What is the difference between CockroachDB and Hasura?

CockroachDB is best for Teams wanting distributed SQL that survives anything, while Hasura is best for Developers wanting instant GraphQL APIs on their database. CockroachDB starts at Free and Hasura starts at Free.

Is CockroachDB or Hasura cheaper?

CockroachDB starts at Free with a free tier. Hasura starts at Free with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Hasura?

Both CockroachDB and Hasura offer free tiers.

CockroachDB vs Hasura

CockroachDB is Distributed SQL database designed for global scale, resilience, and strong consistency, while Hasura is Instant GraphQL and REST APIs on Postgres, SQL Server, and other data sources. CockroachDB is built for teams wanting distributed sql that survives anything, whereas Hasura targets developers wanting instant graphql apis on their database.

At a glance

	CockroachDB	Hasura
Best for	Teams wanting distributed SQL that survives anything	Developers wanting instant GraphQL APIs on their database
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	✓	✓
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	✓	✓
Auth	—	✓
Distributed SQL	✓	—
GraphQL	—	✓
Multi-Region	✓	—
PostgreSQL Compatible	✓	—
Real-Time	—	✓
Remote Schemas	—	✓
Serverless	✓	—

CockroachDB

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Includes Distributed SQL as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
Free 10 GiB — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Enterprise-focused design means the interface can feel heavy for smaller teams
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in database
Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives

Try CockroachDB → Full review

Hasura

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Includes GraphQL as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
Free for 1 project — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in database
Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives

Try Hasura → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. CockroachDB's free plan: Free 10 GiB. Hasura's free plan: Free for 1 project.

Feature gaps: CockroachDB offers Distributed SQL, Multi-Region and PostgreSQL Compatible that Hasura lacks. Hasura brings Auth, GraphQL and Real-Time that CockroachDB does not have.

Team fit: CockroachDB is geared toward enterprise teams, while Hasura is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Open source: Both CockroachDB and Hasura are open source, so self-hosting and code audits are on the table with either choice.

Where each tool shines: CockroachDB's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes distributed sql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows. Hasura's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes graphql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows.

Watch out for: With CockroachDB, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Hasura, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose CockroachDB if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting distributed sql that survives anything
You specifically need Distributed SQL and Multi-Region
You care about includes distributed sql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
Your team size fits the enterprise profile CockroachDB is designed for
The free tier works for you: free 10 gib

Choose Hasura if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting instant graphql apis on their database
You specifically need Auth and GraphQL
You care about includes graphql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
Your team size fits the small teams profile Hasura is designed for
The free tier works for you: free for 1 project