CockroachDB vs FoundationDB
CockroachDB: Postgres-wire distributed SQL built to survive node, zone and region failures with serializable transactions. FoundationDB: Apple's ordered, strictly serializable distributed key-value store, built to have layers on top.
key differences
- CockroachDB is primarily a relational database; FoundationDB is key-value.
- Licensing: CockroachDB is source-available (CockroachDB Software License); FoundationDB is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0).
- Only CockroachDB has joins, secondary indexes, full-text search, vector search, geospatial.
- Only FoundationDB has pub/sub.
- CockroachDB has a serverless option; FoundationDB does not.
choose cockroachdb for
- +Global payments and ledger systems of record
- +Identity, account and session metadata across regions
- +Inventory and order management with strict consistency
- +Data-residency workloads that must pin rows to a country
best at · OLTP, Geo, Metadata
choose foundationdb for
- +Metadata stores for larger systems (catalogs, object stores)
- +Foundation for custom databases and layers
- +Multi-tenant app backends via the Record Layer
- +Transactional queues and job systems
best at · OLTP, Metadata, Queue
CockroachDB vs FoundationDB: FAQ
What is the difference between CockroachDB and FoundationDB?
CockroachDB: Postgres-wire distributed SQL built to survive node, zone and region failures with serializable transactions. FoundationDB: Apple's ordered, strictly serializable distributed key-value store, built to have layers on top. CockroachDB is primarily a relational database; FoundationDB is key-value. Licensing: CockroachDB is source-available (CockroachDB Software License); FoundationDB is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0). Only CockroachDB has joins, secondary indexes, full-text search, vector search, geospatial.
When should I choose CockroachDB over FoundationDB?
Choose CockroachDB for global payments and ledger systems of record; identity, account and session metadata across regions; and inventory and order management with strict consistency. Choose FoundationDB for metadata stores for larger systems (catalogs, object stores); foundation for custom databases and layers; and multi-tenant app backends via the Record Layer.
Is CockroachDB or FoundationDB more popular?
CockroachDB ranks #33 on the WhichDB Score (47.1/100) and FoundationDB ranks #54 (36.8/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are CockroachDB and FoundationDB open source?
Not in the OSI sense. CockroachDB is source-available: you can read the code, but the license restricts some uses, typically offering it as a competing managed service. License: CockroachDB Software License. Yes. FoundationDB is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.