Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about MongoDash organized by topic.

General

What is MongoDash?

MongoDash is a MongoDB workspace platform that provides a web-based interface for teams to query, visualize, and manage MongoDB databases collaboratively. It combines a data explorer, query builder, dashboard creator, and team collaboration features in one integrated platform.

Do I need to install anything?

No, MongoDash is a fully web-based SaaS application. Simply create an account at app.mongodash.com and connect your MongoDB databases. There's no software to install or maintain.

Which MongoDB versions are supported?

MongoDash supports MongoDB 3.6 and later, including:

• MongoDB Atlas (all tiers)
• Self-hosted MongoDB servers
• MongoDB Docker containers
• Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility mode)
• Azure Cosmos DB (MongoDB API)

Can I use MongoDash with MongoDB Atlas?

Yes! MongoDash works seamlessly with MongoDB Atlas. Simply use your Atlas connection string. Remember to add MongoDash IP addresses to your Atlas IP allowlist.

Is there a free trial?

Yes, all paid plans include a 14-day free trial with full access to plan features. No credit card required for the trial. The Free plan is available indefinitely for individual use.

Connections and Data

How many databases can I connect?

Connection limits vary by plan:

• Free: 2 connections
• Team: 10 connections
• Business: 50 connections
• Enterprise: Unlimited connections

Does MongoDash store my data?

No, MongoDash does not store your MongoDB data. We only store:

• Connection metadata (hostnames, database names)
• Query history and saved queries
• Dashboard configurations
• Audit logs (Enterprise plans)

Your actual MongoDB data always remains in your database. MongoDash queries it in real-time.

Can I connect to localhost MongoDB?

Not directly from the cloud version of MongoDash, as your localhost isn't accessible from the internet. Options:

1. Use SSH tunneling to connect through a publicly accessible server
2. Deploy a reverse proxy or VPN
3. Use MongoDB Atlas for development (free tier available)

Are my connection credentials secure?

Yes, connection credentials are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption and encrypted in transit using TLS 1.3. Credentials are never logged or displayed in plain text. Enterprise plans support customer-managed encryption keys (BYOK).

Can I use read-only credentials?

Yes! We recommend using read-only credentials for most use cases. Read-only access is sufficient for querying data and creating dashboards. Only users who need to modify data should use write-enabled credentials.

Features and Capabilities

Can I create custom dashboards?

Yes, all paid plans include unlimited custom dashboards with drag-and-drop widgets. Dashboards support:

• Charts (line, bar, pie, scatter, etc.)
• KPI metrics
• Tables and data grids
• Real-time auto-refresh
• Sharing and embedding (Business+)

Does MongoDash support aggregation pipelines?

Yes, MongoDash includes a visual aggregation pipeline builder with:

• Stage-by-stage pipeline construction
• Real-time preview of results
• AI-assisted query generation
• Export to MongoDB shell or driver code

Can I schedule queries to run automatically?

Yes, scheduled queries are available on Team, Business, and Enterprise plans. You can:

• Run queries on cron schedules
• Receive results via email or webhook
• Export data to S3, GCS, or Azure Blob Storage
• Set up conditional notifications

Does MongoDash support full-text search?

Yes, if your MongoDB collection has a text index, you can use full-text search with $text operators. MongoDash also provides a search interface for quickly finding documents by any field value.

Can I import and export data?

Yes, MongoDash supports:

• Import: CSV, JSON, Excel (XLSX)
• Export: CSV, JSON, Parquet (Business+), MongoDB Archive
• Bulk operations for large datasets
• Scheduled automated exports

Team Collaboration

How do I invite team members?

Navigate to Workspace Settings > Team Members > Invite Member. Enter their email address, assign a role (Viewer, Editor, or Admin), and send the invitation. They'll receive an email to join your workspace.

What's the difference between Viewer, Editor, and Admin roles?

• Viewer: Read-only access. Can view data, dashboards, and queries but cannot modify anything.
• Editor: Can create and modify queries, dashboards, and views. Cannot manage users or billing.
• Admin: Full access including user management, billing, workspace settings, and all Editor capabilities.

Can I create custom roles?

Yes, custom roles with granular permissions are available on Business and Enterprise plans. You can define specific permissions for:

• Database/collection access
• Query and dashboard creation
• Data modification rights
• Export capabilities

How many users can I have?

• Free: 1 user only
• Team, Business, Enterprise: Unlimited users

You're billed per active user on paid plans.

Can I share dashboards with external users?

Yes, Business and Enterprise plans support:

• Public dashboard links (read-only)
• Password-protected sharing
• Embedded dashboards in your applications
• Temporary access links with expiration

Security and Compliance

Is my data encrypted?

Yes, MongoDash uses:

• In transit: TLS 1.3 encryption for all connections
• At rest: AES-256 encryption for stored credentials and metadata
• Database connections: Encrypted connections to MongoDB (TLS/SSL)

Does MongoDash support two-factor authentication?

Yes, 2FA is available on all plans:

• TOTP authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)
• SMS-based 2FA (Enterprise only)
• Enforced 2FA for all workspace members (Team+)

Is MongoDash SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, MongoDash maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance. Our compliance reports are available to Enterprise customers. We also support GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulatory frameworks.

Do you support SSO/SAML?

Yes, SSO integration is available on Enterprise plans with support for:

• SAML 2.0 (Okta, OneLogin, Azure AD, etc.)
• Google Workspace
• Custom identity providers

Where is my data stored?

MongoDash infrastructure runs on AWS in the following regions:

• US East (N. Virginia) - primary
• EU West (Ireland) - available
• Asia Pacific (Singapore) - available

Enterprise customers can choose their preferred region.

Can I get audit logs?

Yes, audit logs are available on Enterprise plans with configurable retention periods (90 days to 7 years). Logs include:

• User authentication events
• Data access and modifications
• Administrative actions
• API usage

Pricing and Billing

How much does MongoDash cost?

• Free: $0 forever (1 user, limited features)
• Team: $29/user/month (or $23/user/month billed annually)
• Business: $79/user/month (or $63/user/month billed annually)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

See the Plan Comparison for detailed features.

What payment methods do you accept?

• Credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
• ACH bank transfer (annual plans, US only)
• Wire transfer (Enterprise only)
• Purchase orders (Enterprise only)

Can I change plans anytime?

Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade at any time:

• Upgrades: Take effect immediately with prorated billing
• Downgrades: Take effect at the end of your current billing period

Is there a discount for annual billing?

Yes, annual billing saves 20% compared to monthly billing for both Team and Business plans.

What happens if I cancel?

When you cancel a paid subscription:

• Access continues until the end of your billing period
• Your workspace downgrades to the Free plan
• All data is preserved (with Free plan limits)
• You can resubscribe anytime without data loss

Do you offer refunds?

• Monthly plans: No refunds, but you keep access until period ends
• Annual plans: Prorated refund if canceled within 30 days
• Enterprise: Per contract terms

Performance and Limits

Are there query execution limits?

Yes, limits vary by plan:

Plan	Queries/Month	Query Timeout
Free	1,000	10 seconds
Team	100,000	30 seconds
Business	1,000,000	60 seconds
Enterprise	Unlimited	Configurable

How fast are queries?

Query speed depends on:

• Your MongoDB server performance
• Query complexity and indexes
• Network latency to your database
• Dataset size

Typical queries on indexed collections return in 50-200ms. MongoDash adds minimal overhead (< 10ms) to query execution.

Can I query large collections?

Yes, but best practices apply:

• Always use filters on large collections (millions of documents)
• Use pagination (limit and skip)
• Leverage indexes for query filters
• Consider aggregation for summary data instead of fetching all documents

Is there a data transfer limit?

Yes, monthly data transfer limits:

• Free: 1 GB
• Team: 50 GB
• Business: 500 GB
• Enterprise: Custom

Overages incur additional charges on Team and Business plans ($0.10/GB and $0.08/GB respectively).

Technical Questions

Does MongoDash support change streams?

Yes, change streams are supported on Business and Enterprise plans for MongoDB 4.0+ with replica sets. Use change streams for:

• Real-time data sync
• Event-driven webhooks
• Live dashboard updates

Can I use MongoDash with sharded clusters?

Yes, MongoDash works with sharded MongoDB clusters. Connect using your MongoDB router (mongos) connection string.

Does MongoDash support transactions?

MongoDash respects your MongoDB transaction configurations but doesn't provide transaction management UI. Multi-document transactions require MongoDB 4.0+ with replica sets or 4.2+ with sharded clusters.

Can I use custom MongoDB drivers or connection options?

Enterprise plans support advanced connection options including:

• Custom read preferences
• Write concern levels
• Read concern levels
• Connection pooling configuration
• Custom TLS certificates

Is there an API?

Yes, MongoDash provides a RESTful API for:

• Executing queries programmatically
• Managing connections and workspaces
• Creating and updating dashboards
• Accessing audit logs
• Automating workflows

API access and rate limits vary by plan. See API Integration documentation.

Can I self-host MongoDash?

MongoDash is a SaaS platform and doesn't offer self-hosted versions. However, Enterprise customers can request dedicated infrastructure for compliance or data residency requirements.

Troubleshooting

Why can't I connect to my MongoDB database?

Common reasons:

1. IP allowlist: Add MongoDash IPs to your MongoDB allowlist
2. Incorrect credentials: Verify username and password
3. Network restrictions: Check firewall rules
4. Wrong connection string: Ensure proper format and hostname

See Connection Troubleshooting for detailed steps.

My queries are slow. How can I improve performance?

1. Add indexes: Index frequently queried fields
2. Use filters: Don't query entire collections
3. Optimize queries: Use covered queries when possible
4. Enable caching: Turn on query result caching
5. Use aggregation: Pre-aggregate data when appropriate

See Query Performance for optimization tips.

I'm getting "Permission denied" errors. What should I do?

1. Check your workspace role (Viewer, Editor, Admin)
2. Verify database user permissions in MongoDB
3. Ensure your plan includes the feature you're trying to use
4. Contact your workspace admin for role upgrades

How do I reset my password?

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page, enter your email, and follow the instructions in the reset email. If you don't receive the email, check your spam folder or contact support.

Getting Help

Where can I find documentation?

Complete documentation is available at docs.mongodash.com with:

• Getting started guides
• Feature documentation
• API reference
• Best practices and tutorials

How do I contact support?

• Email: support@mongodash.com
• Live Chat: In-app (Business and Enterprise plans)
• Community Forum: community.mongodash.com
• Phone: Enterprise plans only (24/7)

Response times vary by plan (see Common Issues).

Is there a community forum?

Yes, join our community at community.mongodash.com to:

• Ask questions and get answers
• Share tips and best practices
• Request features and vote on roadmap
• Connect with other MongoDash users

How do I request a new feature?

Submit feature requests through:

1. Community forum (public voting)
2. In-app feedback widget
3. Email to features@mongodash.com
4. Direct to your account manager (Enterprise customers)

Do you offer training?

Yes, training options vary by plan:

• Free: Documentation and video tutorials
• Team: Self-paced online courses
• Business: Live group training sessions
• Enterprise: Custom on-site or virtual training

Migration and Integration

Can I migrate from another MongoDB tool?

Yes, we offer migration assistance:

• Self-service: Import saved queries and connections
• Guided migration: Available for Business customers
• White-glove migration: Full-service migration for Enterprise customers

Does MongoDash integrate with other tools?

Yes, integrations include:

• Slack: Query results and notifications
• Zapier: Trigger workflows from MongoDB events
• Datadog/New Relic: Send metrics and monitoring data
• Webhooks: Send events to any HTTP endpoint
• REST API: Build custom integrations

Can I embed MongoDash in my application?

Yes, Business and Enterprise plans support:

• Embedded dashboards (iframe or SDK)
• Single sign-on for seamless integration
• Custom branding and white-labeling (Enterprise)

What's Next?

• Getting Started - New to MongoDash? Start here
• Common Issues - Troubleshoot specific problems
• Plan Comparison - Compare features and pricing