What is our primary use case?
MongoDB is a document database that we use for internet applications, logs, and all kinds of things that need quick answers, especially in the document area.
What is most valuable?
I like that MongoDB has a free version. You can also buy the enterprise edition, which is cheaper than Oracle.
What needs improvement?
It could be more stable. It would be better if it were more user-friendly like Oracle, which is very easy. For example, creating an index is simple in Oracle. In MongoDB, it's quite challenging to do that.
Performance could be better. It's fast and good, but you cannot put every application that you would like to in MongoDB.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using MongoDB for two or three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
MongoDB isn't stable like Oracle, but it's okay.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
MongoDB is a scalable solution. MongoDB has its own problems, but if you have good maintenance, it's okay. Since it's for internet applications, we can have tens of thousands or hundred thousand users.
How are customer service and support?
There is no technical support since it's a community-supported database. If you would like to buy services like that, there are companies which sell that. But it's not like Microsoft or Oracle, where you have an option of buying support. Instead, there are third-party companies that are willing to provide support for a lot of money.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We switched from Oracle to MongoDB because of costs. Oracle also has a MongoDB solution inside it. In Oracle, you can install document databases, which helps, and it also supports JSON and just about everything. It's one-to-one. Whatever you do in MongoDB, you can do it in Oracle. But Oracle isn't free.
The main problem with Oracle today is the price. Many companies around the world are trying to move out of Oracle because of the cost. They are not moving because the database is not good. PostgreSQL is really like Oracle, and MongoDB is like Redis, and all these have free community databases. If you want to buy the enterprise edition, it costs a bit but not as much as Oracle.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. Even building the cluster and so on isn't a problem. But you have to know what to do because it's a bit different from relational databases. It only takes a couple of hours and not more than that. Once you have the right servers, firewalls, ports open, and so on, you're good to go.
One or two people are enough to maintain this database. But you'll need more people like programmers for the digital part of the application that you have to develop.
What about the implementation team?
I implemented this solution by myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
MongoDB has a free version. You can also buy the enterprise edition, which is cheaper than Oracle.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend MongoDB to potential users depending on their requirements because it's not a relational database. It depends on what applications would they would like to put in it.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give MongoDB an eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.