Database & Data Management · head to head
Cockroach Labs vs CouchDB
Cockroach Labs
Database & Data Management
The cloud-native distributed SQL database
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
CouchDB
Database & Data Management
Seamless multi-master sync with Apache CouchDB
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only); CouchDB append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
- They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cockroach Labs and CouchDB actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cockroach Labs | CouchDB |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Platforms | AWS, GCP, Azure | Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi |
| Founded | 2015 | 1999 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management).
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 CouchDB
- Multi-master Replication
- HTTP/JSON API
- MapReduce Views
- ACID Semantics
- Offline-first
- Conflict Resolution
- Fauxton UI
- PouchDB
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cockroach Labs
- Distributed SQL database for scalable applicationsnot CouchDB
- Multi-region deployment and failovernot CouchDB
CouchDB
- Offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environmentsnot Cockroach Labs
- Multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regionsnot Cockroach Labs
- IoT and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivitynot 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
CouchDB
- Append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
- Requires network synchronisation for cluster data consistency; can introduce latency in multi-master scenarios
- No explicit support for complex joins; MapReduce queries may be inefficient compared to relational databases
Pricing, plan by plan
Cockroach Labs
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.
CouchDB
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the CouchDB review.
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.
Choose CouchDB if
- You need multi-master replication.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
- You also want http/json api.
Questions people ask
- Is Cockroach Labs or CouchDB better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and CouchDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or CouchDB?
- Cockroach Labs starts at Free and CouchDB at Free.
- Does Cockroach Labs or CouchDB run on more platforms?
- Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. CouchDB runs on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
- 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 CouchDB is typically brought in for.
- What can Cockroach Labs do that CouchDB cannot?
- Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, HTTP/JSON API, MapReduce Views, ACID Semantics.