CockroachDB

Distributed SQL database with high availability, ACID consistency and Postgres compatibility.

postgresdistributedsql

Websitecockroachlabs.com

CategoryData & backend

PricingFreemium

Card requiredNo

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ABOUT

What is CockroachDB?

CockroachDB is a distributed SQL database designed to survive node and region failures without data loss. It implements the Postgres wire protocol, making migration from existing apps straightforward. Its active-active architecture allows writes to multiple nodes simultaneously.

BEFORE YOU SIGN UP

What you should know

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Automatic failover with no data lossIf a node or an entire region goes down, CockroachDB reroutes traffic automatically while maintaining ACID consistency.

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Compatible with the Postgres wire protocolMost drivers, ORMs and tools that work with Postgres work with CockroachDB without code changes.

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Higher cost and complexity than standard PostgresFor single-region or small projects, standard Postgres on Supabase or Neon is simpler and cheaper.

Some Postgres features are not supportedSpecific extensions like PostGIS or certain window functions may be unavailable or behave differently.

COMMUNITY

From the forums

Reddit opinion is very split. The most cited pros are durability, multi-region support and partial Postgres compatibility. The cons dominate the threads: excessive per-core licensing prices, latency in certain workloads and incomplete Postgres compatibility that breaks libraries. The community rules it out for small projects.

— Community sentiment · Reddit

💬Discuss on Reddit ↗

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ABOUT US

Honest, independent, no fluff.

No paid placements. Just a clear look at what this does, what it costs, and what to know before you commit.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Is CockroachDB compatible with the Postgres driver?＋

Largely yes. It accepts the Postgres wire protocol, so most drivers and ORMs work without changes, though some Postgres-specific features are not available.

When does it make sense to use CockroachDB instead of Postgres?＋

When you need multi-region replication, automatic failover or global consistency. For small or single-region projects, standard Postgres is usually enough.