Apache CouchDB

Apache CouchDB is a document database with an HTTP and JSON API. It offers multi-primary replication from clusters to mobile devices and uses an append-only storage design. It targets offline-first and sync-heavy applications, in which data must be copied between servers and devices that are not always connected. It is developed by the Apache Software Foundation as a community project.

CouchDB is released under the Apache License 2.0, a permissive open source licence, so it can be used and modified without a commercial agreement. It is run self-managed, which means the buyer handles installation, upgrades and backups. No commercial edition, managed cloud service or published pricing was confirmed, so organisations that need paid support or a hosted service should check third-party providers and confirm their terms.

The latest release is 3.5.2, dated 19 May 2026. Because releases are made by a volunteer foundation project rather than a vendor with a service agreement, buyers should plan their own upgrade schedule and watch the project announcements for security fixes.

The HTTP and JSON interface means applications can talk to the database with ordinary web tooling, which keeps client code simple.