Software Alternatives & Startups

Google Cloud Bigtable VS PostgreSQL

Compare Google Cloud Bigtable VS PostgreSQL and see what are their differences

Google Cloud Bigtable

A high performance NoSQL database service for large analytical and operational workloads.

Rating
0 reviews
PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, PostgreSQL should be more popular than Google Cloud Bigtable. It has been mentioned 19 times since March 2021.

social mentions
6 vs 19
Databases popularity
5% vs 95%
alternatives listed
203 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Google Cloud Bigtable
PostgreSQL
Website cloud.google.com postgresql.org
Pricing
Open source Official pricing
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Google Cloud Bigtable 5 features
PostgreSQL 7 features
  • Scalability
    Google Cloud Bigtable is designed to scale horizontally to handle massive amounts of data across millions of rows and thousands of columns. This makes it ideal for applications needing to handle large datasets with high throughput.
  • Low Latency
    Bigtable is optimized for low-latency access to big data. It is capable of delivering real-time responses, which is beneficial for applications that require fast read and write operations.
  • Seamless Integration
    Bigtable integrates easily with other GCP services like Google Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and Dataflow, simplifying the development of complex applications that require various cloud services.
  • Managed Service
    As a managed service, Bigtable handles routine operations such as scaling, replication, and failure recovery, allowing users to focus on application development rather than infrastructure management.
  • Strong Consistency
    Bigtable provides strong consistency for read and write operations, ensuring that data is reliable and consistent across operations and query results.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity of Use
    Bigtable can be complex to set up and use effectively, especially for those who are unfamiliar with NoSQL databases or distributed systems.
  • Cost
    While scalable, the pricing can become expensive as your requirements grow, especially if you need high throughput and large storage capacities.
  • Limited Querying Capabilities
    Unlike relational databases, Bigtable has limited querying capabilities. It does not support SQL-like queries, making it less suitable for applications that require complex querying options.
  • Region-Specific Availability
    Bigtable is available only in certain regions, which might limit its use for global applications requiring multi-region deployments for latency optimization.
  • Learning Curve
    There's a significant learning curve for new users to understand Bigtable's architecture and its best practices, which can delay the development process.
  • Open Source
    PostgreSQL is an open-source database management system, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This reduces the cost of database management for individuals and organizations.
  • ACID Compliance
    PostgreSQL is fully ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) compliant, ensuring reliable transactions and data integrity.
  • Extensible
    PostgreSQL is highly extensible, allowing users to add custom functions, data types, and operators. This enables tailored solutions to specific requirements.
  • Advanced SQL Features
    PostgreSQL supports advanced SQL features like full-text search, JSON and XML data types, and complex queries, providing powerful tools for database operations.
  • Community Support
    There is a strong and active community around PostgreSQL, offering extensive documentation, forums, and collaborative support, which aids troubleshooting and development.
  • Multiple Indexing Techniques
    PostgreSQL offers a variety of indexing techniques such as B-tree, GIN, GiST, and BRIN, allowing for optimized query performance on various data types.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Unix), giving flexibility in deployment and development environments.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up and configuring PostgreSQL can be complex and time-consuming, especially for beginners, requiring a good understanding of its parameters and best practices.
  • Heavy Resource Consumption
    PostgreSQL can be resource-intensive, consuming significant CPU and memory compared to other database systems, which may affect performance on lower-end hardware.
  • Backup and Restore Process
    The backup and restore process in PostgreSQL is not as straightforward as in some other database systems, requiring more manual intervention and understanding of tools like pg_dump and pg_restore.
  • Replication Complexity
    While PostgreSQL supports replication, setting it up can be more complex than some other databases. Advanced configurations like multi-master replication can be particularly challenging.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Due to its advanced features and extensive capabilities, PostgreSQL can have a steeper learning curve, making it harder for new users to get started compared to simpler database systems.
  • Less Third-Party Tool Support
    PostgreSQL has less support from third-party tools compared to more widely adopted databases like MySQL, which can limit options for auxiliary functions like administration, monitoring, and development.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Google Cloud Bigtable
PostgreSQL

No analysis of Google Cloud Bigtable yet.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, PostgreSQL is considered a high-quality and reliable database management system, suitable for a wide range of applications, from small-scale personal projects to large enterprise systems.

Why this product is good

  • PostgreSQL is known for its strong support of SQL standards and excellent documentation, making it reliable for complex database requirements.
  • It provides advanced features such as multi-version concurrency control (MVCC), point-in-time recovery, and support for advanced indexing techniques.
  • PostgreSQL offers robust performance optimization options, powerful extensions, and a highly customizable platform.
  • It has a strong open-source community, ensuring ongoing improvements and support.
  • PostgreSQL is compatible with popular development frameworks and languages, enhancing its versatility.

Recommended for

  • Organizations seeking a scalable and stable database solution with strong compliance with SQL standards.
  • Developers who need advanced features like custom data types and indexing capabilities.
  • Projects requiring robust transactional integrity and data consistency.
  • Businesses looking for a cost-effective open-source database solution with active community support.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Google Cloud Bigtable 1 video + Add
PostgreSQL 3 videos + Add

Scalability Meetup @ Whitepages - Google Cloud BigTable

Comparison of PostgreSQL and MongoDB

More videos

  • - PostgreSQL Review
  • - MySQL vs PostgreSQL - Why you shouldn't use MySQL

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Google Cloud Bigtable
PostgreSQL
5% 5%
95% 95%
9% 9%
91% 91%
4% 4%
96% 96%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Google Cloud Bigtable and PostgreSQL. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Google Cloud Bigtable no reviews yet
PostgreSQL no reviews yet
  • 7 Best NoSQL APIs

    When businesses need to scale, they want to do so with limited downtime. The Google Cloud Bigtable provides horizontal Scaling in a matter of seconds without any downtime. To scale, cluster nodes are quickly added to...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Google Cloud Bigtable 6 mentions
PostgreSQL 19 mentions
  • Vaultree and AlloyDB: the world's first Fully Homomorphic and Searchable Cloud Encryption Solution
    In my opinion, Google has built some fantastic database services like Bigtable and Spanner, which literally changed the industry for good, and I am eager to see how they will build upon this new service. With AlloyDB's disaggregated... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • Google Cloud Reference
    Cloud Bigtable: Petabyte-scale, low-latency, non-relational 🔗Link 🔗Link. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
  • A Graph-Based Firebase
    > These triples say that the Layer with id 1 has a fontSize 20 and backgroundColor blue. Since they are different rows, there’s no conflict. This sounds a lot like Bigtable (https://cloud.google.com/bigtable), which also does... - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Google Cloud Bigtable and PostgreSQL

When comparing Google Cloud Bigtable and PostgreSQL, you can also consider the following products.