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Data Graphs benchmark vs Neo4j
Data Graphs

Data Graphs Cypher Benchmark - 110x faster than Neo4j

July 24, 2024
3 mins
We benchmarked Data Graphs and it’s fast. Really fast. In fact 110x faster than Neo4j on average, but that’s not the whole story. It gets better.

Reasoning

We recently completely overhauled our Data Graphs Cypher Query engine from the ground up. We threw away the book on graph-querying. A new novel algorithm for ultra-efficient processing of GQL and Cypher graph queries.. The results were good. Really good. Obviously we wanted to show these off, so what better way to do this than using one of the standard graph benchmarks; benchgraph.

Headlines

  • Across 101 x 5 query invocations, Data Graphs completed the entire benchmark in 1.6 minutes compared to 3 hours for Neo4j - on average 110x faster.
  • Data Graphs was faster on 94 out of the 101 queries. Those queries where Neo4j was faster were the simplest very fast aggregation queries where the difference in query times were just a few milliseconds.
  • On one of the deepest and broadest graph queries, Data Graphs was 518x faster, completing in just under 1 second compared to Neo4j at 517 seconds ! 
  • The more “graphy” the query is, the faster Data Graphs is compared to Neo.

The Benchmark 

The benchmark is a set of 101 Cypher queries of varying complexity that are invoked 5 times each with average millisecond times calculated for each query. The graph used for the benchmark was the pokec medium dataset comprising 100k nodes and 1.77m edges, which is a genuine representation of an Slovakian social network.
https://github.com/memgraph/memgraph/tree/master/tests/mgbench#pokec

It’s clearly important that the benchmark is compared on identical hardware. We ran our tests on a 2.6GHz 6-Core Intel i7 with
16GB 2400MHz DDR4. 

We compared Data Graphs 2.0.25 against Neo4j 5.19.0
The results in full detail are available below.

Conclusions

This is a big deal. One of the key takeaways is that the more “graphy” a query is, in other words the deeper, broader, and more connected the graph query projection is, the better Data Graphs performs, and not by small margins but by orders of magnitude. Given this is the core purpose of a graph database it is surprising that Neo4j struggles in comparison, but is also a reflection of our advanced new query algorithm. Approximately for every graph-hop deeper the query pattern is, Data Graphs will out-perform Neo by one order of magnitude. The slowest query in the benchmark is a 4 hop path-pattern. We outperform Neo by 500x. We are confident on a 5-hop path we would out-perform by possibly 5000x.
This is genuinely ground breaking ! Watch this space as we have more to say on this.

When our Cypher query API is combined with our best-in-class query builder user interface, that makes it easy for non-experts to build queries, it really is a perfect combination. Videos and and a blog on the query UX will follow.
Get in touch now to try it out for free!

Detailed Benchmark Results

Avg query time in ms
Query
Data Graphs
Neo4j
Winner
Factor
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=500 RETURN n0.9133.84Data Graphs37.23
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=48441 RETURN n0.6929.99Data Graphs43.61
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=52418 RETURN n0.6128.02Data Graphs45.62
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=35156 RETURN n0.5830.12Data Graphs52.26
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=52978 RETURN n0.4829.88Data Graphs62.79
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=34885 RETURN n0.4627.23Data Graphs59.41
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.id=33459 RETURN n0.6327.34Data Graphs43.69
MATCH (n:User) RETURN n.age, COUNT(n)89.5629.19Neo4j3.07
MATCH (n:User) RETURN COUNT(DISTINCT n.age)67.1928.53Neo4j2.35
MATCH (n:User) WHERE n.age >= 18 RETURN n.age, COUNT(n.id)62.1137.8Neo4j1.64
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 RETURN n.id0.9726.29Data Graphs27.22
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 RETURN n.id1.1728.03Data Graphs23.97
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 RETURN n.id1.3326.31Data Graphs19.84
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 RETURN n.id1.8127.55Data Graphs15.25
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 RETURN n.id3.3433.75Data Graphs10.12
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 RETURN n.id7.2846.28Data Graphs6.36
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 RETURN n.id12.9865.77Data Graphs5.07
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id0.9826.9Data Graphs27.54
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id1.2227.32Data Graphs22.38
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id1.4428.32Data Graphs19.71
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id1.8929.24Data Graphs15.51
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id2.4430.64Data Graphs12.55
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id2.7932.18Data Graphs11.55
MATCH (s:User)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN n.id10.4749.62Data Graphs4.74
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 RETURN distinct n.id1.8428.77Data Graphs15.64
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 RETURN distinct n.id24.9768.92Data Graphs2.76
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 RETURN distinct n.id17.6562Data Graphs3.51
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 RETURN distinct n.id8.4543.76Data Graphs5.18
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 RETURN distinct n.id59.13143.62Data Graphs2.43
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 RETURN distinct n.id83.93177.8Data Graphs2.12
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 RETURN distinct n.id99.89225.33Data Graphs2.26
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1.5528.52Data Graphs18.37
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id18.753.05Data Graphs2.84
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id17.5553.13Data Graphs3.03
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id839.09Data Graphs4.89
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id52.4696.17Data Graphs1.83
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id77.47116.19Data Graphs1.5
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id109.38171.33Data Graphs1.57
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id4.4632.38Data Graphs7.26
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id33.863873.39Data Graphs114.38
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id33.48326.29Data Graphs9.75
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id12.2659.58Data Graphs4.86
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id99.339756.62Data Graphs98.22
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id146.335765.5Data Graphs39.4
MATCH (s:User)-->(b)-->(n:User), (b)-->(m:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 and m.age < 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id199.544216.83Data Graphs21.13
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 RETURN distinct n.id21.665.92Data Graphs3.05
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 RETURN distinct n.id249.14773.63Data Graphs3.11
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 RETURN distinct n.id222.91900.43Data Graphs4.04
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 RETURN distinct n.id169.79367.4Data Graphs2.16
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 RETURN distinct n.id389.196846.62Data Graphs17.59
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 RETURN distinct n.id441.5515696.04Data Graphs35.55
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 RETURN distinct n.id506.036438.09Data Graphs12.72
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id22.1559.04Data Graphs2.67
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id306.1697.43Data Graphs2.28
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id281.9814.8Data Graphs2.89
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id184.55306.74Data Graphs1.66
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id520.856034.43Data Graphs11.59
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id624.4614070.48Data Graphs22.53
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id734.576730.98Data Graphs9.16
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 RETURN DISTINCT n.id224.64798.02Data Graphs3.55
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 RETURN DISTINCT n.id859.938137.42Data Graphs44.35
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 RETURN DISTINCT n.id765.4336802.82Data Graphs48.08
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 RETURN DISTINCT n.id695.154919.85Data Graphs7.08
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1028.32241891.86Data Graphs235.23
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1077.3517153.74Data Graphs480.04
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1114.15158887.48Data Graphs142.61
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id282.99795.86Data Graphs2.81
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id806.239518.22Data Graphs49.02
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id753.4441297.41Data Graphs54.81
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id677.535081.28Data Graphs7.5
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id949.5243078.14Data Graphs256.01
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id999.26517182.9Data Graphs517.56
MATCH (s:User)-->(a)-->(b)-->(c)-->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1044.63178471.16Data Graphs170.85
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1.7495.03Data Graphs54.62
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 RETURN DISTINCT n.id18.8597.06Data Graphs5.15
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 RETURN DISTINCT n.id18.2375.66Data Graphs4.15
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 RETURN DISTINCT n.id8.9652.78Data Graphs5.89
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 RETURN DISTINCT n.id61.52172.38Data Graphs2.8
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 RETURN DISTINCT n.id97.92203.28Data Graphs2.08
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 RETURN DISTINCT n.id112.51249.37Data Graphs2.22
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id1.8630.59Data Graphs16.42
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id16.4357.96Data Graphs3.53
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id18.1253.39Data Graphs2.95
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id8.2846.32Data Graphs5.59
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id53.5498.8Data Graphs1.85
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id79.48110.79Data Graphs1.39
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id118.4173.47Data Graphs1.47
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n3.1133.03Data Graphs10.63
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n44.0988.17Data Graphs2
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n49.3366.81Data Graphs1.35
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n20.677.65Data Graphs3.77
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n142.18192.9Data Graphs1.36
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n241.56218.42Neo4j1.11
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n292.68257.56Neo4j1.14
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=500 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n2.3230.06Data Graphs12.95
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=48441 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n30.253.27Data Graphs1.76
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52418 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n33.4954.38Data Graphs1.62
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=35156 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n16.4744.13Data Graphs2.68
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=52978 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n90.6696.44Data Graphs1.06
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=34885 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n132.06110.4Neo4j1.2
MATCH (s:User)-[*1..2]->(n:User) WHERE s.id=33459 AND n.age >= 18 RETURN DISTINCT n.id, n236.59176.21Neo4j1.34
Total time (ms)19,2882,112,952.9Data Graphs109.5x
Total time (s)19.32,113Data Graphs109.5x
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Authors
Paul Wilton
Paul Wilton
Managing Director
Steve Liles
Steve Liles
Full Stack Lead
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