSON documents locally with fast retrieval
RethinkDB
Scalable NoSQL database delivering real-time query updates
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsC++
Why teams choose it
- Live changefeeds push query results to clients
- Distributed architecture with easy horizontal scaling
- Automatic failover for high availability
Watch for
Requires manual installation of system dependencies
Migration highlight
Live blog with instant updates
Readers see new posts the moment they are published without page refresh.
FerretDB
MongoDB‑compatible proxy that runs on PostgreSQL as a document database
Active developmentPermissive licenseFast to deployGo
Why teams choose it
- MongoDB driver compatibility (5.0+)
- SQL translation layer using PostgreSQL DocumentDB
- Docker image with pre‑bundled PostgreSQL for quick start
Watch for
Not 100% feature‑parity with MongoDB
Migration highlight
Rapid prototyping of a Node.js app
Developers can connect with the standard MongoDB driver, store data in PostgreSQL, and iterate without licensing concerns.
MongoDB
Scalable, flexible document database for modern application development.
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyC++
Why teams choose it
- Schema‑less BSON documents for flexible data modeling
- Horizontal scaling with automatic sharding via mongos
- Built‑in replication for high availability
Watch for
Higher memory footprint than some lightweight databases
Migration highlight
Content Management System
Store articles, media metadata, and user comments with evolving structures without downtime.
OrientDB
Versatile multi-model NoSQL DBMS with native graph, document, and full-text support
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyJava
Why teams choose it
- Native multi-model support (graph, document, key-value, full-text, geospatial)
- SQL query language with ACID transaction guarantees
- Multi-master distributed architecture for high availability
Watch for
Requires Java runtime
Migration highlight
Social network feed generation
Fast graph traversals combined with document profiles enable real‑time feed assembly.
ArangoDB
Scalable multi-model database for graphs, documents, and key-values
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsC++
Why teams choose it
- Native multi-model support (graph, document, key-value)
- Integrated ArangoSearch full-text and ranking engine
- Horizontal scalability with sharding and automatic failover
Watch for
Steeper learning curve for AQL compared to traditional SQL
Migration highlight
Social network feed generation
Fast traversal of user relationships and content ranking using AQL and ArangoSearch to deliver personalized feeds.
Choosing a document databases alternative
Teams replacing Azure Cosmos DB in document databases workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.
- 9 options are actively maintained with recent commits.
Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Azure Cosmos DB.