If you need an embedded database for a commercial desktop app or on-prem appliance, you should look at SQLite, RocksDB, or LevelDB. Or, you need to buy a commercial license from MongoDB. Assuming you are in Scenario A (standard SaaS/web app) and are safe to use Community Edition, what are you missing versus the paid Enterprise edition? You need to know this before you scale.
MongoDB has had a controversial licensing history. So, let’s cut through the noise. But the long answer involves lawyers, the AGPL, the SSPL, and what "commercial use" actually means for your specific architecture. is mongodb community edition free for commercial use
However, "free" does not mean "public domain." MongoDB uses a specific license called the . For most internal business applications and standard SaaS products, this license does not affect you. But for database-as-a-service providers (like AWS or Azure), it changes everything. A Brief History: The AGPL, the Cloud Wars, and the SSPL To understand why people are confused, you need a quick history lesson. If you need an embedded database for a
