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Databases · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Coder

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Databases

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Cockroach LabsFull review
Coder logo

Coder

Developer Tools

Self-hosted platform for provisioning governed cloud development environments

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit CoderFull review

The short version

  • Both are free.
  • Only Cockroach Labs lists distributed SQL; only Coder lists self-hosted workspaces.
  • Where Cockroach Labs falls short: basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only).
  • Where Coder falls short: premium plan pricing is not published and requires contacting sales.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cockroach Labs and Coder actually diverge.

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Coder differ
AttributeCockroach LabsCoder
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureWeb, Linux, macOS, Windows, API
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Freemium), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: founded for Coder.

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 Cockroach Labs

  • Distributed SQL
  • Automatic Sharding
  • Multi-region Replication
  • Geo-partitioning
  • ACID Transactions
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Survivability
  • PostgreSQL Compatibility

Only in Coder

  • Self-hosted workspaces
  • Multi-IDE support
  • AI coding agent support
  • OpenID Connect SSO
  • Audit logging
  • Resource quotas

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cockroach Labs

  • Distributed SQL database for scalable applicationsnot Coder
  • Multi-region deployment and failovernot Coder

Coder

  • Running self-hosted development environments behind a corporate firewallnot Cockroach Labs
  • Standardizing developer workspaces across a large engineering orgnot Cockroach Labs
  • Giving approved AI coding agents governed, isolated workspacesnot Cockroach Labs
  • Enforcing SSO and audit trails on developer environment accessnot Cockroach Labs

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Coder

  • Premium plan pricing is not published and requires contacting sales
  • Requires self-hosting and managing the underlying infrastructure, unlike fully managed cloud IDEs
  • High availability, audit logging, and RBAC are gated behind the paid Premium tier, so the free Community edition lacks enterprise controls

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Coder

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Unlimited workspaces and templates
    • Unlimited organization members
    • Multiple IDE support
  • PremiumOn request
    • Ticket-based support with SLA
    • Multi-organization access controls
    • Resource quotas and audit logging

Which should you pick?

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.
Cockroach Labs review

Choose Coder if

  • You need self-hosted workspaces.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows, API.
  • You also want multi-ide support.
Coder review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Coder better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Coder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Coder?
Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Coder at Free.
Does Cockroach Labs or Coder run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Coder runs on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows, API.
Can I use Cockroach Labs for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cockroach Labs best used for?
Cockroach Labs is most often used for distributed sql database for scalable applications, multi-region deployment and failover. Of those, distributed sql database for scalable applications and multi-region deployment and failover are not what Coder is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Coder cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Coder covers Self-hosted workspaces, Multi-IDE support, AI coding agent support, OpenID Connect SSO.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Source
Coder: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Community edition is free and includes unlimited workspaces, templates, and organization members with OpenID Connect SSO, aimed at hobbyists and small teams.

Source
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.

Source
Coder: What does Premium add over Community?

Premium adds ticket-based SLA support, multi-organization access controls, resource quotas, audit logging, AI governance, workspace proxies, high availability, and custom branding.

Source
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.

Source
Coder: How is Coder priced?

Community is free; Premium is priced per user annually, with the exact rate available by contacting Coder.

Source
Cockroach 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.

Source
Cockroach 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.

Source
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