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Database & Data Management · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Firebase Realtime Database

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Database & Data Management

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Firebase Realtime Database logo

Firebase Realtime Database

Database & Data Management

Store and sync data in real-time across all clients

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only); Firebase Realtime Database the no-cost Spark plan caps storage at 1 GB, downloads at 10 GB per month and simultaneous connections at 100
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Firebase Realtime Database covers Real-time Sync.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cockroach Labs and Firebase Realtime Database actually diverge.

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Firebase Realtime Database differ
AttributeCockroach LabsFirebase Realtime Database
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Firebase Realtime Database

  • Real-time Sync
  • Offline Support
  • JSON Storage
  • Security Rules
  • Data Validation
  • Multi-platform SDKs
  • Scalable
  • Firebase Auth

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

  • Distributed SQL database for scalable applicationsnot Firebase Realtime Database
  • Multi-region deployment and failovernot Firebase Realtime Database

Firebase Realtime Database

  • Syncing JSON application state between clients in real timenot Cockroach Labs
  • Backing mobile and web apps with offline capable data storagenot Cockroach Labs
  • Prototyping realtime features such as presence and chatnot 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

Firebase Realtime Database

  • The no-cost Spark plan caps storage at 1 GB, downloads at 10 GB per month and simultaneous connections at 100
  • The Spark plan does not support multiple databases in a project
  • Even on the paid Blaze plan simultaneous connections are capped at 200,000 per database
  • Billing is by data transferred out at $1 per GB plus $5 per GB stored, so chatty clients cost more than the data volume suggests

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Firebase Realtime Database

Free
  • SparkFree
    • 1GB storage
    • 10GB/month download
    • 100 simultaneous connections
  • BlazeFree
    • Pay as you go
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited connections

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 Firebase Realtime Database if

  • You need real-time sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want offline support.
Firebase Realtime Database review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Firebase Realtime Database better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Firebase Realtime Database at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Firebase Realtime Database?
Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Firebase Realtime Database at Free.
Does Cockroach Labs or Firebase Realtime Database run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Firebase Realtime Database runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Firebase Realtime Database is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Firebase Realtime Database cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Firebase Realtime Database covers Real-time Sync, Offline Support, JSON Storage, Security Rules.
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