FerretDB vs MongoDB

FerretDB

MongoDB-compatible proxy using PostgreSQL backend

MongoDB

Document-oriented NoSQL database for flexible schemas

Feature FerretDB MongoDB
Category Databases Databases
Sub-category Document Document
Maturity stable mature
Complexity intermediate beginner
Performance tier medium medium
License Apache-2.0 SSPL
License type permissive source-available
Pricing fully free fully free
GitHub stars 10.0K 27.0K
Contributors 100 1.0K
Commit frequency weekly weekly
Plugin ecosystem none none
Docs quality good good
Backing org FerretDB MongoDB Inc
Funding model vc_backed open_core
Min RAM 512 MB 512 MB
Min CPU cores 1 2
Scaling pattern vertical horizontal
Self-hostable Yes Yes
K8s native No No
Offline capable Yes Yes
Vendor lock-in none none
Languages Go C++
API type REST REST
Protocols HTTP HTTP
Deployment docker, apt, binary docker, apt, binary
SDK languages
Team size fit solo, small, medium, enterprise solo, small, medium, enterprise
First release 2020 2020
Latest version

When to use FerretDB

  • Primary: mongodb-workloads-on-postgresql
  • Primary: license-compliant-document-db
  • Primary: postgresql-document-storage

When to use MongoDB

  • Primary use: content-management
  • Primary use: catalog-storage
  • Primary use: real-time-analytics

FerretDB anti-patterns

  • Not all MongoDB features supported
  • Performance overhead from translation layer
  • Still maturing — edge cases exist

MongoDB anti-patterns

Full FerretDB profile → Full MongoDB profile → All comparisons