Get started with Neo4j

There are a number of options on how to get started with Neo4j, and your choice depends upon your needs and goals. Each option allows you to explore different possibilities of the Neo4j ecosystem.

To explore all available options on how to get started with Neo4j, visit Download center.

First steps with Neo4j

Neo4j AuraDB is a fully managed cloud service and a good place to start for anyone interested in graph technologies.
Besides the free option, you can select the subscription plan that suits you best.

Neo4j Workspace is the default option to start working with your instance on Aura. This tool brings together Neo4j Browser (Query tab), Neo4j Bloom (Explore tab), and Data Importer (Import tab) in one space.

If you are a data scientist, you might be interested in Neo4j AuraDS, a graph data science platform as a fully managed cloud service. You get access to more than 65 pretuned graph algorithms.
Neo4j Database can be installed on-premises and deployed in various systems:
- Linux
- macOs
- Windows.
To extend Neo4j capabilities, you can install several optional tools as plugins. To configure the plugins, refer to the information in the Operations Manual → Plugins.
The Neo4j Docker image provides a standard package of Neo4j Community Edition and Enterprise Edition for a variety of versions.
Neo4j Desktop is one of the ways to set up an environment for developing an application with Neo4j and Cypher^®. Download Neo4j Desktop from https://neo4j.com/download/ and follow the installation instructions for your operating system.

Neo4j Desktop comes with a variety of tools that can be installed as plugins. They are APOC, Neo4j Graph Data Science Library, Neo4j Streams, and Neosemantics. For more information on installing plugins, go to the Neo4j Desktop documentation → Install a plugin.
Neo4j Sandbox provides a number of example datasets that can help you to learn more about Neo4j graph database and Cypher queries applied to a specific use case.

All databases are grouped into two categories: for developers and data scientists. You can go to the Neo4j Data Science Sandbox directly to explore cloud-based instance of Neo4j with GDS Community Edition preinstalled.

You can also select a blank sandbox and populate it with your own data.

If you need an Enterprise Edition, visit the Neo4j Pricing page where you can get all necessary instructions and contacts. Neo4j Enterprise Edition can be deployed on-premises or on a cloud platform of your choice.

Neo4j documentation

The official documentation of all components of the Neo4j ecosystem is available at https://neo4j.com/docs/.

The documentation homepage is designed to make your journey across all Neo4j products comfortable and pleasant.

Guides are grouped by categories, and in the left navigation bar you see:

Neo4j DBMS — Documentation for the Neo4j graph database, a core product:
- Getting Started Guide — you are here. The starting point to enter the Neo4j world.
- The Neo4j Operations Manual — the documentation tells you how to deploy, configure, support, and maintain Neo4j. You can also find comprehensive descriptions of Neo4j clustering here.
- Neo4j Upgrade and Migration Guide — the guide describes how to keep your Neo4j deployment up-to-date.
- Status Code — overview of Neo4j status codes classifications, version changes, and also a complete list of all status codes Neo4j may return, and what they mean.
- Java Reference tells you about advanced Java-centric usage of Neo4j, how to embed Neo4j in your own software and write extensions.
- The Neo4j Kerberos Add-on — Neo4j supports the use of Kerberos — a network authentication protocol, here you find description of using the Neo4j Kerberos Add-on.
Neo4j Aura — Docsets for a fully automated graph platform offered as a cloud service:
- Neo4j AuraDB — graph database as a fully managed service.
- Neo4j AuraDS — Neo4j Graph Data Science platform as a fully managed service.
Neo4j Tools — Docsets for developer tools designed to make it easier to develop graph applications and to interact with Neo4j database:
- Data Importer — the guide for a UI-based tool for importing data into Neo4j.
- Neo4j Bloom — the guide for a graph visualization tool designed for interactive exploration of graph data.
- Neo4j Browser — the guide for a developer-focused tool that allows to run Cypher queries and visualize the results.
- Neo4j Desktop — the guide introduces a client application for working with Neo4j, whether using local database instances or databases located on remote servers.
- Neo4j Ops Manager — the docset for a UI-based tool that enables any administrator to monitor, administer, and operate all of the Neo4j database management systems in an Enterprise Edition.
Neo4j Graph Data Science Library provides extensive analytical capabilities centered around graph algorithms:
- The Neo4j Graph Data Science Library Manual tells you how graph algorithms are implemented into Neo4j and how to use them as they are exposed as Cypher procedures.
Cypher Query Language — Docsets for Neo4j graph query language:
- The Neo4j Cypher Manual — the comprehensive manual for Cypher for the developers of a Neo4j client application.
- Cypher Cheat Sheet — a printable set of notes for a quick overview of Cypher syntax basics.
How to create applications with Neo4j — Docsets for officially supported drivers, libraries, connectors, and APIs.
Neo4j security — quick links to the security-related content across all guides.
Reference:
- All documentation — an archive page with manuals for previous releases and PDF files for downloading.
- Neo4j Glossary

On the top right, you find the drop-down menu Get Help with the following choices:

GraphAcademy — free, hands-on online training.
Community Forum — for learning and guidance.
Discord Chat — a live chat environment for communicating with other Neo4j users (requires signup).
Knowledge Base — troubleshooting articles written by developers for developers on how to solve issues both for Community ans Enterprise Editions.
Neo4j Developer Blog — Neo4j channel on Medium platform for deep dives into technical topics and announcements of new products, releases.
Neo4j Videos — a link to the Neo4j channel on YouTube.

Was this page helpful?