DynamoDB Vs Firebase: When To Use Which NoSQL Database
A comparison of each database with a recommendation of when best to use either one.
NoSQL databases sure have their allure of being flexible, schemaless and familiar to work with.
Since most NoSQL databases are document oriented, the learning curve is quite low when you know JSON and objects in most programming languages.
But many NoSQL databases are purpose-built as well.
A purpose-built database is a database designed to work well with a specific type of workload.
For example MongoDB is designed for consistency in mind, whereas a managed database like DynamoDB is designed for high availability.
But a popular choice many developers start with is Firebase.
Firebase Firestore is Google’s serverless NoSQL database which makes storing and retrieving data super simple with minimal configuration.
A great option for large workloads is DynamoDB — a key-value datastore designed for scalability and high availability.
But what should you consider when choosing between both of these databases?
In this article, I’ll explore these questions and give you a recommendation so you’ll know exactly when to use which database for your applications.
Firebase Vs DynamoDB
Firebase Firestore
Firebase Firestore is popular for web apps that require out of the box real-time features and simplicity with quick implementation.
Some key features of Firebase:
Real-Time data: Ideal for chat apps and live dashboards .
Built-in Authentication: Firebase provides its own authentication features to build simple and powerful user auth.
Offline support: Firebase supports caching and offline support with a single line code configuration, offering a great user experience.
Extensions Integrations: Firebase provides a wide array of extensions you can use to enhance your database, such as distributed counters, payment and email extensions, and more.
Amazon DynamoDB
DynamoDB is a fully managed database and provides ultra low latency performance at any scale, allowing developers to support very high traffic without worrying about latency or scale.
It remains highly available across regions and offers integrations with many of AWS’s services.
Some key features of DynamoDB:
Scalability: Scalability is the most attractive feature of DynamoDB — it provides easy, limitless scaling capabilities.
Low latency: DynamoDB provides single-digit millisecond latency response times at any scale.
Global Tables: With global tables, your data is replicated automatically in any amount of regions in the world as you need.
Integrations with AWS services: with the various services AWS provides, DynamoDB can communicate with services like Lambda, S3 and CloudWatch.
When To Use DynamoDB
Scalability
Scalability is DynamoDB’s single most attractive feature. It should be heavily considered when making a case for DynamoDB.
With good table design, there is no limit to how high you can scale with DynamoDB.
However, knowing how to design for scalability and performance is key here.
If you are not familiar with efficient table designs like the Single Table Design, and hierarchical data modeling in DynamoDB, it may not be worth using it as your database.
Consider learning efficient and advanced design patterns here.
Global Availability
When you need your data to be available in multiple regions in the world, DynamoDB’s Global Tables will truly benefit you.
With Global Tables, you can get offer your users low latency and store replicated data near them.
Global availability is an important use case for considering DynamoDB.
Low Latency
DynamoDB offers low latency at any scale, making it a powerful choice for applications with high traffic load that require to be consistently responsive.
With good table design you can fulfill DynamoDB’s promise of low latency at any scale.
If you need low latency in your app, DynamoDB should be one of your top choices.
When To Use Firebase
Use Firebase when you need:
Smaller Scale
If high traffic and concurrency is not a concern, Firebase is definitely a better choice for your application.
But don’t get me wrong, Firebase can still scale, only not as high as DynamoDB.
Once you get into the 100K users range and above, you might want to consider other solutions. However, any number below this is usually supported by Firebase.
Real-Time Focused Apps
Firebase excels in real-time features.
With Firebase, you do not need to configure any websockets for real time data management — all real time features come out of the box with no configurations at all.
This makes Firebase a solid choice for chat apps, live dashboards, and social media platforms.
Offline Support
If you need out of the box offline support without extra code or dependencies, Firebase offers this to you.
With one line of code, you can add offline support and Firebase will start caching queries and frequently accessed data so that it can be used offline.
The cache and offline functionalities are fully managed by Firebase so you don’t need to worry about optimizing the storage on your device.
Rapid & Easy Development
Finally, Firebase is undoubtedly a great choice when you need fast and simplified development.
Working with Firebase’s data is a familiar experience for most developers as it is essentially JSON data. The collection and document hierarchy works also in a simple and easy to understand manner.
If you need to get to market with your product quick with as little roadbumps as possible, choose Firebase and its ecosystem.
Conclusion
We saw the benefits of each NoSQL database and when best to use which one.
For real time features, rapid development, offline support and low configuration, Firebase will be a better choice for you.
For scaling needs and high performance on a global level, Amazon DynamoDB will surely be a better fit.
Both databases have their unique advantages, built for different purposes, but understanding your application’s needs, its needs and the problems it aims to solve will allow you to choose the best database solution.
👋 My name is Uriel Bitton and I’m committed to helping you master Serverless, Cloud Computing, and AWS.
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Thanks for reading and see you in the next one!