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CockroachDB alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave CockroachDB: not every Postgres feature or extension is supported, and higher write latency than single-node databases. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces CockroachDB, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. PlanetScale currently ranks first.

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Show all 5 alternatives

The best CockroachDB alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

PlanetScale logo

Best CockroachDB alternative for most people

PlanetScale

Horizontally sharded MySQL or Postgres with a focus on raw performance.

Neon logo

Best CockroachDB alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Neon

Much cheaper serverless Postgres when multi-region resilience is not required.

Amazon RDS logo

Best CockroachDB alternative for working in the browser

Amazon RDS

Conventional managed Postgres on AWS with Multi-AZ failover.

CockroachDB alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to CockroachDB?

PlanetScale ranks first right now. Horizontally sharded MySQL or Postgres with a focus on raw performance. Neon and Amazon RDS follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to CockroachDB?

Yes. Neon (free plan + paid) and Aiven (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to CockroachDB?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from CockroachDB?

The complaints we hear most: not every Postgres feature or extension is supported; higher write latency than single-node databases; costly compared with simple managed Postgres for small apps.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces CockroachDB, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.