SlothDB
Shares rank 5 of 7 embedded databases by recommenders
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.
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.
6 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 6
- criticize it
- 0
- approval share
- 100%
Recommended in 2 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 6 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- Nobody criticizes itNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 2 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Open-source alternative to DuckDB
“We are working hard to create an alternative to DuckDB and keep it completely open Source.”
Comment from 18 May 2026 in “SlothDB is an OLAP DB ahead of DuckDB on Clickbench SQL database in C++20” “Good to see a new OLAP project already benchmarking itself against DuckDB this early”
Comment from 18 May 2026 in “SlothDB is an OLAP DB ahead of DuckDB on Clickbench SQL database in C++20”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Lacks data and architecture explanation
“you are going to have to bring a LOT of data and architectural explanation to convince folks”
Comment from 1 May 2026 in “SlothDB a 5X Faster Alternative to DuckDB, ClickHouse DB” Security concerns for embedded use
“That is not so good for an embedded database, though, opens security concerns.”
Comment from 26 Apr 2026 in “Show HN: SlothDB is a super fast embedded SQL database”
Other embedded databases people recommend
The four most recommended other embedded databases, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQLite | 847 | 220 | 79% | 12 | 2 yrs13 owners | Approved |
| PGlite | 49 | 7 | 88% | 10 | — | Approved |
| DuckDB WASM | 11 | 2 | 85% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Stoolap | 9 | 5 | 64% | 2 | — | — |
| SlothDBThis page | 6 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
What people said
6 of the 7 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“It pretty much holds good as of now.”
“We are working hard to create an alternative to DuckDB and keep it completely open Source.”
“Good to see a new OLAP project already benchmarking itself against DuckDB this early”
“I love the concept, lovely README btw”
“you are going to have to bring a LOT of data and architectural explanation to convince folks”
“That is not so good for an embedded database, though, opens security concerns.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.