What is our primary use case?
Apart from meeting all our high-performance database needs, the major use of MongoDB Atlas is for migrating most of the queries toward the UI part. With the Data API feature, we can now create database queries directly from the UI, which we build in React and Angular. After creating the queries from the UI, we hit the Data API, and the results are obtained directly, making it the best feature we have come across lately.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of MongoDB Atlas is that it's on the cloud, so you don't need to set up all your servers. It has the latest features like MongoDB Atlas Data Lake, Data APIs, and high-performance MongoDB on the cloud. It also allows us to visualize data through charts. So, the charts are visible on MongoDB Atlas. In my projects, I found users to be the most useful feature of the solution. We deployed MongoDB Atlas for around 500 users and gave them different authorized roles and permissions, allowing us to create an updated database this year.
What needs improvement?
I believe MongoDB Atlas has room for improvement in terms of providing more convenient UIs for data manipulation. At present, we are required to create an HTTP proxy after the database and then use the UI to communicate with the database via that proxy. If MongoDB Atlas could offer UI features to create tables and add or update records from them, it would eliminate the need for UI development. For instance, if we have a table or collection of orders and products, and MongoDB has charts, then MongoDB Atlas could offer some tables to create tables, create orders, create products, update orders, update products, and link orders and products. So, we are basically expecting a UI to change the database.
For the additional features, I think giving the UI or the user interface to create tables or something similar would help simplify creating orders and products for a layman with zero technical knowledge.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used MongoDB Atlas quite a lot. I think it's been more than one and a half to two years since we, as a company, have been using it in our projects. Also, I have used it for personal and professional projects.
I think that my company is a customer of MongoDB Atlas.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
MongoDB Atlas is a database that is quite fast, stable, and reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In my company, quite a lot of people are using MongoDB Atlas, with the majority of them relying on it. To put a number on it, I think more than 300 people are currently using MongoDB Atlas. Also, it is a scalable product.
How are customer service and support?
We have a team that takes care of technical support for MongoDB Atlas. I'm not sure if any complaints have been reported to them, but personally, I haven't had any issues that required me to raise a complaint.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We decided to migrate from the old Legacy SQL databases and try out new things. MongoDB Atlas provided functionalities beyond just being a database, and we have been very satisfied with it.
How was the initial setup?
MongoDB Atlas can be deployed on all three major cloud providers, which include AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. When creating an Atlas instance, one can choose which cloud provider to use.
Setting up MongoDB Atlas is a breeze. The setup process is very easy.
The time it takes to deploy MongoDB Atlas can vary from person to person, depending on their satisfaction. However, depending on the size, it usually takes around one and a half to four or five minutes. But I think the deployment time can be reduced to just 15 to 30 seconds. That would make the process even better.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm more of a technical person and don't take care of the cost. The finance team takes care of it. But I have seen the cost, and it was pretty cheap. The cost is in cents for the millions of requests the solution handles. I think that the solution is definitely worth the money.
What other advice do I have?
If you look at it technically, it depends on individual requirements. MongoDB Atlas is certainly scalable, but when compared to Legacy SQL databases, they are actually less scalable. However, if your system doesn't need to be scalable at a global level and you only need the solution for just two or three countries, or you only have around 10 to 20 million users, then MongoDB Atlas is a great option to consider because of the additional functionalities it provides above and beyond just being a database.
The UI is not currently designed in a manner to make it possible for a non-technical person or a layman to update the database easily. This is the first point to consider. Secondly, MongoDB Atlas is essentially a cloud-based database, so it should offer some provision for performing the same tasks on local computers. I believe that MongoDB Atlas will implement these improvements in the near future, so it won't take much time. Owing to the aforementioned reasons, I rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.