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CockroachDB vs Nhost
Side-by-side comparison of CockroachDB and Nhost.
Quick summary
CockroachDB — Distributed SQL built for scale. CockroachDB Cloud is a distributed SQL database with Postgres wire compatibility and global horizontal scale.
Nhost — Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL. Nhost is an open-source backend platform combining PostgreSQL, Hasura GraphQL, authentication, and storage.
Feature comparison
| Feature | CockroachDB | Nhost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $0.50/hour | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Engine | Distributed SQL (Postgres-compatible) | — |
| Branching | No | — |
| Free Tier | 5GB + 50M RUs | Yes |
| Serverless | Yes | — |
| Scale-to-zero | Yes | — |
| Point-in-time Recovery | Yes | — |
| Auth | — | Yes |
| Storage | — | Yes |
| Database | — | PostgreSQL |
| Realtime | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Edge Functions | — | Yes |
| Row Level Security | — | Yes |
CockroachDB
Distributed SQL built for scale
Pros
- Horizontal SQL scaling
- Strong consistency
- Postgres wire-compatible
Cons
- Higher latency vs single-region Postgres
- Complex pricing
Nhost
Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL
Pros
- GraphQL-first via Hasura
- Postgres + open source
- Good developer experience
Cons
- Smaller community
- GraphQL learning curve
Which should you choose?
Choose CockroachDB if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Nhost if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, CockroachDB or Nhost?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, CockroachDB is the safer default because CockroachDB has a larger community and more third-party integrations, which often translates to better long-term support. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is CockroachDB cheaper than Nhost?
CockroachDB starts at $0.50/hour, while Nhost starts at $25/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from CockroachDB to Nhost?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply CockroachDB-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most database migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is CockroachDB or Nhost open source?
Yes, both CockroachDB and Nhost are open source and can be self-hosted.
Does CockroachDB or Nhost have a free tier?
Both CockroachDB and Nhost offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is CockroachDB. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.