VictoriaMetrics vs GreptimeDB
These two are open core time series databases that speak Prometheus and OpenTelemetry, but they put their numbers in very different places. VictoriaMetrics publishes a Cloud ladder that starts at $200 a month for metrics or logs, with separate rates for storage and outbound transfer, and it hides the Enterprise price. GreptimeDB publishes a single managed entry price of $290 a month billed on stored data, and keeps bring-your-own-cloud for a proof of concept conversation. VictoriaMetrics gives new Cloud accounts $200 of credit for 30 days, while GreptimeDB's pricing page offers a live demo and no trial.
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Choose VictoriaMetrics ifyou want to hold a Prometheus replacement in your hands before paying, using the Cloud credit or the free one-week proof of concept. You also accept that Enterprise pricing and the company's registered location are not shown on the pages we read.
Choose GreptimeDB ifyou want one posted managed price tied to how much data you keep, with the Apache-2.0 core as a fallback you can run yourself. You also accept that scaling, availability and security additions sit in the paid Enterprise tier and that no trial is listed.
VictoriaMetrics and GreptimeDB side by side
| VictoriaMetrics | GreptimeDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Our time series databases rank | #3 of 14 | #4 of 14 |
| Established in | Not stated by the vendor | United States |
| List price, 7 November 2026 | Cloud from $200 per month for metrics or logs, plus $0.511 per GB stored; Enterprise quoted on request | Managed Enterprise from $290 monthly, billed on stored data; open source core free; BYOC custom |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | — | — |
| Built for | Teams replacing a Prometheus setup who want paid support available | Teams wanting an Apache-licensed core with a managed route later |
| Not for | Buyers who must see prices and the legal entity before talking | Buyers needing a trial before committing to any paid plan |
Both are reviewed in full in our time series databases ranking: VictoriaMetrics and GreptimeDB.
Where they differ
VictoriaMetrics 2 · GreptimeDB 2 · open 2- 01
Dollar figures you can quote to a budget holder
VictoriaMetrics Cloud for metrics and logs is shown as starting from $200 a month, with storage at $0.511 per GB per month and external data transfer at $0.09 per GB, metered per hour. VictoriaTraces shows no starting price, and Enterprise shows none either. GreptimeDB shows Enterprise Fully-Managed from $290 a month, with volume discounts, and no price for bring-your-own-cloud. VictoriaMetrics shows more line items, so it wins this round narrowly.
Edge: VictoriaMetrics
- 02
What a month of trial looks like
New VictoriaMetrics Cloud accounts receive $200 of credit valid for 30 days with no credit card, and a free one-week Proof of Concept is also offered. GreptimeDB's pricing page lists a Live Demo link only and does not mention a free trial for either Enterprise plan. The GreptimeDB open source core can be run at no cost in your own environment, but that is self-hosting rather than a trial of the managed service.
Edge: VictoriaMetrics
- 03
Billing on storage versus billing on hours and transfer
GreptimeDB's managed plan bills on what you store, advertises unlimited storage and retention, and is invoiced monthly. That suits long retention with modest ingest. VictoriaMetrics meters deployments per hour and adds a per-GB transfer rate, with monthly pay-as-you-go or an annual or multi-year contract. Its initial Cloud tier names 500k active series, 16.6k datapoints per second and 170 GB daily reads. GreptimeDB gives no numeric plan limits.
Depends on the buyer
- 04
Licences and the people behind them
The VictoriaMetrics licence file in its official GitHub repository is Apache License 2.0, although the website itself names no licence. Its footer reads copyright 2019 to 2026 and gives no country. GreptimeDB's core is Apache-2.0 as well, and a few enterprise-only features fall under a separate GreptimeDB Enterprise License. Greptime Inc. lists Sunnyvale, CA and Spring, TX, and says it started in 2022. GreptimeDB is clearer about where it is based.
Edge: GreptimeDB
- 05
Query protocols and what plugs in
VictoriaMetrics describes itself as Prometheus-compatible and OpenTelemetry-compatible, offers a VictoriaLogs data source for Grafana, and quotes a customer who calls it a drop-in Prometheus replacement after a test system came up in 20 minutes. That is one customer's account, not a promise. GreptimeDB names OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, InfluxDB, Loki, SQL and PromQL, and its enterprise-only Iceberg REST Catalog exposes tables to Spark, Trino, DuckDB and pyiceberg. GreptimeDB lists the wider set.
Edge: GreptimeDB
- 06
Where the software can run, and who supports it
VictoriaMetrics lists on-premise self-hosting under Enterprise, VictoriaMetrics Cloud and a Kubernetes-compatible operator. Enterprise users of VictoriaLogs get 12 months of backported security and bug fixes on the first long-term-support release, v1.52.1. GreptimeDB lists self-hosting, fully managed cloud, and bring-your-own-cloud in your own AWS account or cloud, the last including an installation service, advanced technical support and a custom SLA. Both cover the main routes, so this round is level.
Depends on the buyer
When neither fits
If you want a plain Prometheus server with no vendor tier at all, look at Prometheus. If you want a horizontally scalable Prometheus backend from a well known observability vendor, Grafana Mimir is the other name worth a test.
VictoriaMetrics or GreptimeDB: questions
3 answersCan I try the paid managed versions of either database without a card?
VictoriaMetrics gives new Cloud accounts $200 of credit for 30 days with no credit card, plus a free one-week Proof of Concept.
GreptimeDB's pricing page lists a live demo and no trial for the Enterprise plans. For GreptimeDB the practical test is running the Apache-2.0 core yourself.
Does either vendor tell you where the company is registered?
GreptimeDB does: Greptime Inc. lists addresses in Sunnyvale, California and Spring, Texas, without naming a headquarters. VictoriaMetrics shows copyright 2019 to 2026 and no country appears in the footer or elsewhere on the home page. If entity location matters for procurement, ask VictoriaMetrics directly.
Which one is a closer swap for an existing Prometheus setup?
Both state Prometheus compatibility, and VictoriaMetrics also quotes a customer calling it a drop-in replacement. GreptimeDB adds PromQL, SQL, Loki and InfluxDB protocols to the list. Run your real dashboards and alert queries against each before deciding, because the quote is not a guarantee.
Sources
Checked 7 November 2026- VictoriaMetrics Cloud: Cloud starting price, per-GB storage and transfer rates, hourly metering, initial tier limits, $200 credit for 30 days and one-week proof of concept.
- VictoriaMetrics home page: Product list, hosting routes, Prometheus and OpenTelemetry compatibility, customer quote, LTS backports and copyright footer.
- VictoriaMetrics licence file: Repository licence text identified as Apache License 2.0.
- GreptimeDB pricing: Managed plan from $290 monthly on storage, BYOC by proof of concept, protocol list, Iceberg catalog, no trial listed.
- GreptimeDB repository: Core published under Apache License 2.0 by the GreptimeTeam organisation.
- Greptime about page: Two US addresses, founding in 2022, no headquarters named.