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Cockroach Labs vs Hetzner Cloud

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Software

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hetzner Cloud logo

Hetzner Cloud

Software

Affordable cloud servers in Europe

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); Hetzner Cloud cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cockroach Labs and Hetzner Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Hetzner Cloud differ
AttributeCockroach LabsHetzner Cloud
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureWeb, Api, Cli
Founded20151997

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Hetzner Cloud

  • Cloud servers
  • Block storage
  • Object storage
  • Load balancers
  • Networks
  • Firewalls
  • Floating IPs
  • Backups

Both cover

  • Kubernetes
  • Terraform
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

Hetzner Cloud

  • Low-cost virtual servers for development and testingnot Cockroach Labs
  • European hosting with data held in Germany or Finlandnot Cockroach Labs
  • Workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic mattersnot Cockroach Labs
  • Self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalersnot 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

Hetzner Cloud

  • Cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable
  • The shared-resource tiers are positioned for variable usage and development rather than sustained production workloads
  • Regions are limited to Germany, Finland, the United States and Singapore, so latency to other markets is a real constraint
  • The uptime guarantee is 99.9 percent, below what the large hyperscalers offer on comparable services
  • Support is 24/7 by email, without a phone channel

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Hetzner Cloud

Free
  • CX11$3.29/month
    • 1 vCPU
    • 1GB RAM
    • 25GB SSD
  • CX21$6.59/month
    • 2 vCPU
    • 4GB RAM
    • 40GB SSD

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 Hetzner Cloud if

  • You need cloud servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli.
  • You also want block storage.
Hetzner Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Hetzner Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Hetzner Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Hetzner Cloud?
Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Hetzner Cloud at Free.
Does Cockroach Labs or Hetzner Cloud run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Hetzner Cloud runs on Web, Api, Cli.
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 Hetzner Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Hetzner Cloud cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Block storage, Object storage, Load balancers. Both handle Kubernetes, Terraform, Cloud deployment.
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