CockroachDB vs Convex Pricing (2026)

Which one is cheaper?

One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.

Can I use either one for free?

Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.

How do they charge?

Different approach here. CockroachDB uses usage-based pricing, while Convex goes with hybrid. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.

Which one is a better deal?

Depends on what you need. CockroachDB: At $0.18/hr for 2 vCPUs, they're positioning competitively against managed Postgres alternatives like AlloyDB or Aurora, but the distributed SQL angle means they're really gunning for teams that have outgrown single-region databases — not the cheapest option, but cheaper than building multi-region resilience yourself. Convex: At $25/dev/month, Convex is priced aggressively against backend-as-a-service competitors like Firebase or Supabase, positioning itself as the developer-friendly, affordable alternative to rolling your own infra. The $2,500 enterprise floor signals they're not chasing SMBs at scale — they want serious engineering teams willing to pay for reliability.

Still deciding? See the best CockroachDB alternatives or the best Convex alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.