Open Source Alternatives
  • Alternatives
  • Categories
    Categories by size882 projects
    • Developer Tools461
    • AI & Machine Learning404
    • Web Development196
    • Business & Productivity191
    • Communication & Collaboration126
    • Security & Monitoring126
    • IT Management123
    • Product & Project Management106
    • Cloud & Hosting105
    • Data & Analytics104
    Browse all 21 categoriesLLMOps & AI Tooling, Design & Creative and 9 more
  • Blog
  • Advertise
SearchNotion, Slack, password manager.../
Submit
Open Source Alternatives
  • Alternatives
    • Developer Tools461
    • AI & Machine Learning404
    • Web Development196
    • Business & Productivity191
    • Communication & Collaboration126
    • Security & Monitoring126
    • Browse all 21 categories
  • Blog
  • Advertise
Submit your project

New open source projects by email

The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Open Source Alternatives LogoOpen Source Alternatives

Handpicked Open Source Alternatives to Paid Softwares

Product

  • Categories
  • Tag
  • Advertise

Resources

  • Blog
  • Collection
  • Submit

Company

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Refund Policy
  • Sitemap

Alternatives

  • Claude Code
  • Jira
  • Notion
  • Slack
  • Linear
  • Wispr Flow
  • All alternatives
© 2026 Open Source Alternatives. All rights reserved.
Open SourceAlternatives
Home/Categories/Databases & Storage/BigchainDB
icon of BigchainDB

BigchainDB

Open source alternative to Amazon Managed Blockchain, IBM Blockchain Platform and Alibaba Cloud Blockchain as a Service (BaaS)

  • 4K stars
  • Apache-2.0
  • Last commit 839 days ago

Last verified Sep 24, 2026

Run a blockchain database server for tamper-evident records, asset histories, and decentralized data prototypes.

Visit websiteGitHub4K starsDeploy on Hostinger
image of BigchainDB
TL;DR

BigchainDB is a blockchain database server for teams experimenting with decentralized data, asset histories, and tamper-evident records. It replaces managed blockchain database services when developers want to run the server themselves, inspect the stack, and prototype with Docker-based local infrastructure.

Read the full breakdownHide the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ
who it's for

Who BigchainDB is for#

Developers prototyping blockchain-backed records

Use BigchainDB to test asset or transaction models locally before choosing hosted blockchain infrastructure.

Skip if:

A normal relational database plus audit table satisfies your integrity needs.

Researchers studying decentralized databases

Use BigchainDB when the goal is to inspect and modify server behavior around blockchain-style storage.

Skip if:

You only need an API to a managed blockchain network.

Teams evaluating vendor alternatives

Use BigchainDB to compare self-hosted architecture against managed blockchain services.

Skip if:

You need enterprise support and managed operations immediately.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Blockchain-backed data projects can become dependent on managed vendor platforms before the architecture is proven. Teams need to test data models, transaction flows, and node behavior locally before committing to cloud blockchain services. Without a self-hosted server, early experiments can mix application design with vendor-specific deployment assumptions.

how BigchainDB solves it

How it solves it#

Blockchain database server

BigchainDB Server is a blockchain database, with server documentation and a whitepaper linked for architecture details.

Docker Compose quickstart

The official quickstart path uses `git clone`, `cd bigchaindb`, and `make run`, then exposes the server at localhost port 9984.

Development and test commands

Make targets cover start, stop, logs, tests, coverage, docs, clean, and reset workflows.

Apache-2.0 license

Apache-2.0 licensing is practical for experimentation and commercial evaluation.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • Good local experimentation pathThe Docker Compose workflow lets developers run a local BigchainDB server before choosing a managed blockchain platform.
  • Server code is inspectableTeams can inspect how the database server works rather than treating the blockchain data layer as a black box.
  • Useful for asset history prototypesBigchainDB is most relevant where a team is testing tamper-evident records, asset transactions, or decentralized database patterns.

Trade-offs

  • -Niche architecture choiceMost applications do not need a blockchain database. PostgreSQL, document stores, or append-only audit logs are simpler for many workloads.
  • -Project maturity should be reviewedBefore production use, teams should review current maintenance activity, dependencies, and operational guidance because blockchain infrastructure ages quickly.
install · quick start

Quick start#

bash
git clone https://github.com/bigchaindb/bigchaindb.git
cd bigchaindb
make run
tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
LuaPython
Databases
MongoDB
frequently asked

FAQ#

What is BigchainDB?

BigchainDB is a blockchain database server for storing and working with decentralized or tamper-evident data records.

Can BigchainDB run locally?

Yes. BigchainDB has a Docker Compose workflow using make run, with the server reachable on localhost port 9984.

Is BigchainDB right for every database use case?

No. It is a niche fit for blockchain-style data models. Most business apps should choose simpler databases unless decentralization is a real requirement.

also worth a look

Similar open-source tools#

Paymenter

Alternative toWHMCS

Self-hosted billing for hosting providers, MIT licensed

  • 2,770 GitHub stars
  • MITLicence MIT

CloddsBot

Alternative to3Commas

AI trading agent for crypto, DeFi, and prediction markets

  • 2,989 GitHub stars
  • MITLicence MIT

FckSignups

InCustomer Support

Open-source tools that work instantly, no signup required

  • 4,511 GitHub stars
  • GPL-3.0Licence GPL-3.0

fmt

InCustomer Support

Fast, type-safe C++ formatting that replaces printf and iostreams

  • 25,884 GitHub stars
  • MITLicence MIT

OpenCompany

Alternative toMicrosoft Copilot Studio

Self-hosted AI agent canvas for every business function

  • 1,017 GitHub stars
  • MITLicence MIT

Billing SDK

Alternative toStripe Billing

Open source React components for SaaS billing flows

  • 508 GitHub stars
  • GPL-3.0Licence GPL-3.0
by category

Open source tools in these categories#

61

Databases & Storage

Immich, Supabase, Redis196

Web Development

freeCodeCamp, superpowers, Skills for Real Engineers29

Finance & Fintech

TradingAgents, MiroFish, OpenBB
Hostinger

Run BigchainDB on your own server

Self-host BigchainDB on a Hostinger VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

Featured

Inbox Zero

Alternative toSuperhuman

AI email assistant that drafts replies and clears your inbox

  • 12,712 GitHub stars
  • AGPL-3.0Licence AGPL-3.0
  • #Email

rakazo

Alternative toGrok Bot

AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.

  • 4,904 GitHub stars
  • Apache-2.0Licence Apache-2.0
  • #AI Agents

Omnara

Alternative toCClaude Managed Agents

Open-source agent deployment API. Self-host or use Omnara Cloud.

  • 2,957 GitHub stars
  • Apache-2.0Licence Apache-2.0
  • #AI Agents
Feature your project

New open source projects by email

The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Find open source alternatives to paid software

/
  • Claude Code to OpenCode
  • Jira to Windshift
  • Notion to AppFlowy
  • Slack to Mattermost
  • Linear to GitLab
  • Wispr Flow to Handy
  • CapCut to Concat
  • Grok Bot to rakazo
  • Superhuman to Inbox Zero
  • Airtable to AITable
  • Muse to OpenClaw
  • GitHub Copilot to Cline
  • Datadog to Netdata
  • Microsoft Teams to Rocket.Chat
  • Pinecone to Qdrant
  • Zapier to n8n
  • Devin AI to OpenHands
  • Firebase to Supabase
  • 1Password to KeePassXC
  • Confluence to Docmost
  • Contentful to Strapi
  • Adobe Premiere Pro to Shotcut
  • ChatGPT to AnythingLLM
  • LangSmith to Langfuse
  • Claude Code to OpenCode
  • Jira to Windshift
  • Notion to AppFlowy
  • Slack to Mattermost
  • Linear to GitLab
  • Wispr Flow to Handy
  • CapCut to Concat
  • Grok Bot to rakazo
  • Superhuman to Inbox Zero
  • Airtable to AITable
  • Muse to OpenClaw
  • GitHub Copilot to Cline
  • Datadog to Netdata
  • Microsoft Teams to Rocket.Chat
  • Pinecone to Qdrant
  • Zapier to n8n
  • Devin AI to OpenHands
  • Firebase to Supabase
  • 1Password to KeePassXC
  • Confluence to Docmost
  • Contentful to Strapi
  • Adobe Premiere Pro to Shotcut
  • ChatGPT to AnythingLLM
  • LangSmith to Langfuse