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CockroachDB vs SQL Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

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
12
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SQL Server
Ranking in Relational Databases Tools
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
269
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 SQL Server is 17.6%, down from 23.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Relational Databases Tools
 

Featured Reviews

Dang Quy Tai - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
Kapil Dev Khatri - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases
SQL Server is very simple due to its GUI, which is available for users. It allows for modifications and has execution plans available, along with options such as activity monitoring. This helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases, tables, or columns to improve performance.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"CockroachDB is highly reliable."
"What I like best is its ability to solve data residency issues. The main advantage is auto geo partitioning, built into the product. This means we don't have to spin up separate servers in each region, which would be much more costly."
"The tool's most valuable feature is node syncing, which takes only 0.54 milliseconds."
"I use CockroachDB to test big data samples and to create the best structure for databases. We have four users and required 10 people for deployment and maintenance."
"The subset of SQL that my client is using is completely supported."
"The best feature of CockroachDB is the ability to keep the nodes in different locations."
"The initial setup and deployment are simple."
"The most valuable features of the solution are its resiliency features and the geo-partitioning capabilities."
"Its availability for a secured server is one of its most valuable features. Also its replications - we can manage eight replicas. Their clustering and availability groups are also valuable."
"I have found that SQL Server works very well in the Microsoft Dynamics environment."
"The interface for building the queries or writing the store procedures is good."
"I think just having everything in one centralized set of databases where there is easily managed manageable."
"The setup process is straightforward."
"Very good security features."
"The solution's most valuable feature is that we can set up redundant databases and replication in the databases."
"The most valuable feature is easy installation. It was very easy to install."
 

Cons

"The initial setup and pricing could be improved."
"Cockroach does not support all types of protocols. I need to improve it myself to support a CouchDB on my network."
"CockroachDB needs to improve store processes."
"We are looking for more features to support distributed high availability and geo-partitioning."
"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."
"The platform could be more extensible."
"I think the engine itself could be improved. If you miss a partition key, it should be able to be modeled. This is where AI could be really helpful. For example, if a user is from Australia, the system should know to look for their data there first instead of searching in the US or another continent."
"The product must improve its disaster recovery features."
"The pricing could be more affordable."
"The solution is expensive. The licensing costs are high."
"SQL Server could integrate better with other platforms."
"SQL Server could be improved with cheaper licensing because it's very expensive."
"The scalability and the high availability feature can be expanded or improved. Currently, there is a limitation on scalability. A feature similar to the Oracle Diagnostic feature can be included to provide a better user experience."
"I would like to see native plugins built for other platforms versus having to buy third-party plugins to tap into S3 buckets and AWS Cloud. Right now, it does not have those built-in plugins."
"I would like to see better integration between their link server and other platforms, such as IBM."
"SQL Server is an expensive solution"
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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 pricing is good but can be made cheaper. I would rate the pricing a five out of ten."
"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."
"The solution's pricing is not cheap. However, the good thing is that customers are willing to pay for it if they want it."
"It requires the purchase of a license."
"The solution is on a pay-per-use pricing model."
"SQL Server is expensive if you use the advanced SQL version, but if you use the standard version, it's not expensive."
"The price could be cheaper."
"There is a license required to use the solution and I am satisfied."
"Synapse is a bit costly. If I compare it with different databases, I think it's a reasonable price"
"My advice is quite straightforward. If you know the number of users who really and truly need access to the Server then it is a no-brainer. If you do not know, then get the basic package and minimum licenses and start from there. Needless to say, users can develop/use data structures outside and then deploy onto the Server."
"The price of the solution could be cheaper."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
38%
Computer Software Company
13%
Educational Organization
6%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Educational Organization
40%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

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.
What needs improvement with CockroachDB?
I would like CockroachDB to have more compatibility with PostgreSQL, especially with the connection string and technical integrations.
What is your primary use case for CockroachDB?
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...
Would you say the price of SQL Server is high compared to that of similar products?
SQL Server is fairly priced because it has various editions, depending on the number of users, servers, or core packs you are using. If you compare the product to others in this category, the price...
Has using SQL Server helped your organization in any way?
SQL Server has helped my organization through partitioning to distribute the workload, as it splits them up into smaller pieces so the machines can easily deal with it. However, this comes with a h...
Which authentication mode is best for SQL Server?
My company connects through SQL Server authentication. We have company Windows accounts, but we do not want to connect the two, out of security concerns and to keep things separated for our own pur...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Microsoft SQL Server, MSSQL, MS SQL
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Baidu, Kindred, Tierion, Heroic Labs, Gorgias
Microsoft SQL Server is used by businesses in every industry, including Great Western Bank, Aviva, the Volvo Car Corporation, BMW, Samsung, Principality Building Society, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.
Find out what your peers are saying about CockroachDB vs. SQL Server and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.