Apache Cassandra

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Score8.5

Rank#10 of 74

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows

Summary

Apache Cassandra is an open-source NoSQL distributed database for mission-critical data and large active datasets. Its masterless design gives each node the same role, and the project says read and write throughput can grow linearly as machines are added, without downtime or application interruption. It can be deployed on premises, with one cloud provider, across multiple providers, or in a mix of those environments. Replication across data centers and tunable query consistency give teams controls for distributed deployments. Cassandra supports CQL, transactions, and horizontal scaling. The project lists audit logging for DML, DDL, and DCL activity, plus fqltool for capturing and replaying production workloads. Drivers are available for Java, Go, Python, and Node.js; downloads include tarballs and packages, with Debian and RPM installation guidance. The listed ecosystem includes connectors and tools for Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Apache Spark, and Kubernetes. Cassandra is free and self-managed. The project identifies version 5.0 as the latest GA release, maintained until the 8.0 release.

Who it is for

Cassandra suits teams managing large, active datasets that need a self-managed distributed database across on-premises or cloud environments. It may also fit workloads needing data-center replication and configurable query consistency.

What is good

Free, open-source database
Masterless architecture gives nodes the same functionality
Supports replication across multiple data centers
Drivers listed for Java, Go, Python, and Node.js

What to know first

Self-managed deployment
Third-party ecosystem projects are not community-supported

Verdict

Cassandra offers a free, self-managed database with distributed deployment, tunable consistency, and horizontal scaling. Teams should account for the self-management requirement and distinguish community support from support for third-party ecosystem projects.

Apache Cassandra plans and pricing

All plans

Apache Cassandra Free Open source NoSQL distributed database · self-managed cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on database software

Deployment model: self_hostedcassandra.apache.org
Query interface: cqlcassandra.apache.org
Consistency controls: tunablecassandra.apache.org
Multi-region support: Yescassandra.apache.org
Transaction support: Yescassandra.apache.org
Horizontal scaling: Yescassandra.apache.org

Facts

Product: Apache Cassandra is an open source NoSQL distributed database.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Intended use: The project describes Cassandra as a platform for mission-critical data and large active datasets.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Architecture: Cassandra has a masterless architecture in which every node can provide the same functionality.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Scaling: The project says read and write throughput increase linearly as machines are added, without downtime or application interruption.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Deployment: Cassandra can run on premises, with one cloud provider, across multiple cloud providers, or in a combination of these environments.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Replication: Cassandra supports replication across multiple data centers and configurable consistency levels for queries.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Security and observability: The project lists audit logging for DML, DDL, and DCL activity, and fqltool for capturing and replaying production workloads.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Integrations: The ecosystem page lists connectors and tools for Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Apache Spark, and Kubernetes.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Drivers: The download page lists Cassandra drivers for Java, Go, Python, and Node.js.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Installation: The project provides Cassandra downloads as tarballs and packages, and documents Debian and RPM installation.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Release support: The download page identifies Cassandra 5.0 as the latest GA version and says it is maintained until the 8.0 release.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Community support: The ecosystem page says listed third-party projects, tools, products, and services are not supported by the Cassandra community.cassandra.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026
Vulnerability reporting: The Apache Security Team asks that potential vulnerabilities be reported privately before public disclosure.apache.org · 30 Sept 2026