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Databases · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Marqo

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Databases

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Marqo logo

Marqo

Databases

AI-native product discovery platform for ecommerce

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cockroach Labs has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cockroach Labs basic and Standard tiers limited to AWS and GCP (select regions only); Marqo pricing not publicly available, enterprise sales-only model
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Marqo covers Semantic search.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Marqo differ
AttributeCockroach LabsMarqo
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumcontact-sales
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureWeb API, SaaS
Founded20152022

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 Marqo

  • Semantic search
  • Multimodal image search
  • AI model training
  • Automated merchandising
  • Multi-surface integration
  • Commerce platform integrations
  • API access

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

Marqo

  • Improve search revenue for fashion and beauty retailersnot Cockroach Labs
  • Implement multimodal image and product searchnot Cockroach Labs
  • Increase checkout conversion through better product discoverynot Cockroach Labs
  • Create personalized product recommendationsnot Cockroach Labs
  • Reduce customer support inquiries with relevant search resultsnot 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

Marqo

  • Pricing not publicly available, enterprise sales-only model
  • Requires custom implementation and integration work
  • Limited to ecommerce use cases compared to general search
  • Model training requires sufficient customer behavior data

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Marqo

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Marqo 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 Marqo if

  • You need semantic search.
  • You work on Web API, SaaS.
  • You also want multimodal image search.
Marqo review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Marqo better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Marqo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Marqo?
Cockroach Labs has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cockroach Labs and On request for Marqo.
Does Cockroach Labs or Marqo run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Marqo runs on Web API, SaaS.
Can I use Cockroach Labs for free?
Yes. Cockroach Labs has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Marqo starts at On request.
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 Marqo is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Marqo cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Marqo covers Semantic search, Multimodal image search, AI model training, Automated merchandising.

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
Marqo: How do Marqo models get trained?

Marqo trains dedicated AI models on each retailer's product catalog and customer behavior data including clicks, purchases, and browsing patterns. This ensures models are optimized for the specific retailer's products and customers.

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
Marqo: What results can retailers expect from Marqo?

Enterprise retailers using Marqo report 10-23% increases in search revenue and conversion rates, with proven results across fashion, beauty, electronics, and home goods.

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
Marqo: Which ecommerce platforms does Marqo integrate with?

Marqo has native integrations with Shopify, Adobe Commerce (Magento), and Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and also provides API access for custom implementations.

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
Marqo: How is Marqo priced?

Marqo pricing is customized based on catalog size, search volume, and feature requirements. Contact their sales team to book a demo and discuss pricing.

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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