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Apache IoTDB
What it is
Apache IoTDB is an open-source industrial time-series database for collecting, storing, managing, and analyzing IoT data across edge and cloud environments. The project says it supports high-speed writes for millions of networked devices and fast reads. Query features include aligning time across devices and sensors, time-series calculations, and aggregation by time dimension. Data can enter through IoTDB-SQL, JDBC, native APIs for Java, C++, Python, and Go, REST, MQTT, CSV, or TsFile. The project names Hadoop, Spark, Flink, and Grafana as analysis ecosystem examples, and offers All-in-one and Edge binaries, source archives, and a Grafana connector and plugin for listed releases. Deployment options include cloud installation, a desktop terminal tool, and synchronization between cloud and on-premise machines. REST is disabled by default and uses Basic Authentication except for the health check. Access permissions are managed through users, roles, and privileges. The project describes use in energy, aerospace, transportation, steel, and other IoT scenarios. Its documentation cautions that JDBC inserts may not provide high-performance writing and recommends the Java Native API for Java applications.
For and against
For
- Open-source database with downloadable binaries and source.
- Supports SQL and multiple native APIs.
- Provides time-alignment and time-series aggregation queries.
- Names Hadoop, Spark, Flink, and Grafana integrations.
- Access permissions use users, roles, and privileges.
Against
- REST is disabled by default.
- JDBC inserts may not provide high-performance writing.
- Version 1.0 changed SQL syntax conventions.
- Implemented UDFs need code changes for the separated UDF API module.
The verdict
IoTDB offers broad ingestion options and time-series query features for industrial IoT deployments. Java applications prioritizing write performance should note the documented JDBC limitation.
Who it suits
IoT teams that need a self-hosted time-series database for edge-cloud deployments may find IoTDB relevant. It offers several ingestion methods and named analysis integrations.
Plans and prices
Apache IoTDB Community
Software generally available free of charge · community mailing-list support is voluntary · no SLA or guaranteed response
Read 14 Oct 2026 · iotdb.apache.org
Apache IoTDB
Open source time-series database; downloadable binaries and source
Read 4 Oct 2026 · iotdb.apache.org
On the record
- Access control
- IoTDB supports users, roles and path-scoped privileges such as READ, WRITE and SECURITY, with authentication by username and password.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- APIs
- Documented interfaces include Java, Python, C, C++, C#, Go, Node.js, Rust, JDBC, MQTT and REST APIs.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Availability and scaling
- Official documentation describes a distributed architecture with high availability, automatic load balancing and heterogeneous cluster support.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- C API
- A C wrapper around the C++ Session SDK was added in version 2.0.10 and has precompiled Linux, macOS and Windows packages.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Community status
- Apache board minutes dated June 17, 2026 describe IoTDB as ongoing with high activity and note trademark issues under discussion.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Company profile
- LinkedIn lists Apache IoTDB as a nonprofit software-development organization founded in 2017, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, with 51–200 employees.linkedin.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- The download page notes that version 1.0 changed SQL syntax conventions and that implemented UDFs need code changes to work with the separated UDF API module.iotdb.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Compression
- IoTDB uses compressed disk storage and is marketed as reducing hardware storage cost.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The project describes cloud installation, a desktop terminal tool, and a data synchronization tool connecting cloud and on-premise machines.iotdb.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The user guide spans quick start, deployment, basic and advanced functions, AI, tools, APIs, integrations, SQL, technical internals, reference and FAQ sections.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page lists All-in-one and Edge binaries, source archives, and a Grafana connector and plugin for listed releases.iotdb.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Edge deployment
- IoTDB supports terminal or edge deployment, cloud deployment and synchronization between terminal and cloud instances.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Foundation headquarters
- The Apache Software Foundation lists its mailing address in Wilmington, Delaware.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Go SDK
- The Go client offers Session and SessionPool APIs and documents Go 1.13+, Make, cURL and Thrift prerequisites.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Hierarchical model
- Its measurement-point organization follows industrial device hierarchies and supports directory browsing and search.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- High throughput
- The product is designed for high-speed ingestion from millions of devices, including out-of-order and multi-frequency data.iotdb.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Independent history
- The project began as a Tsinghua University research project, entered the Apache Incubator in November 2018 and became an Apache top-level project in September 2020.news.apache.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Independent technical description
- Wikipedia describes IoTDB as a Java-based, column-oriented, open-source time-series database and records its 2020 promotion to an Apache top-level project.en.wikipedia.org · read 14 Oct 2026
