Databases · head to head
Cockroach Labs vs Mailchimp
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only); Mailchimp the free plan allows 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, with a 250 daily cap
- They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Mailchimp covers Email campaigns.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cockroach Labs and Mailchimp actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cockroach Labs | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | AWS, GCP, Azure | Web, iOS, Android |
| Category | Databases | E-Commerce |
| Founded | 2015 | 2001 |
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 Mailchimp
- Email campaigns
- Marketing automation
- Landing pages
- Forms & popups
- Audience management
- Content studio
- Analytics
- Social media
Both cover
- SOC2
- ISO27001
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cockroach Labs
- Distributed SQL database for scalable applicationsnot Mailchimp
- Multi-region deployment and failovernot Mailchimp
Mailchimp
- Email newslettersnot Cockroach Labs
- E-commerce marketingnot Cockroach Labs
- Lead generationnot Cockroach Labs
- Customer engagementnot Cockroach Labs
- Marketing automationnot 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
Mailchimp
- The free plan allows 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, with a 250 daily cap
- Price is driven by contact count, so the list growing raises the bill regardless of how much you send
- Send allowances are a multiple of contacts, 10x on Essentials and 12x on Standard, so a large list with heavy sending forces a tier change
- Essentials allows 3 seats and Standard 5; unlimited seats need Premium at $350 a month
- The headline $13 and $20 prices are for 500 contacts, not a flat rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Cockroach Labs
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.
Mailchimp
Free- FreeFree
- 250 contacts
- 500 sends per month
- Basic email campaigns
- Essentials$13/month
- 500+ contacts
- Email campaigns
- Basic automation
- Standard$20/month
- Advanced automation
- Segmentation
- Landing pages
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.
Choose Mailchimp if
- You need email campaigns.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want marketing automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Cockroach Labs or Mailchimp better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Mailchimp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Mailchimp?
- Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Mailchimp at Free.
- Does Cockroach Labs or Mailchimp run on more platforms?
- Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Mailchimp 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 Mailchimp is typically brought in for.
- What can Cockroach Labs do that Mailchimp cannot?
- Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Mailchimp covers Email campaigns, Marketing automation, Landing pages, Forms & popups. Both handle SOC2, ISO27001.
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.
SourceMailchimp: Does Mailchimp offer a free plan?
Yes, Mailchimp's free plan supports up to 250 contacts and 500 sends per month with a 250-per-day cap.
SourceCockroach 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.
SourceMailchimp: What email features does Mailchimp include?
Mailchimp provides email campaign builder, automation sequences, segmentation, contact management, and A/B testing for email marketing.
SourceCockroach 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.
SourceMailchimp: Can Mailchimp integrate with e-commerce platforms?
Yes, Mailchimp integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and other e-commerce platforms for customer sync and abandoned cart automation.
SourceCockroach 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.
SourceCockroach 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Cockroach Labs
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