ScyllaDB is a Cassandra and DynamoDB compatible NoSQL database built in C++. See 2026 pricing, features, pros, cons and how it compares for high throughput…
ScyllaDB is a distributed NoSQL database written in C++ that positions itself as a faster, more resource-efficient alternative to Apache Cassandra and Amazon DynamoDB. It grew out of Cloudius Systems, a company started by former Red Hat KVM engineers Avi Kivity and Dor Laor, which was renamed ScyllaDB around 2014 and released its core database as open source software the following year.
The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with a substantial engineering office in Tel Aviv, Israel, and a globally distributed workforce. ScyllaDB targets data-intensive applications such as messaging, ad tech, gaming, IoT, and financial services that require consistently low latency at very high throughput.
ScyllaDB's core architectural advantage is its shard-per-core design built on the Seastar framework, which lets each CPU core operate largely independently to avoid the lock contention and garbage collection pauses that affect JVM-based databases like Cassandra. It maintains wire compatibility with Cassandra's CQL, so existing Cassandra drivers and, in many cases, application code can connect with minimal changes.
A distinguishing feature is Alternator, ScyllaDB's DynamoDB-compatible API, which allows teams running DynamoDB workloads to move them to ScyllaDB, whether self-managed or in ScyllaDB Cloud, without rewriting their data access layer. ScyllaDB Cloud adds fully managed operations, automated backups, monitoring, and multi-region active-active deployment options on AWS and Google Cloud.
ScyllaDB Open Source is free and community-supported. ScyllaDB Enterprise, for self-managed deployments on-premises or in private cloud, adds premium features and dedicated support but requires contacting sales for a quote. ScyllaDB Cloud is billed based on provisioned resources, instance type, storage, and the chosen support tier, with Standard, Professional, and Premium plans that differ mainly in support response times and advanced networking or security options; no flat public price list is available and customers use ScyllaDB's online pricing calculator or talk to sales for an estimate.
Yes. ScyllaDB Open Source is free and community-supported. Paid options are ScyllaDB Enterprise for self-managed deployments and ScyllaDB Cloud for a fully managed service, both priced on request.
Yes. ScyllaDB is wire-compatible with Cassandra's CQL query language, so many existing Cassandra drivers and applications can connect to ScyllaDB with little or no code changes.
ScyllaDB offers Alternator, a native DynamoDB-compatible API, so DynamoDB workloads can run on ScyllaDB, either self-managed or on ScyllaDB Cloud, without rewriting application code.
ScyllaDB was founded by Avi Kivity and Dor Laor, former Red Hat engineers who previously worked on the KVM hypervisor, originally under the name Cloudius Systems.
ScyllaDB is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA, with a major research and development office in Tel Aviv, Israel.
ScyllaDB Cloud, the fully managed database-as-a-service offering, is available on AWS and Google Cloud Platform.
ScyllaDB Cloud billing is based on provisioned cluster resources such as instance type, storage, and the selected support plan tier; ScyllaDB does not publish flat per-hour rates and directs prospects to a pricing calculator or sales team.
Publicly referenced ScyllaDB users include Discord, Disney+, Expedia, Zillow, Palo Alto Networks, and Tripadvisor.