kdb+ costs $100/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to kdb+, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
kdb+ vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $100/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InfluxDB | open source | cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7 | Self-host | ★ 31.8k | kdb+ vs InfluxDB → |
| TDengine | open source | cm0zftngg00pz94snxajamc81 | Self-host | ★ 25.2k | kdb+ vs TDengine → |
| QuestDB | open source | cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7 | Self-host | ★ 17.5k | kdb+ vs QuestDB → |
| TimescaleDB | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 23.8k | kdb+ vs TimescaleDB → |
The picks
4 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
InfluxDB
open sourcecm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7Self-host31.8koct 2026InfluxDB is a purpose-built platform designed for handling time series data at scale.
The catch vs kdb+Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed kdb+.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/influxdata/influxdb or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-04
- 02
TDengine
open sourcecm0zftngg00pz94snxajamc81Self-host25.2knov 2026Scalable database for Industrial IoT.
The catch vs kdb+Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed kdb+.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/taosdata/TDengine or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-04
- 03
QuestDB
open sourcecm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7Self-host17.5knov 2026QuestDB: high-performance, open-source time-series database.
The catch vs kdb+Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed kdb+.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/questdb/questdb or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-04
- 04
TimescaleDB
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host23.8knov 2026Open-source, fast, and scalable PostgreSQL extension for time-series data.
The catch vs kdb+Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed kdb+.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/timescale/timescaledb or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-04
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · kdb+ open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to kdb+?+
The top free alternative to kdb+ is InfluxDB (open source, cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7). InfluxDB is a purpose-built platform designed for handling time series data at scale. Other popular kdb+ replacements include TDengine, QuestDB, TimescaleDB.
Can I self-host a free replacement for kdb+?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to kdb+, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: InfluxDB (cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7), TDengine (cm0zftngg00pz94snxajamc81), QuestDB (cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7), TimescaleDB (Open Source).
How much does switching from kdb+ to a free alternative save?+
kdb+ starts at $100/month per seat ($1,200/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like InfluxDB saves $6,000 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own kdb+ clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for kdb+ is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for kdb+ or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 4 battle-tested open-source alternatives like InfluxDB or TDengine.
What is the catch when switching from kdb+ to InfluxDB?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed kdb+.
