Greenplum Database
Greenplum Database is an open-source data warehouse based on PostgreSQL for large-scale analytics, including workloads involving machine learning and AI.
What Greenplum Database is
Greenplum Database is an open-source data warehouse based on PostgreSQL for large-scale analytics, including workloads involving machine learning and AI. Its massively parallel processing architecture distributes data and query work across servers: a coordinator divides queries among segment servers. The project describes it for analytical data warehouses and business intelligence, including petabyte-scale data. Query planning can use GPORCA alongside the PostgreSQL-based planner. Storage options include append-optimized row or column formats, with compression for column-oriented storage. PXF connectors provide access to Hadoop, object stores such as Azure, Google Cloud Storage, MinIO and S3, and SQL databases through JDBC. External tables can be queried or used to load data from outside sources; PXF can also connect to data lakes and query Apache Iceberg foreign tables. Client access includes psql, ODBC and JDBC. The Apache 2-licensed project is deployed on-premises as a coordinator and multiple segment servers. The open-source plan is listed as free; commercial VMware Tanzu Greenplum pricing is on request.
Good
- Open-source project released under the Apache 2 license.
- MPP architecture distributes data and query processing.
- Supports append-optimized row and column storage.
- PXF connectors reach object stores and SQL databases.
- Free open-source plan is listed.
Watch out
- Row-level and column-level access control are not supported.
- Commercial VMware Tanzu Greenplum pricing is on request.
- Deployment is described as on-premises.
Who it suits
Greenplum Database is suited to organizations building large analytical warehouses or business intelligence workloads that need distributed query processing and external data access. Its documented use cases also include enterprise analytics, AI, vector and RAG workloads, and IoT applications.
Verdict
Greenplum Database combines PostgreSQL-based analytics with distributed processing, multiple storage options and connectors for external sources. Its documented access control does not support row-level or column-level privileges, a constraint to consider when evaluating it.
Plans and prices
From Greenplum Database's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Greenplum Database (open source) | Free | Open source · Apache 2 license |
| VMware Tanzu Greenplum | Priced on request | Contact sales · BYOL and hourly consumption models are listed for public cloud marketplaces |
The facts
Each one read from Greenplum Database's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Architecture
- Its MPP architecture distributes data and query processing across multiple servers, with a coordinator that divides queries among segment servers.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Client interfaces
- The documentation lists psql, ODBC and JDBC client access, using standard PostgreSQL drivers for ODBC and JDBC applications.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Commercial support
- The maker describes the commercial Tanzu Greenplum offering as including 24x7 enterprise support.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Data federation
- The maker says PXF can connect Greenplum to data lakes and supports querying Apache Iceberg foreign tables.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The maker lists deployment on public clouds including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, as well as VCF, OpenStack private clouds, and on-premises.checked 9 Oct 2026
- External data
- PXF connectors provide access to Hadoop sources, object stores including Azure, Google Cloud Storage, MinIO and S3, and SQL databases through JDBC.checked 9 Oct 2026
- External tables
- External tables can be queried or used to load data from external sources into Greenplum.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker describes streaming ingestion with Tanzu Greenplum Streaming Server on Kubernetes and a certified standalone Apache NiFi connector for Greenplum 7.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project repository states that Greenplum Database is released under the Apache 2 license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- Greenplum’s documented access control supports object-level privileges; row-level and column-level access control are not supported.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Greenplum Database is an open-source data warehouse based on PostgreSQL for analytics on petabyte-scale data.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Greenplum Database is an open-source, PostgreSQL-based data warehouse for analytics, machine learning, and AI.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Query optimization
- GPORCA is a cost-based optimizer used alongside the PostgreSQL planner.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The project describes Greenplum as providing analytics on petabyte-scale data volumes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker states Tanzu Greenplum uses STIG hardening and FIPS 140-3 cryptographic modules for encryption at rest and in transit.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Storage
- It supports append-optimized row or column storage, and its column-oriented storage can be compressed.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project repository directs users to online documentation and its wiki for further information.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The maker presents Greenplum for enterprise analytics, data warehousing, AI, vector and RAG workloads, and IoT applications.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Workloads
- The architecture is designed for large-scale analytical data warehouses and business intelligence workloads.checked 9 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Development platforms
- The repository provides developer build instructions for Linux and macOS and points to instructions for building client tools on Windows.checked 9 Oct 2026
Alternatives to Greenplum Database
- 1
Databend
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.2From $23 a month - 2
Databricks Notebooks
Free planAndroidWebAPILinux8.2$0.07 usage-based - 3
Exasol
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS8.0From $3.30 a month - 4
Apache Hive
Free planOpen sourceAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted7.4Free plan - 5
IBM Db2
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted7.4From $630 a month - 6
Teradata VantageCloud
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted7.3$1.50 one-time