PlanetScale

Name: PlanetScale
Brand: PlanetScale
Price: 5 USD
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)

Claim this tool Editor reviewed

Serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with branching

Data & Databases Cloud & Infrastructure Serverless Hosting & Deployment

Visit Website

4.2(5 across the web)

PaidVisit Website

Reviews onG2Capterra

5 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

From $5/mo

Biggest pro

Database branching

Biggest con

MySQL only

TL;DR - PlanetScale

Serverless MySQL platform
Branching for database like Git
Infinite scale without maintenance

Pricing: Paid only

Best for: Enterprises & pros

4.2/5 across review platforms

What is PlanetScale?

Editorial review

PlanetScale is a serverless database platform offering PostgreSQL and MySQL-compatible Vitess databases with branching, deploy requests, and query monitoring for modern development workflows.

Available on: Web

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated Jul 20, 2026 · how we evaluateSourceplanetscale.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Database branching
Non-blocking migrations
Excellent DX

Cons

MySQL only
No free tier anymore

Ratings Across the Web

4.2(5 reviews)

What people say

“That said, their database branching workflow is absolutely the best I've used as a dev. I can easily spin up a branch for working on a new feature and make a merge request with schema changes just like I would git.”via G2

“Ridiculous to charge close to 100 USD for my two clusters of 1.5 mb. The excessive pricing was not clear to me when I registered.”via Capterra

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

PostgreSQL databasesMySQL-compatible VitessDatabase branchingDeploy requestsQuery monitoring99.99% SLANVMe storage optionMulti-region support

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Aug 1, 2026

Postgres (Single Node)

$5/month

Development and low-traffic

PostgreSQL database
10 GB storage included
100 GB bandwidth included
Dev branches: $5/mo each
Autoscaling storage

Vitess PS-10 (Base)

$39/month

MySQL-compatible, smallest cluster

1/8 vCPU, 1 GB RAM
10 GB storage included
100 GB bandwidth included
Production + dev branches
Online schema migrations

Vitess HA (3-zone)

$39/month starting

Primary + 2 replicas across 3 AZs

99.99% SLA
Automatic failover
Zero-downtime migrations
Horizontal sharding available

Metal

$50/month starting

NVMe local storage

Unlimited IOPS
Ultra-low latency
High-performance workloads

Enterprise

Custom

Bring-your-own-cloud available

Single-tenant deployment
Technical account manager
PCI compliance (Managed)
Migration assistance
Custom SLA

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is PlanetScale worth the price?

60/100

PlanetScale removed its free tier in 2024, making it a harder sell for hobbyists.

But for production MySQL workloads, the managed Vitess offering with zero-downtime migrations is unmatched. Postgres support starting at $5/mo is competitive.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

No free tier, even development databases cost $5/mo minimum

HA storage costs 3x single-node ($1.50/GB vs $0.50/GB) because of replicas

Bandwidth overage at $0.06/GB can surprise high-traffic apps

New accounts are size-capped at PS-160 until you pay $100+

Read replicas and additional branches each incur cluster-equivalent costs

How PlanetScale Compares to Competitors

Neon offers a free tier with 0.5 GB storage and autoscaling Postgres, much better for development. Supabase includes 500 MB free Postgres plus auth and storage.

Turso (LibSQL) offers 9 GB free. PlanetScale justifies its premium with Vitess-powered horizontal sharding and non-blocking schema changes that no competitor matches.

How PlanetScale's pricing compares

At $5/mo, PlanetScale is mid-range of its 4 direct competitors ($0.1 to $25/mo across the set).

Mongodb Atlas

$0.1

CockroachDB

$0.18

Airtable

$1.67

PlanetScale

Supabase

$25

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Aug 1, 2026.

Reviews

Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT cover

$99Free with your review

Review PlanetScale, get a free AI guide

Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.

Write a review

4.2/5

Across 5 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra

Add your hands-on experience using the offer above to help the next buyer.

Best PlanetScale Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

View full list →

Mongodb AtlasPaid

Managed cloud document database, no ops required

4.6

FirebaseFreemium

App development platform by Google

4.6

AirtableFreemium

Build custom apps and automate workflows without code

3.6

SupabaseFreemium

Open source Firebase alternative

4.7

CockroachDBFreemium

Distributed SQL database built for cloud

4.3

NeonFreemium

Serverless PostgreSQL with auto-scaling and instant recovery

See all data & databases tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

All PlanetScale alternatives6+ tools ranked, pricing + verdict per pick PlanetScale vs Mongodb AtlasHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins PlanetScale vs FirebaseHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins PlanetScale vs AirtableHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

Explore More

Best Data & Databases Tools Best Cloud & Infrastructure Tools Best Serverless Tools Best Hosting & Deployment Tools

PlanetScale FAQ

How does PlanetScale support modern development workflows?

PlanetScale supports modern development workflows by offering serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL-compatible Vitess databases with features like branching, deploy requests, and query monitoring. These capabilities streamline database management and integration into continuous development pipelines.

Which teams would benefit most from using PlanetScale?

Teams that require flexible, scalable database solutions for serverless applications, particularly those using PostgreSQL or MySQL, would find PlanetScale beneficial. Its focus on database branching and non-blocking migrations is ideal for agile development teams.

How is PlanetScale priced?

PlanetScale is a paid product and does not include a permanently free tier for its services. Users can expect to pay for the database resources and features they utilize within the platform.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of when considering PlanetScale?

Users should be aware that PlanetScale primarily supports MySQL, which might be a limitation for projects requiring other database systems. Additionally, there is no longer a free tier available for new users.

Can PlanetScale handle non-blocking database migrations?

Yes, PlanetScale is designed to handle non-blocking database migrations, which allows for schema changes without downtime. This feature is a key strength for maintaining continuous application availability during development and deployment.

How does PlanetScale compare to Supabase for database management?

PlanetScale offers serverless PostgreSQL and MySQL databases with unique features like database branching and non-blocking migrations, focusing on database infrastructure. Supabase provides a broader suite of backend services, including PostgreSQL, authentication, and APIs, aiming to be an open-source Firebase alternative.

Does PlanetScale offer any tools for monitoring database performance?

Yes, PlanetScale includes query monitoring capabilities to help users track and optimize the performance of their databases. This feature provides insights into database operations and helps identify potential bottlenecks.

Source: planetscale.com

Guides & Articles

Best Database Software in 2026

Features PlanetScale

Best Synthetic Data Tools 2026

Expert guide