CockroachDB vs PostgreSQL: Key Differences & When to Use Each

Comprehensive side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and metrics

Key Differences

Compare CockroachDB and PostgreSQL across features, pricing, integrations, and community metrics. CockroachDB / PostgreSQL.

Feature

CockroachDB

Database

PostgreSQL

Database

Side-by-side comparison of developer tools
Distributed SQL database
Advanced open source relational database
GitHub Stars
⭐ 32,120
⭐ 20,800
Contributors
👥 1,107
👥 58
Pricing
✓ Free
Enterprise: Contact sales
✓ Free
Enterprise: Contact sales
Languages
Go
C
Features
  • • Cockroachdb
  • • Database
  • • Distributed Database
  • • Go
  • • Hacktoberfest
  • • Open Source
  • • database
Integrations
No integrations listed
  • • postgresql
Momentum Score
51/100 (stable)
28/100 (stable)
Community Health
50/100 (developing)
19/100 (needs-attention)
Maturity Index
63/100 (growing)
23/100 (experimental)
Innovation Score
65/100 (progressive)
18/100 (traditional)
Risk Score (higher is safer)
68/100 (low)
14/100 (high)
Developer Experience
68/100 (fair)
13/100 (poor)
Links
🌐 Visit Website View on GitHub
🌐 Visit Website View on GitHub

CockroachDB Strengths

  • ✓ More popular (32,120 stars)
  • ✓ Larger community (1,107 contributors)
  • ✓ More features (5 listed)

PostgreSQL Strengths

When to Use CockroachDB vs PostgreSQL

Use CockroachDB when its strengths align better with your stack and team needs, and choose PostgreSQL when its ecosystem, integrations, or cost profile is a better fit.

Related comparisons

CockroachDB vs Elasticsearch → PostgreSQL vs Elasticsearch → CockroachDB vs Redis → PostgreSQL vs Redis → CockroachDB vs ClickHouse → PostgreSQL vs ClickHouse → CockroachDB vs TiDB → PostgreSQL vs TiDB → CockroachDB vs InfluxDB → PostgreSQL vs InfluxDB → CockroachDB vs MongoDB → PostgreSQL vs MongoDB →

More Comparisons

View CockroachDB → View PostgreSQL → Search More Tools →

Data source: GitHub API

Last updated: 5/4/2026