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TerminusDB

TerminusDB is an open-source document graph database for storing JSON documents in a schema-enforced graph.

Place
#21 of 39
Score
6.2
TerminusDB's website

What TerminusDB is

TerminusDB is an open-source document graph database for storing JSON documents in a schema-enforced graph. Its Git-like version control supports branching, comparing changes, merging, cloning, synchronization, and returning to earlier data states. Commits are ACID transactions, and schema checks apply whenever data is written. Developers can work through an HTTP document API, GraphQL, or WOQL, a Datalog-based query language. GraphQL clients such as Apollo, urql, and Relay can connect to it, and client libraries are available for TypeScript/JavaScript and Python, with Rust also documented. The database offers role-based access controls and supports ontology modeling, semantic reasoning, and graph visualization. It can import CSV, JSON, JSON-LD, RDF/XML, and Turtle, but not RDF/SPARQL. Deployment options include Docker, Linux or macOS source builds, Kubernetes, and cloud instances hosted by DFRNT. The free community version is Apache 2.0 licensed and runs on your own computer. TerminusDB is maintained by DFRNT with the open-source community.

Good

  • Git-like branching, merging, and data history
  • ACID commits and schema validation on every write
  • HTTP API, GraphQL, and WOQL query options
  • Supports ontology modeling and semantic reasoning
  • Free community version with Apache 2.0 license

Watch out

  • Does not support RDF/SPARQL
  • PostgreSQL is better suited to relational analytics
  • Self-run free plan requires running it on your own computer

Who it suits

It suits developers and data engineers working with auditable data lineage, complex domain models, collaborative data workflows, or structured content that changes over time. Teams focused on relational analytics, mature ORMs, or a very large extensions ecosystem may find PostgreSQL better suited to those needs.

Verdict

TerminusDB brings graph-based document storage, enforced schemas, and version control together in a free open-source database. Its query interfaces and deployment options suit teams building collaborative, auditable data systems, but it is not a fit for RDF/SPARQL requirements.

Plans and prices

From TerminusDB's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
TerminusDB Open Source Community VersionFreeApache 2.0 licensed · run on your own computer

The facts

Each one read from TerminusDB's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Cloud hosting
The official site identifies DFRNT as TerminusDB's hosting provider and describes cloud instances for getting started and collaborating.checked 3 Oct 2026
Deployment
The quickstart runs TerminusDB in Docker, and the documentation also describes building from source on Linux or macOS and running it on Kubernetes.checked 3 Oct 2026
Integrations
Its GraphQL interface works with Apollo, urql, Relay, and other GraphQL clients; official client libraries are available for TypeScript/JavaScript and Python, with Rust also documented.checked 3 Oct 2026
Intended users
The documentation describes TerminusDB as designed for developers and data engineers working with auditable data lineage, complex domain models, collaborative data workflows, or evolving structured content.checked 3 Oct 2026
Maintainer
The project documentation says DFRNT assumed stewardship in 2025 and maintains TerminusDB with the open-source community.checked 3 Oct 2026
Notable limit
The comparison page says PostgreSQL is better suited to relational analytics, mature ORMs, and a very large extensions ecosystem.checked 3 Oct 2026
Product
TerminusDB is an open-source document graph database that stores JSON documents in a schema-enforced graph and includes Git-like version control.checked 3 Oct 2026
Query interfaces
TerminusDB provides an HTTP document API, GraphQL, and WOQL, a Datalog-based query language.checked 3 Oct 2026
Query security
The WOQL documentation says its typed AST design prevents query injection by construction, while noting that authentication, authorization, and business-logic vulnerabilities can still exist.checked 3 Oct 2026
Security
TerminusDB provides role-based access control using users, roles, capabilities, and resource scopes.checked 3 Oct 2026
Support
The official site directs users to the TerminusDB community on Discord and to GitHub for other ways to connect.checked 3 Oct 2026
Transactions
The documentation says commits are ACID transactions and schema validation is enforced on every write.checked 3 Oct 2026
Version control
It supports branching, diffing, merging, cloning, synchronization, and time-travel operations over data.checked 3 Oct 2026

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