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Databases · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs GitLab

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Databases

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Cockroach LabsFull review
GitLab logo

GitLab

Developer Tools

The One DevOps Platform

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit GitLabFull review

The short version

  • GitLab is a complete DevOps platform, delivered as a single application.
  • Both are free.
  • Only Cockroach Labs lists distributed SQL; only GitLab lists git repository management.
  • Where Cockroach Labs falls short: basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only).
  • Where GitLab falls short: baseline requires 8 vCPU and 16 GB RAM for single-node installations; resource-intensive.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and GitLab differ
AttributeCockroach LabsGitLab
Pricing modelFreemiumOpen-source
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureLinux, Self-hosted, Web
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools
Founded20152011

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

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 GitLab

  • Git repository management
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • Issue tracking
  • Code review
  • Wiki
  • Container registry
  • Security scanning
  • Monitoring

Both cover

  • Kubernetes
  • Terraform

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

GitLab

  • Git repository management and version controlnot Cockroach Labs
  • CI/CD pipeline automationnot Cockroach Labs
  • DevOps and release managementnot Cockroach Labs
  • Security and compliance workflowsnot 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

GitLab

  • Baseline requires 8 vCPU and 16 GB RAM for single-node installations; resource-intensive
  • PostgreSQL is mandatory; no support for alternative databases
  • Redis or Valkey cache required; adds infrastructure complexity
  • High-availability deployments require inter-node latency below 5 ms; difficult to achieve across geographically distributed sites
  • Requires self-hosting and maintenance; GitLab.com SaaS only available to GitLab team members for administration

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

GitLab

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitLab 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.
Cockroach Labs review

Choose GitLab if

  • You need git repository management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Self-hosted, Web.
  • You also want ci/cd pipelines.
GitLab review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or GitLab better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and GitLab at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or GitLab?
Cockroach Labs starts at Free and GitLab at Free.
Does Cockroach Labs or GitLab run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. GitLab runs on Linux, Self-hosted, Web.
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 GitLab is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that GitLab cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. GitLab covers Git repository management, CI/CD pipelines, Issue tracking, Code review. Both handle Kubernetes, Terraform.

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
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
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
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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