What is ArcadeDB used for?

ArcadeDB is a multi-model database written in Java that supports graph, document, key-value and time-series data with SQL, Cypher, Gremlin and vector search. It is a good fit for storing connected data without a separate graph database, combining documents and vectors in one store, and replacing OrientDB with an actively developed successor.

Is ArcadeDB open source?

Yes. ArcadeDB is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at ArcadeData/arcadedb and is written mainly in Java.

Yes. ArcadeDB is open source, so the software itself is free to use. Paid plans are also available, starting at $19.99 per seat per month.

Can I self-host ArcadeDB?

Yes. ArcadeDB can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is ArcadeDB an alternative to?

ArcadeDB is an open-source alternative to Azure Cosmos DB, Amazon Neptune, Neo4j AuraDB and MarkLogic. Other open-source alternatives to Azure Cosmos DB include ArangoDB, SurrealDB and RavenDB.

Is ArcadeDB actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to ArcadeDB was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 26.9.1, published on 3 September 2026. The project has 1.2k stars on GitHub.

ArcadeDB: open-source alternative to Azure Cosmos DB

About ArcadeDB

ArcadeDB is a multi-model database management system created by Luca Garulli, the founder of OrientDB, and described as a conceptual fork of it. It stores graph, document, key-value and time-series data in one engine, and supports ACID transactions, structured and unstructured data, a native graph engine that uses links rather than joins, full-text indexing and geospatial queries.

It can be queried in several ways: SQL, Cypher, Gremlin, HTTP and JSON, and it offers compatibility with MongoDB and Redis protocols. It also supports vector embeddings for similarity search, which its topics tie to vector database use. The engine is written in low-level Java 21 or newer to reduce garbage collection pressure, and it can run from a Raspberry Pi to multiple servers, embedded in an application, or in Docker and Kubernetes.

ArcadeDB is licensed under Apache-2.0 and is self-hosted on your own hardware or cloud. It reuses a modified version of OrientDB's SQL engine. It suits developers who want one database for connected data, documents and vectors rather than running separate graph and document stores.

Key features

Graph, document, key-value, and time-series models
SQL, Cypher, Gremlin, and HTTP/JSON queries
ACID transactions
Vector embeddings and similarity search
Full-text and geospatial indexing
Embedded, Docker, and Kubernetes deployment

Good fit for

→Storing connected data without a separate graph database
→Combining documents and vectors in one store
→Replacing OrientDB with an actively developed successor

Built with: Java; Docker; Kubernetes
Tags: multi-model-database; graph-database; document-database; vector-search; cypher; gremlin; java; time-series; orientdb

ArcadeDB: questions and answers

What is ArcadeDB used for?: ArcadeDB is a multi-model database written in Java that supports graph, document, key-value and time-series data with SQL, Cypher, Gremlin and vector search. It is a good fit for storing connected data without a separate graph database, combining documents and vectors in one store, and replacing OrientDB with an actively developed successor.
Is ArcadeDB open source?: Yes. ArcadeDB is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at ArcadeData/arcadedb and is written mainly in Java.
Is ArcadeDB free?: Yes. ArcadeDB is open source, so the software itself is free to use. Paid plans are also available, starting at $19.99 per seat per month.
Can I self-host ArcadeDB?: Yes. ArcadeDB can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is ArcadeDB an alternative to?: ArcadeDB is an open-source alternative to Azure Cosmos DB, Amazon Neptune, Neo4j AuraDB and MarkLogic. Other open-source alternatives to Azure Cosmos DB include ArangoDB, SurrealDB and RavenDB.
Is ArcadeDB actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to ArcadeDB was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 26.9.1, published on 3 September 2026. The project has 1.2k stars on GitHub.