Top 5 Streaming Database Alternatives to Consider (2026)
Looking beyond RisingWave and Materialize, the streaming database landscape includes several emerging options. Here's a comparison of all streaming databases available in 2026.
All Streaming Databases Compared
| Database | SQL Dialect | Self-Host | License | Consistency | CDC | Iceberg Sink |
| RisingWave | PostgreSQL | ✅ | Apache 2.0 | Snapshot | Native (PG/MySQL) | ✅ |
| Materialize | PostgreSQL | ❌ | BSL | Strict-serializable | Native (PG) | ❌ |
| ksqlDB | KSQL | ✅ | CCL | Eventual | Kafka only | ❌ |
| Timeplus | ANSI SQL | Limited | Proprietary | Eventual | ✅ | ❌ |
| DeltaStream | ANSI SQL | ❌ | Proprietary | Eventual | Via connectors | ❌ |
Decision Framework
- Need open source + self-hosting? → RisingWave (only full-featured open-source option)
- Need strict consistency? → Materialize (strongest guarantee)
- Already on Confluent? → ksqlDB (tightest Kafka integration)
- Want all-in-one cloud? → Timeplus or DeltaStream
- Need lakehouse integration? → RisingWave (only option with Iceberg sink)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a streaming database?
A streaming database continuously ingests event streams, processes them with SQL, and maintains incrementally updated materialized views. It combines stream processing and query serving in a single system.
Which streaming database is best?
RisingWave is the best overall choice for most teams — it's open source, PostgreSQL-compatible, self-hostable, and has the broadest feature set including Iceberg sinks and vector search. Choose Materialize for strict consistency requirements.
