head to head · open source
server vs arcadedb
server has 8,524 GitHub stars, 2,267 forks, 495 open issues and last shipped today. arcadedb has 1,233 stars, 164 forks, 167 open issues and last shipped today. server leads on adoption by 591% (8,524 vs 1,233 stars). server is written in C++ under GPL-2.0; arcadedb is written in Java under Apache-2.0. server has attracted 27% as many forks as stars, arcadedb 13%. arcadedb was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (database), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| server | arcadedb | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 8.5K | ★ 1.2K |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | C++ | Java |
| Last push | 2026-11-04 | 2026-11-04 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.3K | ⑂ 164 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick server if
- You weight community size — 8.5K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick arcadedb if
- You want the arcadedb feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You evaluated both and arcadedb fits your workflow better
About server
MariaDB Server MariaDB Server is one of the most widely deployed open source relational databases. It is built by a global community of contributors together with the MariaDB Foundation and MariaDB plc, and it powers workloads from small applications to large scale production systems. MariaDB began as a fork of MySQL, led by the original MySQL developers, and it maintains a high degree of MySQL compatibility. It has since grown into a database with its own capabilities, including native vector search, multiple pluggable storage engines, synchronous clustering, and analytical features, while remaining a…
read the full server overview →
About arcadedb
Multi Model DBMS Built for Extreme Performance ArcadeDB is a Multi Model DBMS created by Luca Garulli, the same founder of OrientDB, after SAP's acquisition. Written from scratch with a brand new engine made of Alien Technology, ArcadeDB is able to crunch millions of records per second on common hardware with minimal resource usage. ArcadeDB reuses OrientDB's SQL engine (heavily modified) and some utility classes. It's written in LLJ: Low Level Java still Java21+ but only using low level APIs to leverage advanced mechanical sympathy techniques and reduce Garbage Collector pressure. Highly optimized for extreme…
read the full arcadedb overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is server or arcadedb more popular?
server has 8,524 GitHub stars and arcadedb has 1,233. server has the larger community by that measure.
Are server and arcadedb free?
Both are open source. server is licensed under GPL-2.0 and arcadedb under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between server and arcadedb?
server is written in C++ and arcadedb in Java. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, server or arcadedb?
Choose server if you want the larger community (8,524 stars) or its GPL-2.0 licence terms. Choose arcadedb if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.