Softwr

Databases · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Kubernetes

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Databases

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kubernetes logo

Kubernetes

Technology

Production-grade container orchestration

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); Kubernetes complex initial setup and configuration with multiple interdependent components
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Kubernetes covers Container orchestration.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Kubernetes differ
AttributeCockroach LabsKubernetes
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureLinux, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)
CategoryDatabasesTechnology
Founded20152014

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

  • Container orchestration
  • Automatic scaling
  • Self-healing
  • Service discovery
  • Load balancing
  • Storage orchestration
  • Automated rollouts
  • Secret management

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

Kubernetes

  • Microservices deploymentnot Cockroach Labs
  • Cloud-native applicationsnot Cockroach Labs
  • CI/CD pipelinesnot Cockroach Labs
  • Multi-cloud deploymentsnot Cockroach Labs
  • Edge computingnot 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

Kubernetes

  • Complex initial setup and configuration with multiple interdependent components
  • Significant resource requirements for both hardware infrastructure and specialized human expertise
  • Expensive specialized talent in Kubernetes domain; hiring costs prohibitive for many organizations
  • New security challenges around container isolation and network security requiring robust measures
  • Requires continuous maintenance and updates to stay current with releases and security patches

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Kubernetes

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Kubernetes 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 Kubernetes if

  • You need container orchestration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want automatic scaling.
Kubernetes review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Kubernetes better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Kubernetes at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Kubernetes?
Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Kubernetes at Free.
Does Cockroach Labs or Kubernetes run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Kubernetes runs on Linux, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure).
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 Kubernetes is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Kubernetes cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Kubernetes covers Container orchestration, Automatic scaling, Self-healing, Service discovery.

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
Kubernetes: What is Kubernetes used for?

Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform that automates deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications across clusters of machines.

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
Kubernetes: Is Kubernetes free?

Yes, Kubernetes is free, open-source software maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. However, running Kubernetes clusters requires infrastructure investment.

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
Kubernetes: How hard is it to learn Kubernetes?

Kubernetes has a steep learning curve. It requires deep knowledge of containerization, networking, and distributed systems. Teams without prior container experience should expect significant training time.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Cockroach Labs

More on Kubernetes

Keep looking

Other head to heads