PlanetScale vs Turso: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for PlanetScale and Turso side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Turso leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
PlanetScale
Serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching
Best for you if:
- • You want database branching
Turso
Edge-hosted SQLite with global distribution for low-latency apps
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | PlanetScale | Turso |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $5/mo, billed monthly Postgres (Single Node) plan | Free plan, paid from $4.99/mo, billed monthly Developer plan |
Category | Data & Databases Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure Serverless |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.0 6 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | No free tier, even development databases cost $5/mo minimum | Row reads billed per billion ($0.75-1/B), high-traffic apps can spike costs |
Choose PlanetScale or Turso?
Choose PlanetScale if
- You want database branching
- You want non-blocking migrations
- You work in data & databases, not cloud & infrastructure
Choose Turso if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want edge-hosted
- You want SQLite compatible
- Budget matters ($4.99/mo, billed monthly vs $5/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not data & databases
In-Depth Analysis
PlanetScale
Serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching
PlanetScale removed its free tier in 2024, making it a harder sell for hobbyists.
Watch out
No free tier, even development databases cost $5/mo minimum
Strengths
- Pro: Database branching
- Pro: Non-blocking migrations
- Pro: Excellent DX
Weaknesses
- Con: MySQL only
- Con: No free tier anymore
Key features
Turso
Edge-hosted SQLite with global distribution for low-latency apps
Turso offers a generous free tier for edge SQLite databases.
Watch out
Row reads billed per billion ($0.75-1/B), high-traffic apps can spike costs
Strengths
- Pro: Edge-hosted
- Pro: SQLite compatible
- Pro: Generous free tier
Weaknesses
- Con: Newer platform
- Con: Limited ecosystem
Key features
Plans and prices: PlanetScale vs Turso
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PlanetScale |
| planetscale.com/pricing read Oct 25, 2026 |
| Turso |
| turso.tech/pricing read Oct 28, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on PlanetScale pricing and Turso pricing.
Key Takeaways
PlanetScale
- Choose if you want serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching
Turso
- Lower entry price: $4.99/mo, billed monthly vs $5/mo, billed monthly
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Turso leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only PlanetScale has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 6 reviews); Turso has none we can show.
- Turso has the lower entry price: $4.99/mo, billed monthly (Developer) against $5/mo, billed monthly (Postgres (Single Node)) for PlanetScale.
- Only Turso has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do PlanetScale and Turso compare in 2026?
On the data below, Turso leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only PlanetScale has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 6 reviews); Turso has none we can show. Turso has the lower entry price: $4.99/mo, billed monthly (Developer) against $5/mo, billed monthly (Postgres (Single Node)) for PlanetScale. Only Turso has a free plan.
What are PlanetScale and Turso used for?
PlanetScale: Serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching. Turso: Edge-hosted SQLite with global distribution for low-latency apps.
What does PlanetScale cost vs Turso?
PlanetScale's cheapest paid plan is Postgres (Single Node) at $5/mo, billed monthly. Turso's cheapest paid plan is Developer at $4.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 28, 2026.
What's the main difference between PlanetScale and Turso?
PlanetScale's main strength: database branching. Turso's main strength: edge-hosted.