Is MySQL better than CockroachDB in 2026?

It depends on your needs. Both rated 4.4/5 by users. MySQL excels at the most widely deployed open-source relational database, powering wordpress, drupal, and most php apps., while CockroachDB focuses on distributed sql with postgresql compatibility, horizontal scaling, and strong consistency.. MySQL starts at $2000/mo; CockroachDB starts at free tier.

Which is cheaper, MySQL or CockroachDB?

MySQL starts at $2000/mo; CockroachDB starts at free tier. MySQL has a free plan, and CockroachDB also offers a free tier.

Can I migrate from MySQL to CockroachDB?

Most users can switch between these tools. CockroachDB supports data import from MySQL. Plan 1-3 days for migration depending on data volume and team size.

What are the key differences between MySQL and CockroachDB?

MySQL uniquely offers ACID Transactions (InnoDB), Replication, Full-Text Search. CockroachDB uniquely offers Distributed SQL, PostgreSQL Wire Protocol, Multi-Region Replication. Both share 0 features. MySQL starts at $2000/mo; CockroachDB starts at free tier. Founded in 1995 and 2015 respectively.

When was this MySQL vs CockroachDB comparison last updated?

This comparison was last updated on May 13, 2026. We review and refresh our comparisons regularly to reflect the latest pricing, features, and ratings from MySQL and CockroachDB.

Home›Databases›Compare›MySQL vs CockroachDB

Updated May 13, 2026 · Independent Analysis

MySQLvsCockroachDB

Capability Overview

MySQLvs CockroachDB

★ 4.4/5

Only in MySQL

✦ ACID Transactions (InnoDB)
✦ Replication
✦ Full-Text Search

✓ Free planFrom $2000/mo1B+ users · est. 1995

View Full Review Try MySQL Free

CockroachDBvs MySQL

★ 4.4/5

Only in CockroachDB

✦ Distributed SQL
✦ PostgreSQL Wire Protocol
✦ Multi-Region Replication

✓ Free plan1k+ users · est. 2015

View Full Review Try CockroachDB Free

Pricing Features Pros & Cons At a Glance FAQ Related

Pricing Intelligence

MySQL Plans

Free tier available

Community0

Free

• GPL license
• Full SQL
• Community support

EnterpriseBest Value

$2000/yr

• Commercial license
• Oracle support
• Advanced security

Full MySQL Pricing Breakdown →

CockroachDB Plans

Free tier available

Free0

Free

• 10 GiB storage
• Shared cluster
• PostgreSQL compatible

Standard

Custom

• $0.20/hr
• Dedicated cluster
• Multi-region support

Enterprise

Custom

• Custom deployment
• SLA
• HIPAA/FedRAMP

Full CockroachDB Pricing Breakdown →

Feature Matrix

2 differences found across 10 standardized features

Feature

MySQL

CockroachDB

Horizontal Scaling

✗

✓

Full-Text Search

✓

✗

Total (raw)

Pros & Cons Face-Off

Evaluative strengths and weaknesses — not feature lists

MySQL

Pros

+Most widely deployed database — abundant expertise and tooling
+Battle-tested for 30 years on the web
+HeatWave adds analytics and ML without ETL
+Available managed on AWS RDS, Azure, GCP

Cons

−PostgreSQL has surpassed it in features for new projects
−Oracle ownership creates open-source licensing concerns

CockroachDB

Pros

+PostgreSQL compatibility minimizes migration effort
+Survives node and zone failures automatically
+Global multi-region with low-latency reads via follower reads
+Free tier for development and small workloads

Cons

−More expensive than single-node PostgreSQL for simple use cases
−Distributed transaction overhead vs single-node performance

At a Glance

User Rating

4.4/5vs4.4/5

MySQL

CockroachDB

Starting Price

$2000/movsFree tier

MySQL

▲

CockroachDB

Feature Count

16 featuresvs16 features

MySQL

CockroachDB

User Base

1vs1

MySQL

CockroachDB

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

MySQL vs PostgreSQL →MySQL vs Redis →MySQL vs Snowflake →CockroachDB vs TiDB →CockroachDB vs SurrealDB →CockroachDB vs Oracle Database 23ai →MySQL Alternatives →CockroachDB Alternatives →

Authored by Oleh KemExpert verified·Updated May 13, 2026·Our methodology