Is Neo4j Free to Use on Cloud Platforms?

Neo4j is a popular graph database that is known for its powerful capabilities in handling complex relationships and network data. Many developers and businesses are interested in using Neo4j on cloud platforms for scalability, flexibility, and convenience. One common question that arises is whether Neo4j is free to use on cloud platforms.

1. Neo4j Community Edition

Neo4j offers a Community Edition of its graph database, which is open-source and free to use. This version provides essential features for building graph database applications and is suitable for small projects, personal use, or for those who want to explore Neo4j’s capabilities.

2. Neo4j Enterprise Edition

For larger projects and enterprise-level applications, Neo4j offers an Enterprise Edition with advanced features such as clustering, security, monitoring, and support. The Enterprise Edition is not free to use, and users are required to purchase a license based on their needs and usage.

3. Neo4j Aura

Neo4j also offers a cloud service called Neo4j Aura, which provides a fully managed graph database as a service. Neo4j Aura is available on popular cloud platforms such as AWS and GCP, offering scalability, high availability, and automated backups.

3.1 Pricing

Neo4j Aura has a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on resource consumption, with no upfront costs or long-term commitments. Users can choose from different plans based on their performance and storage requirements.

3.2 Free Tier

Neo4j Aura also offers a free tier for users to get started with the platform and test their applications. The free tier has limitations on resources but allows developers to explore Neo4j Aura’s capabilities without incurring any costs.

4. Neo4j Desktop

Developers who prefer to run Neo4j locally for development and testing purposes can use Neo4j Desktop, which is a desktop application that includes the Community Edition of Neo4j. Neo4j Desktop is free to download and use on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, Neo4j offers both free and paid options for using its graph database on cloud platforms. The Community Edition is free to use and is suitable for small projects and personal use. For larger projects and enterprise applications, users can opt for the Enterprise Edition or Neo4j Aura, which provides additional features and services for a cost.

Whether Neo4j is free to use on cloud platforms depends on the specific edition and services that users choose based on their requirements and budget.