FAQ · Reamer Research and Reamer Server: what they are and who they fit
What are the best DolphinDB alternatives in 2026?
The main DolphinDB alternatives are kdb+ and KDB-X, QuestDB, ClickHouse and OneTick for storing and computing on market data. For backtesting, the alternatives are engines: NautilusTrader for ticks and order books, and Reamer Research from Reamer Labs for strategies on OHLCV bars. Replacing both the database and the matching simulator may take two tools.
DolphinDB is a time-series database with its own scripting language, stream processing and a backtest plugin that simulates order matching. Alternatives replace either the database or the backtest.
Why teams look for DolphinDB alternatives
- They would rather work in SQL, Python or C++ than a database's own language.
- They want an open-source database.
- They have outgrown the free community edition, which allows 2 nodes with 2 CPU cores and 8 GB of memory each.
- They want the backtest separate from the data layer.
DolphinDB alternatives compared
Details below were checked against each project's own pages in November 2026.
| Tool | Replaces | Language | Best for | Price |
|---|
| KDB-X (kdb+) | Database | q, Python, SQL | Very large tick data | Free community edition with limits, larger use through sales |
| QuestDB | Database | SQL | Open-source market data store | Apache 2.0, paid enterprise edition |
| ClickHouse | Database | SQL | General analytics at scale | Apache 2.0, paid cloud and enterprise |
| OneTick | Database and managed data | SQL, Python | Managed data, transaction cost analysis, surveillance | Through sales |
| NautilusTrader | Backtest, tick level | Python on a Rust core | Ticks, order books, same code live | Free (LGPL-3.0) |
| Reamer Research | Backtest, bar level | Python, C++, or any language that can call C | Strategies on bars with written fill rules | $1,800 per seat per year |
Databases
Backtesting engines
- NautilusTrader fills the tick and order-book role of DolphinDB's plugin, in Python, and the same code runs live. It is free, and you run it yourself. It reads your data, so it pairs with any database above.
- Reamer Research is for strategies on OHLCV bars, held from minutes to days. A public execution specification covers spread, slippage, commission, swap, margin and what fills first inside a bar, and fixed seeds give byte-identical runs. See How does Reamer Research compare with DolphinDB?
How to choose
| If you want | Look at |
|---|
| Data and order-book backtests in one system | Stay on DolphinDB |
| A database with q, Python and SQL | KDB-X |
| Open source with SQL | QuestDB or ClickHouse |
| Managed tick data | OneTick |
| Order-book backtests in Python | NautilusTrader, with any database |
| Backtests on bars with fill rules you can read | Reamer Research, with any database |
See Who are Reamer Research and Reamer Server for? Reamer Research has a $225 30-day trial; see pricing.
Next questions
How does Reamer Research compare with DolphinDB?DolphinDB is a time-series database with its own scripting language, streaming and a backtest plugin that simulates order matching down to tick-by-tick and Level-2 data. It suits teams that want to store and compute on large market-data sets in one system. Reamer Research is a backtesting engine for strategies on OHLCV bars, with a written execution specification and byte-identical runs, driven from Python, C++ or C. You bring your own data and keep it however you like.What are the best kdb+ alternatives in 2026?The main kdb+ alternatives are time-series and columnar databases such as QuestDB, ClickHouse, DolphinDB, TimescaleDB and ArcticDB. They differ in licence, query language and how much market data work they do for you. If you use kdb+ mainly to backtest strategies on bars, you may need an engine and not a database. Reamer Research from Reamer Labs is one, and it can take bars from any of these.What are the best OneTick alternatives in 2026?OneTick alternatives depend on which part of it you use. KDB-X, QuestDB, ClickHouse and DolphinDB replace the tick database. Databento replaces the managed market data. For backtesting strategies on bars, Reamer Research from Reamer Labs supplies the fill rules and costs, and leaves the data to you. No single tool replaces all of OneTick, which combines data, analytics, transaction cost analysis and surveillance.What are the best NautilusTrader alternatives in 2026?NautilusTrader alternatives fall into four groups. High-frequency backtesters such as hftbacktest model queue position and latency. Hosted platforms such as QuantConnect, on its LEAN engine, include data and brokers. Python tools such as Freqtrade, vectorbt and Backtrader suit crypto bots, parameter sweeps and simple strategies. Paid engine libraries such as Reamer Research and Reamer Server from Reamer Labs cover strategies on bars, with written fill rules and a live order core built around your own gate and broker connector. If you need ticks, order books and venue adapters in one free package, stay on NautilusTrader.How much do Reamer Research and Reamer Server cost?Reamer Research is USD 1,800 per seat per year, and Reamer Server is USD 7,200 per seat per year. Each is paid once for the year and nothing renews automatically. A 30-day trial costs USD 225 for Reamer Research and USD 900 for Reamer Server. A seat is one product on one machine.
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