Couchbase vs MongoDB

by Gralio Apr 17, 2025

Couchbase and MongoDB are both NoSQL databases catering to modern businesses, but they differ in their core strengths. Couchbase excels in performance and scalability, while MongoDB prioritizes flexibility and ease of use. Choosing between the two depends on whether your application prioritizes speed and efficiency or adaptability and ease of development.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 611 reviews and 60 websites, saving 3 hours, 53 minutes of reading.

Logo of Couchbase
Logo of MongoDB

About

Couchbase is a versatile database designed for modern, data-intensive applications. Its strength lies in handling various data types efficiently, making it suitable for applications requiring speed and scalability. This adaptability simplifies data management and allows developers to use their preferred tools. While Couchbase serves diverse industries, it's particularly beneficial for companies with high-performance needs like real-time analytics and personalized user experiences. Its flexible deployment model accommodates both cloud-based and on-premise preferences.
MongoDB is a flexible database management software designed for modern businesses. Unlike traditional systems that rely on rigid tables, MongoDB stores data as documents, similar to how we organize information in files. This makes it easier for developers to build applications and adapt to changing needs. MongoDB excels at handling large volumes of diverse data, making it suitable for various tasks like real-time analytics and managing online catalogs.

Summary

Main difference
Couchbase stands out with its superior performance and scalability, making it ideal for applications requiring high speed and efficient data handling. MongoDB, on the other hand, offers greater flexibility and a more user-friendly experience, particularly beneficial for businesses needing to adapt to evolving data structures and diverse data types.

Relative strengths of Couchbase (compared to MongoDB)

  • Superior performance and speed, especially for key-value operations.

  • Highly scalable architecture, suitable for demanding applications.

  • Flexible data model accommodating various data types and JSON documents.

Relative weaknesses of Couchbase (compared to MongoDB)

  • Steeper learning curve, particularly for N1QL queries.

  • Smaller community and fewer readily available resources compared to MongoDB.

  • Potential difficulties in setup and resource utilization.

What companies are using Couchbase and MongoDB?

MArriott International is a customer
MArriott International
FICO is a customer
FICO
Rakuten Viber is a customer
Rakuten Viber
LinkedIn is a customer
LinkedIn
No data

Who is using Couchbase and MongoDB?

No data
Piotr Smolen
CEO at symmetrical.ai

Who should use Couchbase VS. MongoDB

Couchbase is a versatile database solution designed for modern applications requiring speed and scalability. It's particularly well-suited for handling various data types and JSON documents, simplifying data management for developers. Users praise its performance and flexibility, while some note a steeper learning curve. Best suited for medium to large enterprises needing real-time analytics and personalized experiences.

MongoDB is a versatile database solution designed for modern businesses handling large volumes of data. Its flexible, document-based structure simplifies development and adapts to evolving needs. Users praise its scalability and powerful query language but note the learning curve and limited JOIN support. MongoDB is well-suited for real-time analytics and applications requiring dynamic data management.

  • Ideal for medium to large businesses (101+ employees) seeking a scalable database solution.

  • Particularly well-suited for the software, IT, and telecommunications industry.

  • Ideal for small businesses, medium businesses, and large enterprises.

  • Best fit for IT and Ecommerce companies.

Couchbase and MongoDB features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • Data Storage
    Supported

    Couchbase provides a systematic method to store data centrally using buckets and persistent disk storage.

    Supported

    MongoDB stores data centrally using a document-oriented model.

  • Data Retrieval
    Supported

    Couchbase supports efficient data retrieval through N1QL queries and key-value lookups.

    Supported

    MongoDB supports efficient data retrieval with its query system, indexing, and aggregation framework.

  • Data Manipulation
    Supported

    Couchbase supports adding, deleting, and modifying data using SQL++ queries and a Sub-Document API.

    Supported

    MongoDB supports adding, deleting, and modifying data using CRUD operations.

  • NoSQL support
    Supported

    Couchbase supports querying its own NoSQL data using SQL++ and other query mechanisms.

    Supported

    MongoDB is a NoSQL database, it natively supports querying data stored within it.

  • SQL support
    Supported

    Couchbase supports SQL queries via SQL++, a SQL-like language designed for JSON.

    Partially supported

    MongoDB does not support SQL directly, but offers SQL-like querying via tools like the BI Connector and Atlas SQL Interface.

  • Cloud-based deployment
    Supported

    Couchbase can be deployed in the cloud using various methods, including marketplaces and Kubernetes.

    Supported

    MongoDB supports cloud-based deployments through products like Atlas and Cloud Manager.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    -1
    Strongly negative sentiment
    +0.33
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Use
    +0.82
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +1
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Reliability and Performance
    +0.82
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.56
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Implementation
    -0.38
    Rather negative sentiment
    +0.56
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Scalability
    +1
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.83
    Strongly positive sentiment

Couchbase and MongoDB Pricing

Couchbase offers flexible pricing options for its Capella, Server, and Mobile products. Capella, the Database-as-a-Service offering, provides a free tier and various paid plans based on hourly node usage, with prices varying by region and cloud provider. Server, the self-managed option, requires contacting sales for pricing, while Mobile, the embedded database solution, also requires a custom quote. Couchbase highlights its cost-effectiveness and encourages potential customers to discuss pricing and explore their developer resources.
Plans

User sentiment

Strongly negative
-1

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Rather positive
+0.33

See full Pricing page

Couchbase and MongoDB review insights

611 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • Fast NoSQL database with excellent performance for key-value operations.
  • Flexible data model, easily handling various data types and JSON documents.
  • Easy integration with various platforms and SDKs.
  • Scalable architecture, enabling horizontal scaling and high availability.
  • User-friendly web console for monitoring and administration.
  • Flexible schema design, allowing for evolving data structures
  • Scalability and efficient handling of large datasets
  • Powerful query language and aggregation framework
  • Active community and extensive documentation

Users dislike

  • Difficult setup on Linux systems.
  • N1QL has a steep learning curve, especially for users new to NoSQL.
  • Limited community support and fewer readily available resources compared to other NoSQL databases.
  • Concerns about inconsistent resource utilization, particularly memory and CPU.
  • Limited JOIN support, making complex queries challenging
  • High memory consumption, especially with large datasets
  • Steep learning curve for beginners, especially those familiar with SQL databases
  • Backup and restore operations can be complex compared to traditional relational databases

Couchbase and MongoDB Ratings

  • G2
    4.3/5
    (136)
  • Glassdoor
    4.3/5
    (399)
  • G2
    4.6/5
    (17)
  • Capterra
    4.7/5
    (458)

Company health

Employee growth

4% increase in the last year
6% increase in the last year

Web traffic

3% decrease in the last quarter
11% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

January 2020 - $251M
No data

How do Couchbase's SQL++ capabilities compare to MongoDB's native query language?

Couchbase's SQL++ offers SQL-like querying capabilities for its JSON data, bridging the gap for developers familiar with SQL. While MongoDB's native query language is not SQL-based, it's powerful and specifically designed for document databases, offering flexible querying and aggregation capabilities within its document model. Therefore, while both offer robust querying, they differ in syntax and approach; SQL++ leans towards a familiar SQL structure while MongoDB utilizes its own specialized language optimized for its document-oriented nature.

Which product offers better ease of setup and administration for my team?

MongoDB offers better ease of setup and administration. While both products offer cloud-based and containerized deployments, user reviews indicate Couchbase has a difficult setup on Linux, a common deployment environment. MongoDB boasts a higher ease of use score (1.0 vs. 0.82) and a higher ease of implementation score (0.56 vs. -0.38). Though both have robust documentation, MongoDB's larger community offers potentially more readily available support.

What are the advantages of Couchbase?

Couchbase offers advantages in performance and scalability, particularly for applications requiring high-speed data handling and real-time analytics. Its flexible data model accommodates diverse data types and integrates easily with various platforms. While MongoDB boasts greater ease of use and a larger community, Couchbase excels where performance is paramount.

What are the disadvantages of Couchbase?

Couchbase has a steeper learning curve, particularly for its N1QL query language, compared to more established SQL or other NoSQL databases. Setup, especially on Linux, can be complex. Community support and readily available resources are less extensive than alternatives like MongoDB, potentially hindering troubleshooting. Some users report inconsistent resource utilization, with occasional spikes in memory and CPU usage.

Alternatives to Couchbase and MongoDB

Logo of Amazon DynamoDB
couchbase vs Amazon DynamoDB
Fast, serverless database built for demanding apps. Scales effortlessly.
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Logo of ScyllaDB
ScyllaDB
Blazing-fast NoSQL database handles massive data with ease.
Read more
Logo of MongoDB Atlas
couchbase vs MongoDB Atlas
Cloud database, flexible, scalable, and easy for developers.
Read more
Logo of MongoDB
couchbase vs MongoDB
Flexible, scalable database for modern apps handling lots of data.
Read more
Logo of MariaDB
couchbase vs MariaDB
Open-source database: fast, reliable, and a drop-in MySQL replacement.
Read more
Logo of PostgreSQL
couchbase vs PostgreSQL
Powerful open-source database for reliable data storage and management.
Read more
Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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