{"data":{"slug":"surrealdb","name":"SurrealDB","tagline":"BSL multi-model DB; free to use, not OSI open source","category":"databases","categoryName":"Databases","url":"https://surrealdb.com","github":"https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb","pricing":"source-available","hook":"SurrealDB is the multi-model engine that wants document, graph, and SQL in one binary — with a loud license line.","whatsGood":"Source-available. Single binary / embedded options, SurrealQL, realtime live queries, SDKs. Community self-host is free for normal app/prod use. Cloud has a free instance for prototypes, then usage pricing.","theCatch":"Business Source License 1.1 — NOT OSI open source. You may not offer SurrealDB as a commercial DBaaS without a deal; code flips to Apache-2.0 after the change date (3.0 → 2030-01-01). Enterprise HA/security features are paid. It is not MIT/Apache OSS.","verdict":"BSL multi-model DB. Free for most builders; source-available with a DBaaS ban — say so out loud.","addedAt":"2026-09-08","featured":false,"domain":"Databases","subSpecialty":"Data","subcategory":"Multi-model","tags":["self-host","source-available","license-unclear","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform"],"licenseModel":"Open-Core","githubStars":33203,"starsPerWeek":131,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2021-12-09","pushedAt":"2026-10-08","license":"NOASSERTION","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"}},"related":[{"slug":"supabase","name":"Supabase","tagline":"Open-source Firebase alternative built on Postgres"},{"slug":"turso","name":"Turso","tagline":"SQLite at the edge with libSQL"},{"slug":"redis","name":"Redis","tagline":"The in-memory data store everyone uses"},{"slug":"upstash","name":"Upstash","tagline":"Serverless Redis and Kafka"},{"slug":"pinecone","name":"Pinecone","tagline":"Vector database for AI applications"}],"links":{"self":"/api/gems/surrealdb","html":"/gems/surrealdb","markdown":"/gems/surrealdb.md","category":"/api/gems?category=databases","categoryPage":"/stacks/databases"}}