I Tried MotherDuck, DuckDB in the Cloud, and It’s a Game-Changer
If you’ve used DuckDB, you know how fast and convenient it is for local analytical work. But what if you could take that same performance, extend it to the cloud, and make it collaborative without introducing complexity?
That’s what MotherDuck, a modern cloud analytics platform, delivers.
I recently gave it a proper test and came away impressed. From setup to querying, MotherDuck stays true to DuckDB’s simplicity but now with a cloud layer that unlocks sharing, persistence, and flexibility.
What is MotherDuck?
MotherDuck is a cloud-native analytics platform built on DuckDB. It retains the familiar, local-first SQL engine but adds:
Cloud-backed storage
Real-time collaboration
Hybrid execution (local + cloud)
Zero infrastructure management
In simple terms:
DuckDB + Cloud + Collaboration = MotherDuck
It’s ideal for data teams, startups, and analytics engineers who want the speed and comfort of working locally, but need the persistence and power of the cloud when necessary.
Setup: I Was in the Warehouse in Minutes
I got started through the MotherDuck website. I created an account, logged in, and was instantly inside the warehouse interface.
It dropped me right into an interactive SQL environment where I could run queries, explore sample datasets, and even upload my own files.
The onboarding was honestly one of the smoothest I’ve experienced in any data platform.
Interface: Lightweight and Intuitive
The interface is clean and gives you just what you need. There’s a fast SQL editor, access to sample data or your own uploads, and the ability to save queries and work with cloud-backed tables. It’s simple in the best way possible. You can jump in, start querying, and stay focused on the data without getting distracted by too many bells and whistles. It clearly feels built for users who like to work directly with SQL, and it gets out of your way so you can get things done.
Data Loading and Performance: Same DuckDB Speed, But Smarter
What I loved is that MotherDuck doesn’t get in your way. Small queries run instantly, just like they do with DuckDB locally. I didn’t test it with a large dataset or a cloud-backed table. I just uploaded a table directly from my PC, and that worked seamlessly. Extra point for the easy support of direct uploads of CSV or Parquet files through the UI
I tested aggregates, joins, and filtering on different data types (CSV, Parquet, uploaded tables), and the speed felt consistently snappy.
What I Liked Most
What stood out to me was how quickly I could get started from the browser. The experience is refreshingly SQL-first, with no hidden layers or confusing configurations. Even though I didn’t test with large files or cloud tables, uploading data from my PC was effortless, and performance felt fast and responsive. It’s a great fit for notebooks, dbt workflows, or quick data exploration sessions.
Where I think It’s Still Maturing
That said, MotherDuck is still growing. The visual interface is intentionally minimal, which is perfect for SQL users but might not yet meet the needs of less technical folks. Some collaborative features and access controls are still evolving, so it’s definitely geared more toward engineers and analysts for now. But for what it aims to be it’s already delivering a lot.
Final Thoughts
MotherDuck brings the power of DuckDB to the cloud without ruining what makes DuckDB great. It’s built for the kind of people who just want to write SQL and see results without provisioning anything.
If you want the power of DuckDB, the flexibility of the cloud, and a SQL-first analytics platform that just works, MotherDuck is worth a try.
It’s one of the most exciting tools I’ve tested this year, especially for:
Startups and small teams
Analytics engineers and technical marketers
Anyone using notebooks, dbt, or modern BI stacks
Curious if MotherDuck—or something else—is right for your data stack?
Database Tycoon helps organizations make smart, scalable data decisions. Let’s talk about where you are and where you want to go.