Apache Pinot is free open-source software. StarTree is a separate commercial platform built on Pinot. Listed hourly rates are unit prices, not minimum monthly cluster bills.
Apache Pinot pricing in 2026
$0 open-source license; infrastructure extra
Apache Pinot
$0 license fee
- Apache 2.0 open-source database
- Infrastructure and operations separate
StarTree Public SaaS
$0.21 per production vCPU-hour
- Separate commercial managed service
- Dedicated infrastructure included
StarTree Private BYOC
$0.11 per production vCPU-hour
- Platform and managed service
- Cloud infrastructure billed separately
StarTree BYOK
Custom terms
- Commercial stack in your Kubernetes environment
Every figure on this page was read from Apache Pinot’s own pricing page on 7 Oct 2026. Prices change without notice.
Questions people ask
Is Apache Pinot free?
Yes. Apache Pinot is open-source software under Apache 2.0 with no license fee. Infrastructure, operations, and any commercial managed service remain separate costs.
Is Apache Pinot a replacement for PostgreSQL?
I would not use it as a direct replacement for a transactional application database. Pinot's role is analytical querying; your application may still need PostgreSQL for transactional records and updates.
Does Apache Pinot support joins?
Yes. Its multi-stage query engine supports joins. Evaluate the memory and performance of your specific queries rather than assuming they behave like simple single-table aggregations.
What is the difference between Pinot and StarTree?
Apache Pinot is the open-source database. StarTree sells a commercial platform built on it, including managed deployment options.
Who should avoid Apache Pinot?
I would look elsewhere if you only need occasional internal reports or lack an owner for database operations. Pinot becomes more compelling when fresh, responsive analytics matter directly to your product.