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Databases · head to head

CosmosDB vs Koyeb

CosmosDB logo

CosmosDB

Databases

Globally distributed, multi-model database service from Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Koyeb logo

Koyeb

Cloud

High-performance serverless infrastructure for APIs, inference, and databases

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CosmosDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CosmosDB autoscale provisioned throughput enforces a minimum of 1,000 RU/s, billed hourly whether or not the database is used; Koyeb pricing starts at $29/month with additional compute costs
  • They diverge on capability: CosmosDB covers Global Distribution, Koyeb covers Serverless containers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CosmosDB and Koyeb actually diverge.

Attributes where CosmosDB and Koyeb differ
AttributeCosmosDBKoyeb
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, AzureWeb, CLI, API
CategoryDatabasesCloud
Founded1975Unknown

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 CosmosDB

  • Global Distribution
  • Multi-model APIs
  • Elastic Scaling
  • Five Consistency Levels
  • SLA-backed Latency
  • Automatic Indexing
  • Serverless
  • Azure Functions

Only in Koyeb

  • Serverless containers
  • GPU support
  • Global distribution
  • Multi-protocol support
  • Serverless Postgres
  • Zero-downtime deployments

What people use each for

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

CosmosDB

  • Running a globally distributed multi model database on Azurenot Koyeb
  • Serving low latency reads and writes from multiple Azure regionsnot Koyeb
  • Storing document, key value and graph data behind a managed servicenot Koyeb

Koyeb

  • Deploying AI inference models globally with GPU accelerationnot CosmosDB
  • Building SaaS platforms with automatic scalingnot CosmosDB
  • Running distributed AI agents and background workersnot CosmosDB

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CosmosDB

  • Autoscale provisioned throughput enforces a minimum of 1,000 RU/s, billed hourly whether or not the database is used
  • Provisioned throughput is charged in every region the account is replicated to, so multi region accounts multiply the RU bill
  • Storage charges cover data, indexes and backups in each replicated region
  • Egress out of Azure and between regions is charged, though ingress is free
  • The free allowance is one account per Azure subscription, limited to 1,000 RU/s and 25 GB
  • RU/s rates vary by region and are only shown through the pricing calculator rather than a flat published rate

Koyeb

  • Pricing starts at $29/month with additional compute costs
  • GPU compute is expensive at $0.75-$2.50 per hour
  • Limited customization for infrastructure configuration

Pricing, plan by plan

CosmosDB

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1000 RU/s
    • 25GB storage
    • First 12 months
  • ServerlessFree
    • Pay per request
    • Auto-scaling
    • Event-driven workloads

Koyeb

$29/month
  • Pro$29/month
    • $10 included compute
    • 10 users
    • 100 services
  • Scale$299/month
    • $100 included compute
    • 50 users
    • 1,000 services
  • Enterprise$1000/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Custom resources
    • SSO/RBAC

Which should you pick?

Choose CosmosDB if

  • You need global distribution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Azure.
  • You also want multi-model apis.
CosmosDB review

Choose Koyeb if

  • You need serverless containers.
  • You work on Web, CLI, API.
  • You also want gpu support.
Koyeb review

Questions people ask

Is CosmosDB or Koyeb better?
Neither clearly leads. CosmosDB starts at Free and Koyeb at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CosmosDB or Koyeb?
CosmosDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CosmosDB and $29/month for Koyeb.
Does CosmosDB or Koyeb run on more platforms?
CosmosDB runs on Web, Azure. Koyeb runs on Web, CLI, API.
Can I use CosmosDB for free?
Yes. CosmosDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Koyeb starts at $29/month.
What is CosmosDB best used for?
CosmosDB is most often used for running a globally distributed multi model database on azure, serving low latency reads and writes from multiple azure regions, storing document, key value and graph data behind a managed service. Of those, running a globally distributed multi model database on azure and serving low latency reads and writes from multiple azure regions are not what Koyeb is typically brought in for.
What can CosmosDB do that Koyeb cannot?
CosmosDB covers Global Distribution, Multi-model APIs, Elastic Scaling, Five Consistency Levels. Koyeb covers Serverless containers, GPU support, Global distribution, Multi-protocol support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CosmosDB: Is there a free tier for Azure Cosmos DB?

Yes, Cosmos DB offers a free tier with 1,000 RU/s of throughput and 25 GB of storage per month for the lifetime of the account, available to new accounts.

Source
Koyeb: What are Koyeb's subscription plans?

Pro plan is $29/month with $10 included compute, Scale plan is $299/month with $100 included compute and 99.9% SLA, and Enterprise starts at $1,000/month with unlimited users and 99.99% SLA.

Source
CosmosDB: How is Cosmos DB priced after the free tier?

Cosmos DB uses three billing models: provisioned throughput billed per request unit per second, vCore pricing for certain APIs, or serverless consumption pricing where you pay only for requests processed. Reserved capacity offers 20% discount for one year or 30% for three years.

Source
Koyeb: How much does GPU compute cost?

GPU pricing is per-second: RTX-A6000 costs $0.75/hour, A100 costs $1.60/hour, H100 costs $2.50/hour, and 8x H100 costs $20.00/hour.

Source
CosmosDB: Can I change my pricing model after choosing one?

No. Once you select a compute pricing model and API, they cannot be changed. This choice is permanent for that database.

Source
Koyeb: What database options are available?

Koyeb offers serverless Postgres starting at free (0.25 vCPU, 1GB RAM) up to 3XL at $1.28/hour with 8 vCPU and 32GB RAM. Storage costs $0.50/month per GB.

Source
CosmosDB: Is there a trial period for Cosmos DB beyond the free tier?

Azure offers a 30-day free trial account for all Azure services. Additionally, Azure AI customers may be eligible for a 90-day free Cosmos DB subscription through the Azure AI Advantage program.

Source
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