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It's a split decision.
Choose Apache CouchDB for JSON applications that need offline-first replication and free self-hosting; its hosting costs are not published. Choose CockroachDB for PostgreSQL-compatible distributed SQL, automatic rebalancing, and applications serving users across regions. Its pricing lists a $203/month Standard example, plus a 30-day trial with $400 credit. That makes CouchDB the clearer fit for low-cost self-managed sync, while CockroachDB suits teams that need its distributed SQL features and can budget for metered usage.
01Side by side
| Apache CouchDB | CockroachDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free software to self-host; hosting costs are not published | $203/month Standard example; usage billed by the minute |
| Free plan | Free to download and self-host | No free plan; 30-day trial with $400 credit |
| Best for | JSON applications needing offline-first replication | Regional applications needing distributed SQL resilience |
| Core strength | Replication across servers, mobile devices, and browsers | Horizontal scaling and automatic data rebalancing |
| Learning curve | Ease-of-use review score: 6.5 | Ease-of-use review score: 5 |
| Integrations/data | HTTP/JSON API; Couch replication protocol | PostgreSQL wire protocol and broad driver/ORM compatibility |
| Team/seat costs | Monthly and annual billing options are not published | No per-seat rate listed; storage and transfer billed separately |
| Support | Support review score: 5 | Support score: 7; Mission Critical lists 30-minute P1 response |
Apache CouchDB Choose Apache CouchDB if
- Choose Apache CouchDB if you need JSON with offline-first replication.
- Choose Apache CouchDB if free self-hosting matters most.
- Choose Apache CouchDB if HTTP and JSON suit your application.
CockroachDB Choose CockroachDB if
- Choose CockroachDB if you need PostgreSQL-compatible distributed SQL.
- Choose CockroachDB if automatic rebalancing matters across nodes.
- Choose CockroachDB if you can budget for metered usage.
02Pricing compared
CouchDB is free to download and self-host, but the published pricing information publishes no hosted monthly or annual rates. We can’t compare total operating costs from list prices; your infrastructure and maintenance costs depend on your deployment and are not published here.
CockroachDB’s pricing page lists Standard at $203/month for an example configuration of 2 vCPU and 100 GB, not as a flat entry price. The page also lists $0.092 per vCPU-hour on its pricing card, while its feature table says pricing starts at $0.057 per vCPU-hour. Mission Critical shows $1,528/month for 12 vCPU and 100 GB. Usage is metered by the minute, with storage, backups and data transfer billed separately. A 30-day trial includes $400 credit. Model your workload before comparing costs.
03Features and depth
CouchDB centers on JSON documents and HTTP access. Its replication protocol synchronizes data across servers, mobile devices and browsers, making it a fit for applications that need to keep working across unreliable connections or sync later. You can start with one node or run a logical database across multiple servers. Nodes use append-only storage; MapReduce is an optional query method.
CockroachDB takes a different route: it is distributed SQL, supports the PostgreSQL wire protocol and most PostgreSQL syntax, data types, drivers and ORMs. It adds horizontal scaling without manual sharding, automatic rebalancing, Raft-based replication and hotspot detection. Teams can run it managed, in their cloud account or self-hosted, including on Kubernetes, on-premises or in a hybrid setup.
These are different data models and priorities. Choose CouchDB for JSON and replicated offline-first workflows; choose CockroachDB when PostgreSQL-compatible SQL and resilience across nodes or regions are the requirements.
04Ease of use and learning curve
CouchDB offers a straightforward starting shape: use its HTTP/JSON API, begin with one node, and add clustering if the application needs it. The replication model fits offline-first applications, but teams still need to decide how and where to run the database; hosted pricing is not published on the vendor's site.
CockroachDB may be easier to adopt for an existing PostgreSQL application because the product says those applications can connect with little or no code change. Its automatic rebalancing removes manual sharding, but operating a distributed SQL system still means choosing a deployment model and accounting for metered usage. The simpler option depends on your team: CouchDB for JSON replication, CockroachDB for PostgreSQL compatibility and distributed SQL.
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between CouchDB and CockroachDB?
CouchDB is an open-source JSON database with HTTP access and replication designed to sync across servers, devices and browsers. CockroachDB is distributed SQL with PostgreSQL compatibility, automatic rebalancing and scaling across nodes. The choice is mainly between replicated JSON workflows and distributed SQL.
Can CouchDB support offline-first applications?
Yes. CouchDB’s replication protocol syncs data across servers, mobile devices and web browsers, and the product describes this as supporting applications across challenging network conditions. That makes it a fit for offline-first sync; it is not the same feature set as CockroachDB’s distributed SQL.
Does CockroachDB work with PostgreSQL applications?
CockroachDB supports the PostgreSQL wire protocol and most PostgreSQL syntax, data types, drivers and ORMs. Its homepage says PostgreSQL-compatible applications can connect with little or no code change. That compatibility is a migration aid, not a guarantee that every PostgreSQL application will work unchanged.
Is CockroachDB free, and does it offer a trial?
The published pricing information lists no free plan. It does list a 30-day trial with $400 in credit. Paid usage is billed monthly and metered by the minute; storage, backups and data transfer are billed separately based on usage.