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Database & Data Management · head to head

Cockroach Labs vs Sisense

Cockroach Labs logo

Cockroach Labs

Database & Data Management

The cloud-native distributed SQL database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sisense logo

Sisense

Database & Data Management

Infuse analytics everywhere

From
$10000/year
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); Sisense pricing lacks transparency with opaque scaling costs and hidden fees for onboarding and training
  • They diverge on capability: Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Sisense covers Embedded Analytics.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cockroach Labs and Sisense differ
AttributeCockroach LabsSisense
Starting priceFree$10000/year
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAWS, GCP, AzureWeb, Cloud, On-premises
CategoryDatabase & Data ManagementUnknown
Founded20152004

Identical on both: 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 Sisense

  • Embedded Analytics
  • AI/ML Integration
  • In-chip Technology
  • White-labeling
  • REST API
  • Snowflake
  • AWS
  • Azure

What people use each for

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

Cockroach Labs

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

Sisense

  • Self-service analyticsnot Cockroach Labs
  • Data explorationnot Cockroach Labs
  • Ad-hoc reportingnot Cockroach Labs
  • Collaborative analysisnot Cockroach Labs
  • Embedded analyticsnot 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

Sisense

  • Pricing lacks transparency with opaque scaling costs and hidden fees for onboarding and training
  • Limited connector ecosystem compared to competitors; missing native connectors to many data sources
  • Dashboard customization options are limited; widgets cannot span multiple rows, restricting layout possibilities
  • Performance issues reported with large datasets and stability problems with data cubes

Pricing, plan by plan

Cockroach Labs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cockroach Labs review.

Sisense

$10000/year
  • Small Team$10000/year minimum
    • Basic analytics dashboards
    • Limited data sources
  • Mid-Market$null/custom
    • Advanced analytics
    • Multiple data sources
    • Custom integrations
  • Enterprise$60000/year+
    • Advanced AI analytics
    • Premium support
    • Custom development

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 Sisense if

  • You need embedded analytics.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, On-premises.
  • You also want ai/ml integration.
Sisense review

Questions people ask

Is Cockroach Labs or Sisense better?
Neither clearly leads. Cockroach Labs starts at Free and Sisense at $10000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cockroach Labs or Sisense?
Cockroach Labs has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cockroach Labs and $10000/year for Sisense.
Does Cockroach Labs or Sisense run on more platforms?
Cockroach Labs runs on AWS, GCP, Azure. Sisense runs on Web, Cloud, On-premises.
Can I use Cockroach Labs for free?
Yes. Cockroach Labs has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sisense starts at $10000/year.
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 Sisense is typically brought in for.
What can Cockroach Labs do that Sisense cannot?
Cockroach Labs covers Distributed SQL, Automatic Sharding, Multi-region Replication, Geo-partitioning. Sisense covers Embedded Analytics, AI/ML Integration, In-chip Technology, White-labeling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Sisense: What is Sisense primarily used for?

Sisense is an embedded analytics platform that combines data ingestion, modeling, and dashboarding, allowing organizations to embed analytics and insights directly into their applications and workflows.

Source
Sisense: Does Sisense have a transparent pricing model?

Sisense pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales. Typical costs start at $10,000 per year for small teams but can scale to $60,000+ annually depending on users, data volume, number of data sources, and complexity. AI capabilities typically add 20-30% to base costs.

Source
Sisense: What data sources can Sisense connect to?

Sisense provides pre-built connectors for popular applications including Salesforce, Google Analytics, Zendesk, and others. It also supports custom connections through APIs and SDKs for specialized data sources.

Source
Sisense: Is Sisense easy to use for non-technical users?

Sisense requires significant technical expertise to set up, particularly for creating Elasticubes (database caches) which often need SQL code. While it promotes codeless reporting, typical implementations require a technical resource.

Source
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