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It's a split decision.
Choose FalkorDB for a Cypher graph database with an open-source option, multi-tenant graphs and monthly managed tiers. Its homepage names integrations with AI frameworks including LangChain, LlamaIndex, Graphiti and Mem0. Choose Neo4j for hourly-priced managed instances, documented memory and storage ceilings, and a platform spanning graph databases, analytics and data science. Both offer free plans and self-hosted deployment. Compare the managed workload’s compute needs and verify migration requirements before committing.
01Side by side
| FalkorDB | Neo4j | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly tiers; Startup starts at $73 per 1 GB | Hourly capacity rates; Professional starts at $0.09/GB/hour |
| Free tier | Free; includes multi-graph and graph access control | AuraDB Free; no payment method required |
| Open source and licence | Open source; licence not specified | Open-source status not stated |
| Self-hosting | Self-hostable, with an enterprise console | Self-managed graph database products |
| Integrations | Seven AI frameworks, including LangChain and LlamaIndex | Partners include AWS, Databricks and Snowflake |
| Deployment model | Managed cloud or self-hosted | Fully managed or self-managed |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | Startup: 1 GB; Pro: 8 GB; Enterprise custom | Professional up to 128 GB memory; Business Critical higher |
FalkorDB Choose FalkorDB if
- Choose FalkorDB if you want an open-source graph database.
- Choose FalkorDB if fixed monthly managed tiers fit your budget.
- Choose FalkorDB if your AI stack uses its listed framework integrations.
Neo4j Choose Neo4j if
- Choose Neo4j if you need documented managed-instance memory and storage ceilings.
- Choose Neo4j if hourly capacity pricing suits your workload.
- Choose Neo4j if you need graph analytics and data science products.
02Pricing at real usage
Both vendors offer a $0 tier. FalkorDB Free includes multi-graph and multi-tenancy, graph access control, and community support. Neo4j AuraDB Free requires no payment method and includes access to its graph tools. FalkorDB Startup costs $73 per 1 GB per month; it includes TLS and backups every 12 hours, but no cluster deployment. Pro costs $350 per 8 GB per month and adds cluster deployment and high availability. Neo4j AuraDB Professional is $0.09 per GB per hour, with a 1 GB minimum. At a constant 1 GB for an illustrative 730-hour month, that rate works out to $65.70. Business Critical is $0.20 per GB per hour with a 2 GB minimum, or $0.40 per hour at minimum capacity. Actual monthly cost depends on runtime and capacity; compare that with FalkorDB’s monthly tiers.
03API, SDKs and integration
FalkorDB identifies Cypher as its native query language and says it supports migration using Cypher. Its homepage says seven AI frameworks integrate out of the box, naming LangChain, LlamaIndex, Graphiti and Mem0. That gives teams using those frameworks a concrete starting point for connecting graph queries to AI workflows. The homepage does not name language-specific SDKs, API protocols or a CLI, so confirm those requirements before choosing it.
Neo4j’s homepage lists a Dev Center, documentation, deployment resources, Community and GraphAcademy courses. It also presents GraphRAG, AI integrations and Model Context Protocol (MCP) among its developer resources. The homepage does not specify SDK languages, API protocols or CLI commands, so check its developer documentation for the interfaces your application needs. Neo4j names AWS, Databricks, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Snowflake as partners; those are partner listings, not a list of AI framework integrations.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
FalkorDB is identified as open source and self-hostable, with an enterprise console available for self-hosted deployment. The published material does not name its open-source licence, so confirm the licence terms and enterprise features before using it in a product. FalkorDB’s native Cypher support is relevant to migration, but it does not establish compatibility with a particular source database or migration path.
Neo4j offers self-managed graph database products as well as managed AuraDB options. Its open-source status is not stated on the vendor's site. Neither vendor’s homepage details data-export formats or a complete exit path. Before committing, ask about export formats, schema and query compatibility, backup restoration outside the hosted service, and any commercial restrictions. These checks matter most when moving workloads between engines or from a managed service to self-hosted infrastructure.
Questions people ask
Is FalkorDB cheaper than Neo4j?
It depends on instance size and runtime. FalkorDB lists monthly managed tiers, including Startup at $73 per 1 GB per month. Neo4j AuraDB Professional charges $0.09 per GB per hour with a 1 GB minimum. At continuous use, that is $65.70 for an illustrative 730-hour month at 1 GB, before comparing features or other costs.
Can I self-host FalkorDB or Neo4j?
Yes. FalkorDB says it can be self-hosted and offers an enterprise console. Neo4j lists self-managed graph database products. Compare the operational requirements, licence terms and support options for the specific self-hosted edition with each vendor before deployment.
Which has better AI framework integrations?
FalkorDB names seven out-of-the-box AI framework integrations, including LangChain, LlamaIndex, Graphiti and Mem0. Neo4j lists AI integrations, GraphRAG and MCP as developer resources, plus cloud and data-platform partners. Check each product’s developer documentation to verify support for your framework and required SDK.
Can I migrate Cypher queries between FalkorDB and Neo4j?
FalkorDB identifies Cypher as its native query language and says it supports migration using Cypher. The published Neo4j homepage details do not establish query compatibility or a migration path between the products. Validate query syntax, schema behavior and data-export options before planning a move.