PlanetScale vs Xata: 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 Xata side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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
Xata
Accelerate development and testing with instant, anonymized Postgres branches from production data.
Best for you if:
- • You want serverless database
| At a Glance | PlanetScale | Xata |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $5/mo, billed monthly Postgres (Single Node) plan | Not published |
Category | Data & Databases Cloud & Infrastructure | Data & Databases Serverless |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.0 6 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | No free tier, even development databases cost $5/mo minimum | Storage costs (Premium NVMe: $0.30/GB/month) |
Choose PlanetScale or Xata?
Choose PlanetScale if
- You want database branching
- You want non-blocking migrations
Choose Xata if
- You want serverless database
- You want built-in search
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
Xata
Accelerate development and testing with instant, anonymized Postgres branches from production data.
However, the Enterprise tier at $999 is a significant jump, likely targeting large organizations with specific deployment needs.
Watch out
Storage costs (Premium NVMe: $0.30/GB/month)
Strengths
- Pro: Serverless database
- Pro: Built-in search
- Pro: Good free tier
- Pro: Good DX
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Newer platform
- Con: Vendor lock-in
- Con: Limited regions
- Con: Feature limitations
- Con: PostgreSQL differences
Key features
Plans and prices: PlanetScale vs Xata
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PlanetScale |
| planetscale.com/pricing read Oct 13, 2026 |
| Xata |
| xata.io/pricing read Oct 14, 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 Xata pricing.
Key Takeaways
PlanetScale
- Choose if you want serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching
Xata
- Choose if you want accelerate development and testing with instant, anonymized Postgres branches from production data
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only PlanetScale has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 6 reviews); Xata has none we can show.
- PlanetScale starts at $5/mo, billed monthly; Xata has no public paid plan price on file.
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 Xata compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only PlanetScale has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 6 reviews); Xata has none we can show. PlanetScale starts at $5/mo, billed monthly; Xata has no public paid plan price on file.
What are PlanetScale and Xata used for?
PlanetScale: Serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching. Xata: Accelerate development and testing with instant, anonymized Postgres branches from production data.
What does PlanetScale cost vs Xata?
PlanetScale's cheapest paid plan is Postgres (Single Node) at $5/mo, billed monthly. Xata has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.
What's the main difference between PlanetScale and Xata?
PlanetScale's main strength: database branching. Xata's main strength: serverless database.