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Apache Cloudberry vs MotherDuck

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Apache Cloudberry and MotherDuck — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Apache Cloudberry vs MotherDuck: at a glance

FeatureApache CloudberryMotherDuck
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score5.06.3
Sparks · 30d01
Top themesanalytics, mpp-database, apache-incubator, open-sourceduckdb-cloud, agentic-analytics, data-apps, access-control
Last editorial update10d ago1d ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Apache Cloudberry?

Apache Cloudberry ships 2.2.0 after three release candidates.

Apache Cloudberry is an open-source MPP analytics database in the Apache Incubator, derived from Greenplum. 2.2.0-incubating went final on November 3 after rc1 (September 3), rc2 (October 7) and rc3 (October 20). The release entry carries no notes of its own.

Read the full Apache Cloudberry trajectory →

What is MotherDuck?

MotherDuck adds who-can-open controls to Dives and a SQL view of compute usage.

MotherDuck ships a weekly changelog. The November 12 release lets owners keep a Dive private or share it with roles, users or the whole organization, with matching GRANT READ ON DIVE commands; new Dives start private. Flight run access can now be managed in the UI, and Business plans can query hourly Duckling usage per user from MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COMPUTE_USAGE. It lands a week after the redesign that put Agent Chat on the home screen.

Read the full MotherDuck trajectory →

Apache Cloudberry vs MotherDuck: editorial side-by-side

A5.0

Apache Cloudberry ships 2.2.0 after three release candidates.

◆ Current state

Apache Cloudberry is an open-source MPP analytics database in the Apache Incubator, derived from Greenplum. 2.2.0-incubating went final on November 3 after rc1 (September 3), rc2 (October 7) and rc3 (October 20). The release entry carries no notes of its own.

◆ Where it's heading

The project now ships on a roughly six-month cycle (2.0 in September 2025, 2.1 in May, 2.2 in November), each going through two or three voted candidates. The process is steady; what changed in 2.2 isn't visible in these entries.

◆ Prediction

A 2.3.0 rc1 is the next likely tag, probably in early 2027 if the cadence holds.

M
MotherDuck
ANALYTICS
6.3

MotherDuck adds who-can-open controls to Dives and a SQL view of compute usage.

◆ Current state

MotherDuck ships a weekly changelog. The November 12 release lets owners keep a Dive private or share it with roles, users or the whole organization, with matching GRANT READ ON DIVE commands; new Dives start private. Flight run access can now be managed in the UI, and Business plans can query hourly Duckling usage per user from MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COMPUTE_USAGE. It lands a week after the redesign that put Agent Chat on the home screen.

◆ Where it's heading

The agent-first redesign made Dives and Flights the things people create; the releases since are about controlling who sees and runs them and what they cost. Governance that began with row- and column-level security in October now covers the agent-built objects too.

◆ Prediction

Next likely are finer controls on what Agent Chat can do on a user's behalf, or usage limits built on the new compute usage view, since both follow from the permissions and cost work in the last two releases.

Alternatives to Apache Cloudberry and MotherDuck

Other Analytics products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Apache Cloudberry or MotherDuck.

See all Apache Cloudberry alternatives → · See all MotherDuck alternatives →

Recent activity from Apache Cloudberry and MotherDuck

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 1d agoMotherDuckDive sharing controls, Flight access UI and compute usage in SQL
  2. 10d agoMotherDuckRedesigned UI puts Agent Chat on the home screen ⚡
  3. 11d agoApache CloudberryApache Cloudberry 2.2.0 final release
  4. 21d agoMotherDuckRow-level security, Dive write-back and Flight run grants
  5. 25d agoApache CloudberryApache Cloudberry 2.2.0 third release candidate
  6. 28d agoMotherDuckImage inputs for prompt_jev() and Agent Chat that builds Dives
  7. 1mo agoMotherDuckAdmin API user listing, connection timeouts, prompt_jev() in EU
  8. 1mo agoApache CloudberryApache Cloudberry 2.2.0 second release candidate
  9. 1mo agoMotherDuckAI functions 50-60% cheaper; prompt_jev() billing begins
  10. 2mo agoApache CloudberryApache Cloudberry 2.2.0 first release candidate
  11. 6mo agoApache CloudberryApache Cloudberry 2.1.0 official release
  12. 8mo agoApache CloudberryApache Cloudberry 2.1.0 second release candidate

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Apache Cloudberry and MotherDuck?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. MotherDuck is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Apache Cloudberry better than MotherDuck?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. MotherDuck is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Apache Cloudberry?

Top Apache Cloudberry alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apache Cloudberry alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/apache-cloudberry for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to MotherDuck?

Top MotherDuck alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "MotherDuck alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/motherduck for the full list with editorial commentary on each.