Fluree DB

Fluree DB is a graph database for applications that need linked data, searchable history and precise access rules together. It is best suited to teams building data-rich systems where provenance and query-time control matter; its standards support and single-binary deployment are appealing, but its Business Source License 1.1 calls for careful review.

Overview

Fluree Core brings RDF graph data, full temporal history, integrated search and access control into one database. Transactions are cryptographically signed and added to an immutable ledger, and the resulting history remains queryable. That makes Fluree a strong fit when applications need to examine how data changed over time, rather than maintain history as a separate concern.

Access policies can be attribute-, role- or relationship-based, evaluated at query time down to individual triples. This fine-grained control can help applications expose different parts of a graph to different users, but it also makes policy design an important part of the data architecture. Fluree uses W3C standards including JSON-LD, RDF, SPARQL, OWL and SHACL; it supports SPARQL 1.1, reasoning, RDF-star and federated queries.

Key features

• Verifiable temporal data: Signed transactions and an immutable ledger preserve a queryable history, useful for provenance and time-based questions.
• Graph, full-text and vector search: Search works alongside graph data and time travel, reducing the need to treat those capabilities as separate parts of the system.
• Query-time policies: Attribute-, role- and relationship-based rules apply at individual-triple granularity. The precision is valuable for differentiated access, though teams must account for policy design and upkeep.
• Developer interfaces: SPARQL, FlureeQL and a REST API sit alongside MCP server configuration, LangChain integration and a LlamaIndex connector. Official SDKs and libraries cover JavaScript/TypeScript, Python and Java.
• Connectors: Integrations cover PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, Salesforce, HubSpot, ServiceNow, Workday, SAP, Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery and REST APIs, offering routes to connect Fluree with established data systems.
• Deployment and security: The static binary has no JVM or external dependencies and can be installed through Docker, Homebrew, shell installation, PowerShell or source builds. Managed deployments use TLS 1.2+ in transit and AES-256 at rest, with customer-managed keys through AWS KMS, GCP Cloud KMS and Azure Key Vault.
• Audit and compliance: Queries, mutations and policy evaluations enter a tamper-evident log; Enterprise plans can integrate Splunk, Datadog and Elastic. Fluree says its architecture supports SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA under a BAA on Enterprise plans, and GDPR/UK GDPR via EU data residency. SOC 2 Type II attestation is in progress for Q3 2026; organizations with compliance requirements should assess their own obligations and the applicable plan.

Pricing

Fluree has two free entry points and a custom-priced Enterprise plan. The free options lower the barrier to evaluation, while commercial licensing and production deployment requirements should be considered separately.

• FlureeDB Open Source — free: Open source on GitHub, native JSON-LD and SPARQL, and local or self-hosted operation. A fit for developers who want to run the database themselves; it is under the Business Source License 1.1, with commercial licensing available by contacting Fluree.
• Fluree AI — free: Starts at $0, with a free fuel allowance covering tokens, storage and compute, plus 300+ connectors and MCP and API access. The allowance is a defined fuel pool, so teams should assess whether it suits their intended usage.
• Enterprise — custom pricing: Includes Fluree Sense, CAM and ITM, licensed FlureeDB deployments, single-tenant AWS and private deployment, SSO, SLAs and enterprise support. This is the option for organizations requiring those deployment and support arrangements; pricing is custom.

Every vulnerability report receives a response within one business day. That response commitment is useful for security reporting, though it is not a substitute for the support arrangements included with Enterprise.

Platforms

Fluree supports API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows environments. Its static-binary distribution and multiple installation routes suit teams that want deployment flexibility without a JVM dependency.

Who it's for

Fluree is a good choice for teams building graph-based applications that need verifiable history, search and fine-grained policies in one system, particularly when standards-based interfaces and integration connectors matter. It is less suitable for buyers who want a conventional open-source license without reviewing the Business Source License, or who require Enterprise features but cannot accept custom pricing.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The signed, immutable ledger keeps full history queryable, supporting applications where provenance and past states matter.
• Pro: Fine-grained policies, graph data and full-text and vector search are combined in the core database.
• Pro: W3C standards, multiple query interfaces, SDKs and broad connector coverage offer varied ways to integrate Fluree.
• Pro: A static binary without a JVM or external dependencies can simplify deployment across supported environments.
• Con: The Business Source License 1.1 means teams should confirm that its terms fit their intended use; commercial licensing requires contacting Fluree.
• Con: Enterprise pricing is custom, making that plan a less straightforward option for buyers needing predictable published costs.
• Con: Fine-grained access control depends on deliberate policy design, adding a responsibility for teams managing complex data access.

Alternatives

RDF Databases is a useful category view for comparing other RDF options. Consider these alternatives when their licensing, scope or stated limits better match your requirements:

• Eclipse RDF4J is a free, open-source Java framework; choose it if that framework model suits your project and Java 25 or newer is acceptable for the latest release.
• GraphDB offers a free plan with a Lucene connector, five repositories and one parallel query; choose it if those stated limits fit your workload.
• RDFox offers a 30-day evaluation license for non-commercial use and a commercial license; choose it if a time-limited evaluation or its commercial licensing path better fits.
• Apache Jena Fuseki is a self-hosted server under Apache License 2.0; choose it if that license and server approach are a better match.
• Stardog has a free plan with a renewable one-year license, up to 1 million stored edges, three databases and community support; choose it if those caps and terms meet your needs.
• Tentris offers a community plan with a single-core license, in-memory storage, community support, SPARQL 1.1, RDF 1.1 and transactions; choose it if that scope matches your use case.
• AllegroGraph has a free edition with no expiration date or license key requirement, capped at 5,000,000 triples; choose it if that limit suits your project.
• Dydra offers a basic-use plan with limited resources and public evaluation accounts capped at five queries per second and one million statements per repository; choose it if those evaluation limits fit.

Verdict

Choose Fluree DB if your application needs a standards-based graph database that preserves verifiable history while combining search and fine-grained access control. Its integrated capabilities and deployment flexibility make a persuasive case for provenance-heavy systems. Look elsewhere if the Business Source License does not fit your use, or if you need Enterprise capabilities at a published price.