Databases · head to head
Apache Pulsar vs Cockroach Labs
Apache Pulsar
Databases
Cloud-native messaging and streaming with separated storage
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Apache Pulsar more components than Kafka: brokers, BookKeeper and ZooKeeper each need operating; Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only)
- They diverge on capability: Apache Pulsar covers Separated storage, Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apache Pulsar and Cockroach Labs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apache Pulsar | Cockroach Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted | AWS, GCP, Azure |
| Founded | Unknown | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Apache Pulsar
- Separated storage
- Queuing and streaming
- Built-in multi-tenancy
- Geo-replication
Only in Cockroach Labs
- Distributed SQL
- Automatic Sharding
- Multi-region Replication
- Geo-partitioning
- ACID Transactions
- Horizontal Scaling
- Survivability
- PostgreSQL Compatibility
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Apache Pulsar
- Platforms needing both work queues and replayable streams without running two systemsnot Cockroach Labs
- Multi-tenant messaging where isolation between teams is a requirementnot Cockroach Labs
- Deployments where storage and traffic grow at genuinely different ratesnot Cockroach Labs
Cockroach Labs
- Distributed SQL database for scalable applicationsnot Apache Pulsar
- Multi-region deployment and failovernot Apache Pulsar
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Apache Pulsar
- More components than Kafka: brokers, BookKeeper and ZooKeeper each need operating
- Correspondingly harder to run well, and the expertise is rarer than Kafka expertise
- A much smaller ecosystem of connectors, tooling and hiring pool than Kafka
- The architectural advantages only pay off at a scale most deployments never reach
Cockroach Labs
- Basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only)
- Azure support restricted to Advanced tier only
- Basic tier limited to 50 million RUs and 10 GiB storage per month
- Advanced tier starts at $0.60/hour for 4 vCPUs minimum
- 3 TiB maximum storage on Basic and Standard tiers, 10 TiB per node on Advanced
Pricing, plan by plan
Apache Pulsar
Free- Apache PulsarFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
Cockroach Labs
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Apache Pulsar if
- You need separated storage.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want queuing and streaming.
Choose Cockroach Labs if
- You need distributed sql.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS, GCP, Azure.
- You also want automatic sharding.
Questions people ask
- Is Apache Pulsar or Cockroach Labs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apache Pulsar starts at Free and Cockroach Labs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apache Pulsar or Cockroach Labs?
- Apache Pulsar starts at Free and Cockroach Labs at Free.
- Does Apache Pulsar or Cockroach Labs run on more platforms?
- Apache Pulsar runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure.
- Can I use Apache Pulsar for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Apache Pulsar best used for?
- Apache Pulsar is most often used for platforms needing both work queues and replayable streams without running two systems, multi-tenant messaging where isolation between teams is a requirement, deployments where storage and traffic grow at genuinely different rates. Of those, platforms needing both work queues and replayable streams without running two systems and multi-tenant messaging where isolation between teams is a requirement are not what Cockroach Labs is typically brought in for.
- What can Apache Pulsar do that Cockroach Labs cannot?
- Apache Pulsar covers Separated storage, Queuing and streaming, Built-in multi-tenancy, Geo-replication. Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Apache Pulsar: Is Apache Pulsar free?
Yes, open source under the Apache Software Foundation.
Cockroach Labs: What does the free Basic tier include?
The Basic tier is free and includes 50 million RUs and 10 GiB storage per month, with a maximum compute of 30K RU/sec. No credit card is required to start.
SourceApache Pulsar: Pulsar or Kafka?
Pulsar separates storage from compute and covers queuing and streaming in one system. Kafka has a far larger ecosystem and hiring pool. Most teams should have a specific reason before choosing Pulsar.
Cockroach Labs: How much do the paid tiers cost?
Standard tier starts at $0.18 per hour for 2 vCPUs, and Advanced tier starts at $0.60 per hour for 4 vCPUs. Both tiers support additional resources with higher costs for increased compute and storage.
SourceApache Pulsar: Why does separated storage matter?
Brokers hold no data, so adding or replacing one requires no rebalancing, and storage can grow without adding serving capacity.
Cockroach Labs: What are the storage limits for each tier?
Basic plan supports up to 3 TiB storage, Standard tier up to 3 TiB, and Advanced tier up to 10 TiB per node with unlimited total storage.
SourceCockroach Labs: Can I get trial credits before paying?
Yes, new users can try CockroachDB free with $400 in credits. The Basic and Standard plans do not require a credit card to start.
SourceCockroach Labs: Do legacy contracts have different pricing?
Customers with annual or multi-year contracts entered before December 1, 2024 can view legacy pricing terms on a separate page, which apply until their contract renewal date.
SourceRelated pages
More on Apache Pulsar
More on Cockroach Labs
Other head to heads
- Apache Pulsar vs PostgreSQL
- Apache Pulsar vs Airtable
- Apache Pulsar vs Amazon Aurora
- Apache Pulsar vs Elasticsearch
- Apache Pulsar vs PlanetScale
- Apache Pulsar vs Meilisearch
- Apache Pulsar vs Turso
- Apache Pulsar vs Azure SQL
- Apache Pulsar vs ClickHouse
- Apache Pulsar vs Couchbase
- Apache Pulsar vs DuckDB
- Apache Pulsar vs MariaDB
- Apache Pulsar vs Oracle Database
- Apache Pulsar vs DataGrip
- Apache Pulsar vs Firebolt
- Apache Pulsar vs Google Cloud SQL
- Apache Pulsar vs MotherDuck
- Apache Pulsar vs Apache Kafka
- Cockroach Labs vs PostgreSQL
- Cockroach Labs vs Airtable
- Cockroach Labs vs Amazon Aurora
- Cockroach Labs vs Elasticsearch
- Cockroach Labs vs PlanetScale
- Cockroach Labs vs Meilisearch
- Cockroach Labs vs Turso
- Cockroach Labs vs Azure SQL
- Cockroach Labs vs ClickHouse
- Cockroach Labs vs Couchbase
- Cockroach Labs vs DuckDB
- Cockroach Labs vs MariaDB
- Cockroach Labs vs Oracle Database
- Cockroach Labs vs DataGrip
- Cockroach Labs vs Firebolt
- Cockroach Labs vs Google Cloud SQL
- Cockroach Labs vs MotherDuck
- Cockroach Labs vs Apache Kafka