# Serverless CouchDB

> Run CouchDB in the cloud in seconds. HTTPS endpoint, web document console, standard CouchDB and PouchDB clients work unchanged. Also on Desktop and CLI.

Canonical: https://layerbase.com/db/couchdb
Last updated: 2026-08-25

Document storage with the HTTP API you already know, multi-master replication, and the same client libraries you've always used. Cloud or self-host.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Engine | CouchDB |
| Category | Document |
| Upstream project | [Apache CouchDB](https://couchdb.apache.org/) |
| Layerbase Cloud | Yes |
| Free tier | No |
| Pricing | Pro plan, $15/mo flat, no meters |
| Default version | 3.5 |
| Versions for new databases | 3.5 |
| Layerbase Desktop | Yes |
| SpinDB (local CLI) | Yes |
| Best for | Offline-first apps that sync via PouchDB, multi-master document workloads, and apps that prefer HTTP-native storage. |

## Use cases

- Sync state between mobile and desktop apps via PouchDB to a hosted CouchDB
- HTTP-native document storage for serverless and edge runtimes
- Self-host with the Layerbase CLI when on-premise replication is required
- Local-first apps that bring their CouchDB to the cloud without code changes
- Long-running document workloads with periodic compaction

## Cloud features

| Feature | Available |
| --- | --- |
| Always-on option | Yes |
| TLS encryption | Yes |
| HTTP access | Yes |
| IP allowlisting | Yes |
| Web query console | Yes |
| Sleeps when idle, wakes on connect | Yes |
| Automatic backups | Yes |
| Pooled connections | No |
| Direct connections | Yes |
| Serverless HTTP driver | No |

## Common CouchDB questions

### What is CouchDB?

Apache CouchDB is a document database with an HTTP-native API and multi-master replication, best known as the sync target for offline-first apps built on PouchDB. Because every operation is an HTTP request, it fits serverless and edge runtimes that cannot hold a socket open. Layerbase runs it as a managed HTTPS endpoint with a web document console, so standard CouchDB and PouchDB clients connect by changing the URL alone.

### How much does managed CouchDB hosting cost?

CouchDB is a Pro engine on Layerbase Cloud, so the floor is the $15/mo Pro plan; it is not on the Free plan. Pricing is flat with no per-request meter, and the cost preview in the create flow shows the monthly cost before you provision anything. The Free plan covers PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Redis, and the other Standard engines for prototyping.

### Will PouchDB sync to hosted CouchDB?

Yes. The endpoint speaks the standard CouchDB HTTP API, so PouchDB syncs to it without configuration changes other than the URL.

### How do TLS and authentication work on hosted CouchDB?

HTTPS by default. The dashboard manages admin credentials and provides per-database keys for app-level auth.

### Can I use Fauxton with hosted CouchDB?

Yes for direct administration via the REST API. The Layerbase dashboard provides a console for everyday use; Fauxton-style operations work against the same endpoint.

### Does CouchDB replication work on Layerbase?

Yes. CouchDB replication targets the standard /_replicate API. Configure source and target URLs through the dashboard or your tooling.

### Can I run CouchDB locally?

Yes. The Layerbase CLI and Layerbase Desktop both manage local CouchDB versions with the same UI.

## Links

- [CouchDB on Layerbase](https://layerbase.com/db/couchdb)
- [Create a CouchDB database](https://layerbase.com/create/couchdb)
- [Connecting to CouchDB](https://layerbase.com/docs/cloud/connecting/couchdb)
- [Pricing](https://layerbase.com/pricing) (markdown: https://layerbase.com/pricing.md)