YDB
What it is
YDB is a distributed SQL database for OLTP, OLAP and streaming workloads. It supports global ACID transactions and strong consistency, while automatically sharding and rebalancing data; compute and storage can scale independently. For analytics, it provides columnar tables and a distributed vectorized query engine. YDB Topics supports Kafka API 3.4.0, exactly-once delivery and automatic partitioning. A native vector index supports approximate nearest-neighbor queries, with documented uses in semantic search, recommendations and RAG pipelines. YDB can run on premises, on virtual machines with Ansible or in cloud environments with Kubernetes. Listed integrations include DBeaver, DataGrip, Grafana, Apache Airflow, Apache Spark, Kafka API, dbt, SQLAlchemy and LangChain. It supports internal and directory-service users, along with user and group access rights. Observability connections use Prometheus and OpenTelemetry protocols, and backups can use S3-compatible object stores or a filesystem. Open-Source is free under Apache 2.0. Managed YDB Serverless is also free, billed by usage, with a monthly free package including the first 1,000,000 operations and first 1 GB/month of storage free. The dbt-YDB connector is marked Preview and does not support all dbt features.
For and against
For
- Supports global ACID transactions and strong consistency
- Compute and storage scale independently
- Native vector index supports approximate nearest-neighbor queries
- Open-source plan is free
Against
- dbt-YDB connector is marked Preview
- Connector does not support all dbt features
The verdict
YDB brings transactional, analytical and streaming workloads together with self-hosting and cloud deployment options.
Who it suits
YDB suits teams building transaction, analytics or streaming workloads that need deployment options across self-hosted and cloud environments. Its vector index may also suit semantic search, recommendations and RAG pipelines.
Plans and prices
Managed YDB Serverless
First 1,000,000 operations and first 1 GB/month of storage free
Read 4 Oct 2026 · yandex.cloud
Open-Source
Apache 2.0 · community-supported · self-host anywhere
Read 4 Oct 2026 · ydb.tech
Enterprise
Enhanced security and compliance · 24×7 SLA-backed commercial support
Read 4 Oct 2026 · ydb.tech
Managed YDB Dedicated
Compute and storage resources specified by customer
Read 4 Oct 2026 · yandex.cloud
On the record
- AI and vector search
- YDB provides a native vector index for approximate nearest-neighbor queries and documents use in semantic search, recommendations, and RAG pipelines.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- YDB provides columnar tables and a distributed vectorized query engine for analytical workloads.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- YDB states that its security features help meet requirements including PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- YDB can be deployed on premises and on virtual machines with Ansible, or in cloud environments with Kubernetes.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The integrations documentation lists DBeaver, DataGrip, Grafana, Apache Airflow, Apache Spark, Kafka API, dbt, SQLAlchemy, and LangChain among supported integrations.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- YDB describes its enterprise edition as intended for business-critical applications, with enhanced security, compliance, and SLA-backed commercial support.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- The dbt-YDB connector is marked Preview and does not currently support all dbt features.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Observability and backups
- YDB integrates with observability software using Prometheus and OpenTelemetry protocols, and backups can use S3-compatible object stores or a filesystem.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- YDB is a distributed SQL database for OLTP, OLAP, and streaming workloads.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- YDB automatically shards and rebalances data, and compute and storage can scale independently.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- YDB supports internal users and external users from directory services such as LDAP and IAM, along with user and group access rights.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Streaming
- YDB Topics supports the Kafka API 3.4.0, exactly-once delivery, and automatic partitioning.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Commercial support offers a Basic 8×5 ticket service and an Advanced 24×7 service through tickets, chat, and videoconferencing.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
- Transactions
- YDB supports global ACID transactions and strong consistency.ydb.tech · read 4 Oct 2026
