CockroachDB vs IBM Db2 Database comparison

Cockroach and IBM are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. Cockroach is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.4, while IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3. Cockroach holds a 3.9% mindshare in SQL, compared to IBM’s 7.4% mindshare. Additionally, 83% of Cockroach users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of IBM users who would recommend it.

CockroachDB

Read 12 CockroachDB reviews

2,337 Views
1,166 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

Read 74 IBM Db2 Database reviews

5,504 Views
2,309 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

CockroachDB

IBM Db2 Database

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 Database and CockroachDB compete in the database industry, serving enterprise-level customers. While both have their strengths, CockroachDB's cloud capabilities and user-friendly deployment give it an edge in cloud environments.

Features: IBM Db2 Database offers robust SQL dialect capabilities, platform versatility, and self-tuning memory management that optimize performance. It ensures reliability and integration with other IBM products. Db2 is known for its stability, scalability, and security, appealing to industries like banking. CockroachDB is recognized for its distributed nature, geo-replication, and fault tolerance, making it suitable for global applications. It supports SQL and is compatible with PostgreSQL, enabling scalability and availability in cloud deployments.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 faces challenges with a steep learning curve, complex licensing, and limited training and support resources. Cloud integration and administration complexity can be improved. CockroachDB could enhance PostgreSQL compatibility, disaster recovery features, and serverless pricing models. Better documentation and language support are needed to cater to a broader audience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 is mainly deployed on-premises, with hybrid and private cloud options less advanced than CockroachDB's cloud capabilities. IBM's technical support is generally helpful but can be delayed or complex. CockroachDB benefits from simpler architecture and flexible deployment options. IBM’s customer service is robust but can be complex, while CockroachDB offers straightforward engagement.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2's pricing is often viewed as high due to complex licensing and mainframe costs, yet it provides significant ROI through performance. CockroachDB offers flexible pricing suitable for small to large enterprise solutions, with transparent and flexible pricing leading to positive ROI for performance.

To learn more, read our detailed CockroachDB vs. IBM Db2 Database Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CockroachDB vs. IBM Db2 Database

June 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 856,873 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

CockroachDB

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

11th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Db2 Database

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of CockroachDB is 3.9%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.4%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

Dang Quy Tai

Student at Univerzita obrany

Geo-replication benefits with distributed setup and a helpful AI support chatbot

I am studying how to deploy CockroachDB and YugaByteDB, and learning some basic information about them. I am testing these databases as part of my school application to find a suitable database for our applications. Currently, I am using PostgreSQL, however, I want to try some distributed databases…

Read full review

ArpitKhare

Database Admin Senior Consultant at Capgemini

Offers optimizer plan and ALSM features along with exceptional stability

The TSA version of IBM Db2 Database doesn't meet my stability expectations. Every time when a switch over occurs, some stability issues can be noticed. The vendor should offer a free version of IBM Db2 Database. For instance, if our company wants to train new individuals on all the features of IBM Db2 Database, they can only be trained after purchasing the paid version of the solution. About ten years ago, a trial version was available for the solution that was highly beneficial for companies. The vendor can add AI or ML features in the future version of IBM Db2 Database.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The subset of SQL that my client is using is completely supported."

"The most valuable feature is that CockroachDB is a distributed database, which can deploy nodes running in different regions."

"The tool's most valuable feature is node syncing, which takes only 0.54 milliseconds."

"CockroachDB is highly reliable."

"The availability and the easy to use feature is the most valuable. The documentation is also good."

"The product has valuable security features."

"The best feature of CockroachDB is the ability to keep the nodes in different locations."

"The initial setup and deployment are simple."

More CockroachDB pros

"The performance of the solution is valuable."

"Its robustness, scalability, availability, and performance are valuable. All these are the major attributes of a relational database for supporting a very high-volume business, and Db2 is very good in all those areas and in all those attributes."

"The most valuable features of this solution are security and stability."

"The most valuable features are with the industrial side."

"The solution is very stable, in both hardware and database."

"The initial setup was easy."

"The most valuable feature of the IBM Db2 Database is security."

"The most valuable feature of IBM Db2 Database is its ability to perform automatic self-management, reducing the need for manual tasks such as managing logs and folders."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

Cons

"CockroachDB needs to improve store processes."

"The platform could be more extensible."

"We are looking for more features to support distributed high availability and geo-partitioning."

"The initial setup and pricing could be improved."

"The product must improve its disaster recovery features."

"The closer they can make CockroachDB to being completely compatible with Postgres, the better. It's almost compatible, but not completely. If it was, it would be nice to just be able to use Postgres libraries without any fiddling."

"I find the serverless offer a bit confusing."

"I would like CockroachDB to have more compatibility with PostgreSQL, especially with the connection string and technical integrations."

More CockroachDB cons

"The initial setup could be improved."

"IBM Db2 Database could improve with better security."

"IBM's support isn't as strong as it used to be, especially when it comes to providing fixes."

"It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology."

"The queries can be difficult for beginners because there are so many. I would like to see more use cases for flow analysis that enable us to correlate the flow with events. Adding this feature in a QI format would be good for beginners."

"Microsoft SQL Server is comparatively very simple to use. I wish IBM would move towards making Db2 easy to use for both basic and advanced users. This is where I see room for advancement. Db2 is also more expensive than Microsoft SQL Server, and its price can be reduced. The replication feature needs to be there in Db2. Microsoft provides similar functionality in SQL Server. IBM also has similar functionality, but it exists in a different product. So, to have the replication ability, you have to buy a different product. It makes sense to have this functionality within Db2 instead of a different product. It will also be helpful in terms of competition. In Africa, the problem for Db2 is competition. Oracle Database and Microsoft SQL Server have been in this market for a very long time. These companies have built the ecosystem and the brand within this market for a very long time. So, they are very popular with users. Db2 or IBM came a little later in the game, and that's where the problem lies. They also don't do a lot of marketing for it, which is also a problem."

"IBM's products tend to be quite costly, especially given the availability of free, open-source alternatives."

"The product needs to improve its configuration and storage."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is good but can be made cheaper. I would rate the pricing a five out of ten."

"The solution's pricing is not cheap. However, the good thing is that customers are willing to pay for it if they want it."

"I've used CockroachDB at a small scale on the free accounts because we are only testing."

"The platform is affordable even for the enterprise version. It provides value for investment in terms of performance."

"The product's price depends on the user's company and the contract model they enter into with CockroachDB. Depending on the contract model one enters into with CockroachDB, the product may or may not be expensive."

"I rate the price of the IBM Db2 Database an eight out of ten."

"It is expensive when compared to other products."

"The total cost of the solution depends upon the PVU licensing"

"It is expensive."

"The solution costs less than other products."

"It is expensive. The price depends on the size of the machine on which you are installing the Db2 and the features you are using. It also depends on the country. IBM has different policies and different options for payment for this product."

"We normally handle large size businesses and as far as I am aware, the license is negotiable based on the number of users and the quantitative data."

"Db2 is less expensive than Oracle."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Relational Databases Tools solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

38%

Computer Software Company

13%

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

45%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about CockroachDB?

The subset of SQL that my client is using is completely supported.

See all answers

What needs improvement with CockroachDB?

I would like CockroachDB to have more compatibility with PostgreSQL, especially with the connection string and technical integrations.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for CockroachDB?

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Db2 Database?

Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Db2 Database?

IBM Db2 is an expensive solution. While I am not heavily involved with pricing, additional companies provide capabilities or products like those from BMC, which many installations might also purchase.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?

IBM is implementing some release improvements. It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.

See all answers

Comparisons

Neon vs CockroachDB

Compared 24% of the time

Citus Data vs CockroachDB

Compared 14% of the time

Oracle Database vs CockroachDB

Compared 10% of the time

YugabyteDB vs CockroachDB

Compared 10% of the time

SurrealDB vs CockroachDB

Compared 3% of the time

More CockroachDB Competitors

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 33% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 18% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 15% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

Amazon Aurora vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 2% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CockroachDB

June 2025

Download CockroachDB product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

June 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Also Known As

No data available

DB2

Overview

CockroachDB is a distributed SQL database built on a transactional and strongly-consistent key-value store. It scales horizontally; survives disk, machine, rack, and even datacenter failures with minimal latency disruption and no manual intervention; supports strongly-consistent ACID transactions; and provides a familiar SQL API for structuring, manipulating, and querying data.

CockroachDB is inspired by Google’s Spanner and F1 technologies, and it’s completely open source.

Cockroach

DB2 Enterprise for Linux, UNIX, and Windows is the ideal data server for the most demanding workloads. New XML support is designed to help firms minimize the time and effort it takes to persist and use their XML data reducing development costs and improving business agility.

IBM

Sample Customers

Baidu, Kindred, Tierion, Heroic Labs, Gorgias

Knorr-Bremse, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Australian Government Department of Defence, SCHWENK Zement, Friedhelm Loh Group, YAZAKI Europe Limited, Ekornes ASA, Baldor Electric, VSN Systemen BV, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, PLANSEE Group, TE Connectivity, Hansgrohe SE, Openmatics, University of Toronto

Buyer's Guide

CockroachDB vs. IBM Db2 Database

June 2025

Free Report: CockroachDB vs. IBM Db2 Database

Find out what your peers are saying about CockroachDB vs. IBM Db2 Database and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our CockroachDB vs. IBM Db2 Database report.

See our list of best Relational Databases Tools vendors.

We monitor all Relational Databases Tools reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.