Apache Druid
Columnar, time-indexed analytics database built for streaming and batch data at scale, handling billions to trillions of rows with millisecond query response times.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/apache/druid or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Azure Data Explorer.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $100/mo ($1,200/yr) in subscriptions
Apache Druid FAQ
Common questions
Is Apache Druid free and open source?+
Apache Druid is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Columnar, time-indexed analytics database built for streaming and batch data at scale, handling billions to trillions of rows with millisecond query response times.
What paid software does Apache Druid replace?+
Apache Druid serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: Azure Data Explorer, BigQuery, RedShift, Snowflake, saving up to $100/month ($1,200/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Apache Druid?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/apache/druid or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Apache Druid?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Azure Data Explorer.