Which is cheaper, MotherDuck or Timescale?

Timescale is 8.3x cheaper than MotherDuck. MotherDuck starts at $0/mo, Timescale starts at $30/mo.

Does MotherDuck have a free tier?

Yes, MotherDuck offers a free tier with activeUsers: 3, serviceAccounts: 2.

MotherDuck has moderate switching cost. Timescale has moderate switching cost. Both have similar switching complexity.

Database

MotherDuck

Serverless analytics platform built on DuckDB with hybrid local/cloud execution

Switching Cost: moderate

Timescale

← More affordable

Time-series database built on PostgreSQL with managed cloud hosting

Switching Cost: moderate

You're paying a premium for MotherDuck — expect around a 8.3x higher bill compared to Timescale.

Startups take note: MotherDuck provides a free tier, while Timescale requires payment from day one.

Price-conscious teams should choose Timescale — the cost advantage is hard to ignore, especially for growing workloads.

Price-conscious teams should choose Timescale — the cost advantage is hard to ignore, especially for growing workloads.

Price Difference

8.3x

Timescale is cheaper by $220/mo

Free Tier

MotherDuck

Has a free tier option