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Best CockroachDB Alternatives(2026)

We compared 3 alternatives to CockroachDB — so you can find the best option for your needs and budget.

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You're replacing

CockroachDB

freemium

The most resilient distributed SQL database

Starts at $0 (free tier 5GB)

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Common reasons to switch

Complex operationsMore expensive than single-node PostgresSome Postgres features not supported
Neon logo1

Neon

freemium

From $19/month

Neon is a serverless PostgreSQL database with branching, autoscaling, and a generous free tier.

Pros

+Scale-to-zero (no idle cost)
+Database branching for dev/test
+Fast cold starts

Cons

No non-Postgres support
Relatively new
Connection limits on free tier
Serverless PostgreSQLDatabase branchingAutoscalingConnection poolingPoint-in-time restore
PlanetScale logo2

PlanetScale

paid

From $39/month

PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible serverless database with branching workflows for schema changes.

Pros

+Non-blocking schema changes
+MySQL compatibility
+Excellent performance

Cons

Removed free tier in 2024
No foreign key constraints
MySQL only
MySQL-compatibleDatabase branchingNon-blocking schema changesQuery insightsReplication
Supabase logo3

Supabase

freemium

From $25/month

Supabase is an open source Firebase alternative providing a Postgres database, Auth, realtime, storage, and edge functions.

Pros

+Full Postgres with SQL
+Built-in auth and storage
+Open source

Cons

Free tier pauses after 1 week inactive
Self-hosting is complex
Edge functions limited
PostgreSQLAuthenticationRealtimeStorageEdge Functions

Compare CockroachDB Head to Head