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It's a split decision.
Choose Apache Cassandra if you want an Apache-licensed database you can run on your own infrastructure, across cloud or on-premises deployments, without a software bill. Choose ScyllaDB if managed database service options and workloads such as low-latency inference, feature stores or vector search are priorities. ScyllaDB Cloud pricing is resource-based, while self-managed Enterprise requires a quote. For either choice, confirm client compatibility, operational requirements and migration plans before committing.
01Side by side
| Apache Cassandra | ScyllaDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free software; infrastructure costs are yours | Resource-based Cloud; Enterprise requires a quote |
| Free tier | Free to download and self-host | 30-day Developer trial; 48-hour production evaluation |
| Open source and licence | Open source under Apache License 2.0 | Open-source status and licence not stated |
| Self-hosting | Run on commodity hardware, cloud or on-premises | Self-managed Enterprise available; custom quote required |
| Docs and getting started | Cassandra 5.0 Quickstart | Getting-started workshops and technical content |
| Integrations | Community talk covers Kafka and object storage | Homepage names no specific integrations |
| Deployment model | Self-managed across cloud and on-premises | ScyllaDB Cloud or self-managed Enterprise |
| Limits and scaling | Linear scaling; add nodes without downtime | Petabyte storage; billions of embeddings |
Apache Cassandra Choose Apache Cassandra if
- Choose Apache Cassandra if you need Apache License 2.0 software.
- Choose Apache Cassandra if your team will operate the database.
- Choose Apache Cassandra if you need multi-data-center replication.
ScyllaDB Choose ScyllaDB if
- Choose ScyllaDB if managed database deployment is a priority.
- Choose ScyllaDB for feature stores or vector search at scale.
- Choose ScyllaDB if resource-based Cloud billing fits your budget.
02Pricing at real usage
Apache Cassandra is free to download and self-host under the Apache License 2.0. The software has no published monthly or annual charge, but your team pays for infrastructure and operations.
ScyllaDB offers a 30-day Developer Free Trial and a 48-hour Production Evaluation; it does not list a free plan. ScyllaDB Cloud Standard uses resource-based pricing with no per-request charges. Professional and Premium add multi-region or support features, but monthly and annual prices are not published. Self-managed ScyllaDB Enterprise requires a custom quote, with licensing based on provisioned vCPUs and cluster sizing.
ScyllaDB lists on-demand hourly rates or Flex Credits for scaling, plus possible cross-zone or cross-region transfer and backup storage charges beyond one included daily backup. Ask for a workload-specific quote before comparing total costs.
03API, SDKs and integration
Apache Cassandra is a distributed NoSQL database; its homepage links to a Cassandra 5.0 Quickstart. CQL appears in Cassandra community material, including a talk about how it runs on Accord. The homepage also points to a broader ecosystem of Cassandra projects, tools, products and services. A community talk covers Kafka and object storage in a Cassandra CDC workflow. The homepage does not name SDK languages or a CLI, so check the project docs for the client and operational tooling your application needs.
ScyllaDB is also a distributed NoSQL database, offered as ScyllaDB Cloud and positioned as a Cassandra and DynamoDB replacement. Its homepage promotes getting-started workshops and technical content, but does not name specific integrations, SDK languages, API styles or a CLI. Confirm client compatibility and required tooling with ScyllaDB before planning a migration; a replacement claim alone does not establish drop-in compatibility.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Apache Cassandra is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and can be self-hosted on commodity hardware, cloud infrastructure or on-premises. Its masterless design and replication options give teams control over cluster placement, though they also take on operations. Cassandra community content includes a talk on efficient export with Cassandra Analytics; validate the export path and format needed for your application.
ScyllaDB offers ScyllaDB Cloud and self-managed Enterprise, but its open-source status and licence are not stated on the homepage. Enterprise licensing is custom and based on provisioned vCPUs and cluster sizing. ScyllaDB positions the product as a Cassandra replacement, but does not publish migration tooling or data-export details on its homepage. Before switching, ask about compatibility, export formats, migration support and the cost of running outside its managed service.
Questions people ask
Is ScyllaDB a drop-in replacement for Apache Cassandra?
ScyllaDB positions itself as a Cassandra replacement, but that does not establish drop-in compatibility for every application. Check client compatibility, query behavior, operational tooling and migration support with ScyllaDB before moving production workloads.
Which database is cheaper to run?
Apache Cassandra has no software charge and can be self-hosted, but infrastructure and operations still cost money. ScyllaDB Cloud uses resource-based pricing, while Enterprise requires a quote. Compare infrastructure, support, transfer and backup costs against a workload-specific ScyllaDB quote.
Does ScyllaDB offer a free tier?
ScyllaDB lists a 30-day Developer Free Trial and a 48-hour Production Evaluation, not a free plan. Its Cloud plan prices are not published. Apache Cassandra is free to download and self-host under the Apache License 2.0.
Which database suits vector search and AI workloads?
ScyllaDB’s homepage specifically promotes vector search across billions of embeddings, feature stores and low-latency inference workloads. Cassandra’s homepage emphasizes scalable, highly available data and multi-data-center replication. Compare workload requirements and verify the implementation details before choosing.