CockroachDB
Hasura
| Feature | CockroachDB | Hasura |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free / from $99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | distributed-applications, fintech, global-companies, high-availability-apps | backend-developers, startups, api-developers, full-stack-teams |
| Founded | 2015 | 2017 |
| Distributed Sql | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Region | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Scaling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Postgresql Compatible | ✓ | ✗ |
| Backup Recovery | ✓ | ✗ |
| Change Data Capture | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Tenancy | ✓ | ✗ |
| Graphql Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rest Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Real Time | ✗ | ✓ |
| Authorization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Event Triggers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Remote Schemas | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ CockroachDB Pros
- Survives infrastructure failures automatically
- PostgreSQL-compatible wire protocol
- Horizontal scaling without application changes
- Multi-region deployment with low-latency reads
- Generous free tier (10 GiB storage)
✗ CockroachDB Cons
- Higher latency than single-node databases for simple queries
- Complex pricing model for serverless tier
- Some PostgreSQL features not fully supported
✓ Hasura Pros
- Instant APIs
- Real-time subscriptions
- Great developer experience
- Performance
✗ Hasura Cons
- PostgreSQL-focused
- Complex authorization
- Pricing changes
The Verdict
CockroachDB is built for distributed applications and fintech, with a focus on distributed-sql and multi-region. Hasura targets backend developers and startups and leads with graphql-api and rest-api.
On pricing, CockroachDB is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $99/mo for Hasura. That $99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, CockroachDB offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Hasura takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.