Graph Database Vendor Evaluation: Questions to Ask Before You Commit

Selecting a graph database requires a structured evaluation based on the specific business problem, expected data relationships, workload characteristics, and operational requirements rather than general vendor claims or isolated benchmarks. Organizations should use consistent RFP questions to compare data modeling, query capabilities, multi-hop performance, distributed scalability, availability, integration, security, developer experience, and total cost of ownership, while testing representative datasets, concurrent reads and writes, update rates, latency, and failure recovery. Independent Graph Data Council benchmarks can provide a common reference point, but realistic proof-of-concept testing—covering scope, graph modeling, testing, and evaluation—is necessary to determine whether a platform can move from pilot to production or whether graph technology is appropriate at all. Evaluations of AI and GraphRAG capabilities should distinguish database functions from the wider application stack, assessing hybrid vector and graph retrieval, source traceability, permissions, and integrations. Beyond technology, vendor due diligence should address security, deployment options, support, roadmap, commercial terms, and data portability to reduce long-term architectural and operational risks.

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