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Databases · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Finxact

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Databases

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Finxact logo

Finxact

Technology

Cloud native core banking, sold as Finxact from Fiserv since the 2022 acquisition

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cockroach Labs has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only); Finxact fiserv sells several core platforms, so a buyer should demand written investment and support commitments for Finxact specifically rather than trusting that the surviving brand implies a protected roadmap.
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Finxact covers Cloud native core.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Finxact differ
AttributeCockroach LabsFinxact
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureWeb, API, Cloud
CategoryDatabasesTechnology
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Finxact

  • Cloud native core
  • Real time posting
  • Configurable product definitions
  • Fiserv ecosystem access
  • Embedded banking support
  • Open API model
  • Multi tenant deployment
  • Regulatory reporting hooks

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

Finxact

  • A United States regional bank replacing a legacy core but unwilling to take supplier viability risk on an independent challengernot Cockroach Labs
  • A community bank launching an embedded banking or sponsor bank programme on modern railsnot Cockroach Labs
  • An institution already running Fiserv card and payment services that wants the core on the same vendor relationshipnot Cockroach Labs
  • A bank standing up a new digital brand on a clean core while leaving the existing back book in placenot 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

Finxact

  • Fiserv sells several core platforms, so a buyer should demand written investment and support commitments for Finxact specifically rather than trusting that the surviving brand implies a protected roadmap.
  • Core migration is a multi year programme where the licence is a small share of total cost against integration, data migration and parallel running.
  • Buying the core from Fiserv strengthens a relationship that already covers cards and payments, which weakens your negotiating position across the whole estate at renewal.
  • It is a United States product with United States regulatory and product assumptions, so international banks get little from it.
  • Being part of a very large vendor changes the service experience: the responsiveness that made Finxact attractive as a startup is not guaranteed inside a company of Fiserv's scale.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Finxact

On request
  • Finxact from Fiserv$undefined/year
    • Quoted per institution, commonly on accounts or asset size
    • Implementation and integration costs typically exceed the licence fee
    • Bundled commercially with other Fiserv services in many deals

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 Finxact if

  • You need cloud native core.
  • You work on Web, API, Cloud.
  • You also want real time posting.
Finxact review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Finxact better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Finxact at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Finxact?
Cockroach Labs has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cockroach Labs and On request for Finxact.
Does Cockroach Labs or Finxact run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Finxact runs on Web, API, Cloud.
Can I use Cockroach Labs for free?
Yes. Cockroach Labs has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Finxact starts at On request.
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 Finxact is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Finxact cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Finxact covers Cloud native core, Real time posting, Configurable product definitions, Fiserv ecosystem access.

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
Finxact: Is Finxact still sold under its own name?

Yes. Fiserv acquired it in 2022 and continues to market it as Finxact from Fiserv, winning named core deals with it.

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
Finxact: Is it genuinely cloud native?

Yes, API first with real time posting on public cloud, rather than a hosted version of a legacy core.

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
Finxact: How long is a migration?

Plan in years. Even a focused deployment is a multi year programme once integration and data migration are counted.

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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