Databases · head to head
Apache Solr vs Cockroach Labs
Apache Solr
Databases
Enterprise search platform built on Apache Lucene
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Apache Solr xML-heavy configuration and a developer experience that feels dated beside newer engines; Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only)
- They diverge on capability: Apache Solr covers Lucene-based indexing, Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apache Solr and Cockroach Labs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apache Solr | 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 Solr
- Lucene-based indexing
- Faceted search
- SolrCloud
- Schema control
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 Solr
- Library, archive and catalogue search where faceting is centralnot Cockroach Labs
- Long-lived enterprise deployments valuing stability over noveltynot Cockroach Labs
- Search requiring precise, explicitly configured relevance tuningnot Cockroach Labs
Cockroach Labs
- Distributed SQL database for scalable applicationsnot Apache Solr
- Multi-region deployment and failovernot Apache Solr
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Apache Solr
- XML-heavy configuration and a developer experience that feels dated beside newer engines
- SolrCloud depends on ZooKeeper, adding a component Elasticsearch removed years ago
- Smaller mindshare now, so newer tutorials, hiring and integrations favour Elasticsearch
- Considerably heavier than a purpose-built application search engine
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 Solr
Free- Apache SolrFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
Cockroach Labs
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Apache Solr if
- You need lucene-based indexing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want faceted search.
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 Solr or Cockroach Labs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apache Solr 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 Solr or Cockroach Labs?
- Apache Solr starts at Free and Cockroach Labs at Free.
- Does Apache Solr or Cockroach Labs run on more platforms?
- Apache Solr runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure.
- Can I use Apache Solr for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Apache Solr best used for?
- Apache Solr is most often used for library, archive and catalogue search where faceting is central, long-lived enterprise deployments valuing stability over novelty, search requiring precise, explicitly configured relevance tuning. Of those, library, archive and catalogue search where faceting is central and long-lived enterprise deployments valuing stability over novelty are not what Cockroach Labs is typically brought in for.
- What can Apache Solr do that Cockroach Labs cannot?
- Apache Solr covers Lucene-based indexing, Faceted search, SolrCloud, Schema control. Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Apache Solr: Is Apache Solr 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 Solr: Solr or Elasticsearch?
Both are built on Lucene. Elasticsearch has the larger ecosystem and a friendlier API; Solr is very mature and strong on faceted search, and remains common in library and catalogue systems.
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 Solr: Is Solr still maintained?
Yes, actively, as a top-level Apache project.
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 Solr
More on Cockroach Labs
Other head to heads
- Apache Solr vs PostgreSQL
- Apache Solr vs Airtable
- Apache Solr vs Amazon Aurora
- Apache Solr vs Elasticsearch
- Apache Solr vs PlanetScale
- Apache Solr vs Meilisearch
- Apache Solr vs Turso
- Apache Solr vs Azure SQL
- Apache Solr vs ClickHouse
- Apache Solr vs Couchbase
- Apache Solr vs DuckDB
- Apache Solr vs MariaDB
- Apache Solr vs Oracle Database
- Apache Solr vs DataGrip
- Apache Solr vs Firebolt
- Apache Solr vs Google Cloud SQL
- Apache Solr vs MotherDuck
- Apache Solr 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