ClickHouse vs CrateDB
Both ClickHouse and CrateDB are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the online databases space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
ClickHouse
EU- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, NL
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
CrateDB
EU- Headquarters
- Dornbirn, AT
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Key Differences
- Data residency differs: ClickHouse hosts data in EU, US, while CrateDB hosts in Austria, Germany, EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- ClickHouse holds SOC 2 certification, providing third-party assurance of its security practices. CrateDB does not currently hold these certifications, which may matter if your organisation requires them for vendor approval.
- CrateDB was founded in 2013, giving it a 8-year head start over ClickHouse (founded 2021). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: ClickHouse offers Column-oriented OLAP and SQL interface, while CrateDB provides Distributed SQL and Time-series data. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ClickHouse | CrateDB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ClickHouse | CrateDB |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, NL | Dornbirn, AT |
| Data Centers | EU, US | AT, DE, EU |
| Column-oriented OLAP | ||
| Real-time analytics | ||
| SQL interface | ||
| High compression | ||
| Materialized views | ||
| Distributed queries | ||
| Replication | ||
| Data integration | ||
| ClickHouse Cloud | ||
| Distributed SQL | ||
| Time-series data | ||
| Full-text search | ||
| Geospatial queries | ||
| IoT optimized | ||
| PostgreSQL compatibility | ||
| Cloud or self-hosted |
Pricing Comparison
ClickHouse
Freeusage-based
CrateDB
Freeusage-based
Compliance Comparison
ClickHouse
GDPRSOC 2DPA
CrateDB
GDPRDPA
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How to Choose
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose CrateDB
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose ClickHouse
ClickHouse vs CrateDB — FAQ
What is the main difference between ClickHouse and CrateDB?
Both ClickHouse and CrateDB are European online databases solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: ClickHouse is headquartered in Netherlands while CrateDB is based in Austria. ClickHouse is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, while CrateDB is based in Dornbirn, Austria. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, ClickHouse or CrateDB?
Both ClickHouse and CrateDB offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Both use usage-based pricing, so compare the tiers that match your team size and feature needs.
Are both ClickHouse and CrateDB GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both ClickHouse and CrateDB are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.