KEY TAKEAWAYChoosing the right MongoDB alternative in 2025 depends on your workload shape, latency targets, and operational model; here are the top 7 options and when to use each:
- Apache Cassandra: Scalable, multi-region, high-throughput NoSQL for global writes.
- Redis: In-memory speed for real-time caching, queues, and analytics.
- Amazon DynamoDB: Serverless key-value store with auto-scaling and reliability.
- OrientDB: Graph-focused, multi-model database for complex relationships.
- CouchDB: Offline-first document store for distributed web/mobile apps.
- ArangoDB: Multi-model database unifying documents, graphs, and key-value.
- RethinkDB: Real-time JSON database for live updates and dashboards.
With organizations generating huge volumes of Unstructured Data, the need for NoSQL Databases is on the rise. Relational Databases organize data into tables or relations, which are intersections of rows and columns. This makes them limited to storing Structured Data only. NoSQL databases emerged in 2009 to overcome this limitation. They can be used in massive data applications to store Unstructured Data.
MongoDB is a popular NoSQL database management system. It is an open-source NoSQL database that uses the document-oriented database model. MongoDB groups data into documents and collections rather than tables, hence, it can be used to store different types of data. It is well-known for offering high performance, easy scalability, and high availability.
However, data consumption in MongoDB is high as a result of denormalization. Developers have also reported different issues with MongoDB, hence, they are leaving the Database Management System. In this article, we have prepared a list of the top MongoDB Alternatives for you to use.
Table of Contents
What is MongoDB?
MongoDB is a well-known Open-Source NoSQL Database written in C++. MongoDB is a Document-oriented Database that uses JSON-like documents with a Dynamic Schema to store data. It means that you can store your records without having to worry about the Data Structure, the number of fields or the types of fields used to store values. Documents in MongoDB are similar to JSON objects.
You can change the structure of records (which MongoDB refers to as Documents) by simply adding new fields or deleting existing ones. This feature of MongoDB allows you to easily represent Hierarchical Relationships, Store Arrays, and other complex Data Structures. Nowadays, many tech giants, including Facebook, eBay, Adobe, and Google, use MongoDB to store their large amounts of data.
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Get Started with Hevo for FreeBest MongoDB Alternatives
The following are the top MongoDB Alternatives that you should consider:
1. Apache Cassandra
If you are looking for a Database Management System that offers high availability and scalability without affecting performance, Apache Cassandra is one of the best MongoDB alternatives to consider. It is an Open-Source NoSQL database that enables operational simplicity and supports replication across many data centers and cloud availability zones. When data is replicated in multiple nodes, it ensures that the system is fault-tolerant. Cassandra was initially developed for Facebook, but you can deploy it across multiple servers very quickly. Every node in the cluster works separately, so you don’t have to worry about bottlenecks in the system.
However, some Apache Cassandra users have reported that it doesn’t offer consistently high availability and its performance can be unpredictable. It has a free version and they can customize the costs according to your needs.
2. Redis
This is an Open-Source Database and one of the MongoDB alternatives. It uses Active-Active and Active-Passive distributed architectures for high availability. Just like Apache Cassandra, Redis comes with powerful built-in search capabilities and a linearly scaling high performance. Redis is a fast Database Management System that supports different data structures including Hashes, Bitmaps, Lists, Sets, Strings, and others.
Redis is a good NoSQL Database Management System for developers who are looking for speed. Its pricing starts at $5 monthly (100MB and four datasets) and it offers a 30MB free tier.
3. DynamoDB
DynamoDB is a nonrelational Database Management System from Amazon. It groups data into key-value pairs and helps businesses to achieve a single-digit millisecond performance even on large-scale data operations.
It is a multi-master, fully managed, and multi-region database that offers in-memory caching, security, and built-in backup and restore which makes it one of the best MongoDB alternatives. The good thing about DynamoDB is that it is capable of handling up to 10 trillion requests per day and supports peaks of over 20 million requests per second. DynamoDB can be expensive but it is worth the money to those running global-scale applications. Amazon DynamoDB has a free version and a free trial. It uses an on-demand pricing model.
4. OrientDB
OrientDB is an Open-source, NoSQL Database and one of the best MongoDB alternatives. If you are looking for a graph database, OrientDB may be the best option for you. Once you master its True Graph Engine, you won’t need to handle other data types or implement many systems. OrientDB is also an excellent database management system for modeling data with many complex relationships, and unlike other MongoDB alternatives, it offers free clustering.
However, OrientDB users have complained of compatibility issues, poor documentation, and the high cost of hosting. OrientDB is one of the best MongoDB alternatives to those in need of the true power of graph databases. It has a free community edition and its price starts at $5,970.
5. CouchDB
CouchDB is an Open-source NoSQL Database written in the Erlang programming language. It is a document-oriented database that can be deployed as a standalone application framework or with high-volume distributed applications, particularly web applications capable of handling huge volumes of loosely structured data. CouchDB used the JSON format to store data, and it relies on sessions and authentication for durability and security. However, CouchDB users have complained of an unfriendly user interface and lack of full-stack search.
CouchDB is one of the best MongoDB alternatives if you want to handle massive volumes of loosely structured data. It is free.
6. ArangoDB
ArangoDB is a NoSQL Database Management System and one of the graph databases that can be used as MongoDB alternatives. It is used to ensure high availability of high-performance applications. It comes with a SQL-like query language and a flexible data model for key values, graphs, and documents.
ArangoDB is also supported by a large community of users and it has a built-in search engine and a microservices framework. When using ArangoDB, you can run graph analytic queries and reduce the number of database technologies used in the production environment. It is one of the best MongoDb alternatives that can help you to build high-performance applications.
ArangoDB has a free version and the cost of its enterprise edition can be customized to meet your specific needs.
7. RethinkDB
This is an Open-Source Database Management System built for the storage of JSON documents. It is an ideal database for use in multiregional, multi-datacenter environments since you can scale to multiple machines without much effort. RethinkDB can prove to be one of the best MongoDB alternatives for you if your goal is to develop real-time apps. However, you will not receive regular updates as the company was shut down in 2016. RethinkDB is a free and open-source database management system.
Those are some of the best MongoDB Alternatives.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a MongoDB Alternative
When selecting a MongoDB alternative, consider the following factors:
- Community Support and Documentation: A strong community and extensive documentation simplify implementation and troubleshooting. Databases like Redis and Cassandra are well-supported, making them easier to adopt.
- Scalability: Evaluate how well the database can handle growing data volumes and user traffic. Some options like Apache Cassandra and DynamoDB, excel in distributed scalability across multiple regions.
- Performance: Analyze the database’s speed for read/write operations, latency, and consistency. Redis offers high performance with in-memory data storage, making it ideal for real-time applications.
- Data Model: Choose a database that fits your data structure needs. For example, ArangoDB supports multiple models like graphs and documents, while DynamoDB focuses on key-value pairs.
- Licensing and Pricing: Assess the cost-effectiveness of the database, considering free tiers, customization options, or subscription plans. Open-source databases like CouchDB and OrientDB are budget-friendly, while DynamoDB uses a pay-as-you-go model.
Conclusion
NoSQL Databases are ideal for storing unstructured data as they don’t organize data into relations, unlike traditional relational databases. MongoDB, a popular NoSQL Database, follows a document-oriented model that groups data into documents and collections. However, MongoDB’s denormalization approach often results in high data consumption, making it worthwhile to explore alternatives like Redis, Apache Cassandra, RethinkDB, DynamoDB, OrientDB, CouchDB, and ArangoDB.
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FAQs
Why look beyond MongoDB in 2025?
As data volume and diversity grow, teams need engines optimized for specific access patterns (e.g., write-heavy time series, in-memory latency, or native graph). Some alternatives reduce operational overhead or improve multi-region behavior. Others provide serverless scale or multi-model flexibility that simplifies architecture. Picking a fit-for-purpose store often lowers cost and complexity over time.
Which MongoDB alternative is best for global, write-heavy workloads?
Apache Cassandra and DynamoDB are top picks. Cassandra offers linear scalability and tunable consistency across regions when you manage clusters yourself. DynamoDB provides serverless autoscaling and global tables for simplified operations. Your choice hinges on control needs, pricing model, and AWS lock-in tolerance
What if ultra-low latency is my top priority?
Choose Redis when you need sub-millisecond responses for hot paths, queues, rate limiting, or session/state stores. It supports rich data types and Active-Active topologies. For durability beyond RAM, consider Redis persistence or Redis Enterprise options. Pair with a colder store if you also need large, historical analytics.
When should I prefer a graph database over MongoDB?
If your questions are about relationships—shortest paths, recommendations, fraud rings-graph stores like OrientDB (or ArangoDB’s graph model) deliver native traversals and simpler query logic. You’ll avoid complex joins or application-level graph logic. This usually results in faster queries and clearer schemas for highly connected data.
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