DocumentDB
DocumentDB is an open-source document database built on PostgreSQL for MongoDB compatibility.
What DocumentDB is
DocumentDB is an open-source document database built on PostgreSQL for MongoDB compatibility. It supports native BSON documents, CRUD operations, and PostgreSQL SQL operations. Index options include single-field, multi-key, compound, text, and geospatial indexes, including nested fields; vector search for embeddings and similarity search uses pgvector. MongoDB-compatible clients and tools include mongosh, PyMongo, the official MongoDB Node.js driver, and a VS Code extension. That extension can create a local database, generate credentials, and save a connection. DocumentDB can run locally in Docker or on your own infrastructure or cloud. Its gateway supports SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication, with TLS terminating on the gateway port, default 10260. The current hosted package matrix covers Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18 for amd64 and arm64. Packages are not available for Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11, 12, or 13, EL8, or PostgreSQL 16. A Kubernetes operator for lifecycle management, failover, replication, backups, and TLS is in preview and requires Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager. The project is MIT licensed.
Good
- MIT-licensed open-source database.
- Supports BSON documents and PostgreSQL SQL operations.
- Includes multiple index types and pgvector-powered vector search.
- Works with listed MongoDB-compatible clients and tools.
- Can run locally with Docker.
Watch out
- Hosted packages exclude Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11/12/13, and EL8.
- Hosted packages do not support PostgreSQL 16.
- Kubernetes operator is in preview.
- Operator requires Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager.
Who it suits
DocumentDB suits developers who want a MongoDB-compatible document database built on PostgreSQL and can run it locally or on their own infrastructure. It may also suit teams seeking BSON documents alongside PostgreSQL SQL operations.
Verdict
DocumentDB combines MongoDB-compatible document operations with PostgreSQL capabilities and several deployment options. Check the hosted package matrix against your environment, and note that Kubernetes lifecycle features are still in preview.
Plans and prices
From DocumentDB's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| DocumentDB | Free | MIT licensed open-source database; run locally with Docker or install Linux packages |
The facts
Each one read from DocumentDB's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI workloads
- DocumentDB describes vector search as a capability for embeddings and similarity search on PostgreSQL.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Authentication
- The gateway supports SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Client integrations
- The gateway supports MongoDB-compatible drivers and tools including mongosh, PyMongo, the MongoDB Node.js driver, and the VS Code extension.checked 9 Oct 2001
- CRUD and SQL
- It supports document CRUD and PostgreSQL compatibility for advanced SQL operations.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Drivers and tools
- DocumentDB supports MongoDB-compatible clients and tools, including mongosh, PyMongo, the official MongoDB Node.js driver, and the VS Code extension.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Indexes
- Its listed index types include single-field, multi-key, compound, text, and geospatial indexes, including nested fields.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Indexing
- Its indexing features include single-field, multi-key, compound, text, and geospatial indexes, including nested fields.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Kubernetes
- A Kubernetes operator offers lifecycle management and features including failover, replication, backups, and TLS, and is marked as a preview.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Kubernetes operator
- The Kubernetes operator is in preview and lists Kubernetes 1.35+ and cert-manager as requirements.checked 9 Oct 2001
- License
- The project is MIT licensed.checked 9 Oct 2001
- License and portability
- DocumentDB is MIT licensed and described as running locally with Docker or on a user's own infrastructure or cloud.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Local setup
- DocumentDB can run locally in Docker, with a local endpoint on port 10260.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Product
- DocumentDB is an open-source, MongoDB-compatible document database built on PostgreSQL.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Security
- The project lists SCRAM authentication; its gateway documentation says TLS terminates on the gateway port, whose default is 10260.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Storage
- DocumentDB supports native BSON document data and PostgreSQL SQL operations.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Support
- The getting-started documentation lists Discord for community syncs, office hours, technical support, migration assistance, and best-practice sharing.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Vector search
- Vector search for embeddings and similarity search is powered by pgvector.checked 9 Oct 2001
- VS Code
- The VS Code extension can create a local database, generate credentials, and save a connection.checked 9 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Linux packages
- The current hosted package matrix supports Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18, for amd64 and arm64.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Linux package support
- The current hosted package matrix lists Ubuntu 24.04 and EL9 with PostgreSQL 17 or 18, and says packages for Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11/12/13, EL8, and PostgreSQL 16 are no longer published.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Platform limitation
- The current hosted packages are not available for Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11/12/13, EL8, or PostgreSQL 16.checked 9 Oct 2001
