SurrealDB
Multi-model database combining document, graph, relational, and vector capabilities in a single system with SurrealQL query language.
Score Breakdown
⚙ Agent Friendliness
🔒 Security
Fine-grained record-level permissions via PERMISSIONS clauses. BSL license should be reviewed for production use.
⚡ Reliability
Best When
Best for AI agent backends needing graph traversal + document storage in a single query without separate systems.
Avoid When
Avoid for mission-critical production systems requiring the stability and ecosystem maturity of PostgreSQL or MongoDB.
Use Cases
- • Build knowledge graph backends for AI agents that need both document and relationship queries
- • Store agent memory as interconnected records with graph traversal for context retrieval
- • Implement real-time subscriptions for agent state synchronization via LIVE SELECT queries
- • Handle complex multi-model data (documents + relationships) without separate graph and document DBs
- • Build multi-tenant applications using SurrealDB's namespace/database/scope access model
Not For
- • High-volume OLTP workloads where PostgreSQL's maturity and tooling ecosystem is essential
- • Teams requiring proven production track record — SurrealDB 2.x is still maturing
- • Projects requiring standard SQL compatibility with existing BI tools and ORMs
Interface
Authentication
Root, namespace, database, and scope-level auth. JWT tokens for scoped user access. Record-level permissions via PERMISSIONS clauses.
Pricing
BSL licensed (source-available, not OSI open source for some use cases). Check license for commercial use.
Agent Metadata
Known Gotchas
- ⚠ SurrealDB 2.x has significant breaking changes from 1.x — migration required and docs may reference old syntax
- ⚠ BSL license restricts SaaS/DBaaS use — verify license terms before embedding SurrealDB in a commercial product
- ⚠ Record IDs in SurrealDB include the table name (person:john) — queries must use full record ID format, not just the key
- ⚠ LIVE SELECT subscriptions require WebSocket connection — HTTP REST API does not support live queries
- ⚠ Graph edges (RELATE) are first-class records — querying graph relationships uses SELECT ->edge->target syntax, not SQL JOIN
Alternatives
Full Evaluation Report
Detailed scoring breakdown, competitive positioning, security analysis, and improvement recommendations for SurrealDB.
Scores are editorial opinions as of 2026-03-06.