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Databases · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Prefect

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Databases

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Prefect logo

Prefect

Automation Integration

Python-first workflow orchestration that heals itself

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); Prefect limited to Python-based workflows; other languages require API calls
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Prefect covers Python function decorators.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Prefect differ
AttributeCockroach LabsPrefect
Pricing modelfreemiumFreemium with per-user and usage-based tiers
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureCloud, Self-hosted, VPC
CategoryDatabasesAutomation Integration
Founded2015Unknown

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 Prefect

  • Python function decorators
  • Automatic resilience
  • Flexible deployment
  • Observable execution
  • Multiple scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • Open-source core

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

Prefect

  • Orchestrating data pipeline workflows in Pythonnot Cockroach Labs
  • Managing ML model training and inference jobsnot Cockroach Labs
  • Building ETL and event-driven automationnot Cockroach Labs
  • Monitoring and alerting on workflow healthnot 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

Prefect

  • Limited to Python-based workflows; other languages require API calls
  • Hobby free tier severely limited for production use
  • Team plan billing per user scales quickly with team size
  • Less visual workflow builder compared to some competitors
  • Smaller ecosystem of pre-built connectors than alternatives

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Prefect

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 2 users and 5 deployments
    • 500 minutes serverless monthly
    • 7-day run retention
  • Starter$100/month
    • 3 users and 20 deployments
    • 75 hours serverless compute
    • Bring-your-own infrastructure
  • Team$100/user/month
    • 4-8 users per plan tier
    • 100 deployments
    • 225 hours serverless monthly
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • SSO and SAML authentication
    • Role-based access control
    • Multiple workspaces

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 Prefect if

  • You need python function decorators.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Self-hosted, VPC.
  • You also want automatic resilience.
Prefect review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Prefect better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Prefect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Prefect?
Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Prefect at Free.
Does Cockroach Labs or Prefect run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Prefect runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, VPC.
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 Prefect is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Prefect cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Prefect covers Python function decorators, Automatic resilience, Flexible deployment, Observable execution.

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
Prefect: What is included in the Hobby free plan?

Hobby includes 2 users, 5 deployments, 500 minutes of serverless compute monthly, and 7-day run retention.

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
Prefect: What is the difference between Starter and Team plans?

Starter is $100/month for 3 users and 20 deployments. Team is $100 per user per month for 4-8 users and 100 deployments.

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
Prefect: Can I deploy Prefect in my own infrastructure?

Yes, Starter and higher plans support bring-your-own-compute infrastructure and VPC deployments.

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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