# SlothDB

6 Hacker News commenters recommended SlothDB and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free, open-source embedded SQL database that people compare with DuckDB on speed benchmarks. Critics want more data and architecture explanation, and raise security concerns for embedded use.

## Why people recommend it

- Open-source alternative to DuckDB (2 comments): "We are working hard to create an alternative to DuckDB and keep it completely open Source." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48179088)) "Good to see a new OLAP project already benchmarking itself against DuckDB this early" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48176704))

## What people warn about

- Lacks data and architecture explanation (1 comments): "you are going to have to bring a LOT of data and architectural explanation to convince folks" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47973903))
- Security concerns for embedded use (1 comments): "That is not so good for an embedded database, though, opens security concerns." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47912035))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [SQLite](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sqlite.md): 847 recommend
- [PGlite](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pglite.md): 49 recommend
- [DuckDB WASM](https://hackerapproved.com/p/duckdb-wasm.md): 11 recommend
- [Stoolap](https://hackerapproved.com/p/stoolap.md): 9 recommend
- [SlateDB](https://hackerapproved.com/p/slatedb.md): 6 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "SlothDB", https://hackerapproved.com/p/slothdb/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).