Manage databases and AI agents from the command line with branching and MCP support.
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free plan available, paid tiers above
Biggest pro
Free tier with generous development branch hours
Biggest con
Postgres does not support Data Branching
TL;DR - PlanetScale MCP
- CLI for managing PlanetScale databases with branching, deploy requests, and SQL execution.
- Integrates with AI agents via MCP (Model Context Protocol) for automated database operations.
- Free tier includes development branch hours; paid plans for production clusters and advanced features.
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
What is PlanetScale MCP?
PlanetScale MCP is a command-line tool that provides full control over PlanetScale databases, including Vitess (MySQL-compatible) and Postgres engines. It allows developers to create, manage, and branch databases, run SQL queries for automation, and deploy schema changes via deploy requests. The MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration enables AI agents to interact with the database environment, making it ideal for agentic workflows and scripted automation.
Designed for teams and individual developers, PlanetScale MCP offers a self-serve Base plan with network-attached or Metal storage, horizontal and vertical sharding, and development branches with free monthly hours. The CLI supports authentication, backup, webhook management, and traffic control, with a JSON output format for seamless scripting. It works across macOS, Linux, and Windows, requiring pscale 0.292.0 or later for agent automation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free tier with generous development branch hours
- Supports both Vitess (MySQL-compatible) and Postgres
- Rich CLI commands for full database lifecycle management
Cons
- Postgres does not support Data Branching
- Development branch overage charges apply after free hours
Key Features
Database branching and deploy request managementSecure SQL shell and interactive connectionsMCP server and agent-guide for AI agent bootstrappingAutomated backups, webhooks, and traffic controlJSON output for scripting and automation
Pricing
Freemium
PlanetScale MCP offers a generous free tier with optional paid upgrades for advanced features.
Reviews
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PlanetScale MCP FAQ
How does the MCP integration work with AI agents?
PlanetScale MCP uses the Model Context Protocol to allow AI agents to interact with databases. The
pscale mcp install command sets up the hosted MCP configuration, and pscale mcp server runs the server. Agents can then use the agent-guide command with --format json to get a bootstrap JSON that embeds CLI conventions, skills, and MCP hints.Can I use the CLI to manage both Vitess and Postgres databases?
Yes, the CLI supports both Vitess (MySQL-compatible) and Postgres databases. Many commands work with both engines, but some features like Data Branching are only available for Vitess, and Database Traffic Control is only available for Postgres.
What is the minimum CLI version required for agent automation?
Agent automation commands require pscale version 0.292.0 or later. If you encounter an error like 'agent-guide is unknown', run
brew upgrade pscale to update to the latest version.How do I run non-interactive SQL queries for scripts?
Use the
pscale sql <database> <branch> command with the --query flag to execute a SQL query without an interactive shell. Add --format json to output results in a structured format suitable for automation and agents.Is there a way to connect to a database branch from a remote server?
Yes, the
pscale connect command supports a --remote-addr flag to specify the address of the remote machine. Combined with --execute and --execute-env-url, you can set up secure connections for CI/CD or remote agents.What are the storage options for the Base plan?
The Base plan offers two storage types: network-attached storage (Amazon EBS or Google Persistent Disk) which autoscales, and Metal storage with locally-attached NVMe drives for high performance. Network-attached storage includes 10 GB free per instance, with additional storage billed per GB.
How are development branches billed for Vitess?
Vitess development branches (PS-DEV) are billed per millisecond while running, but the plan includes a free allocation of 2× the current month's hours (e.g., ~1,440 hours for a 30-day month). Any usage beyond that is billed at the standard rate.
Can I use the CLI to manage database traffic control for Postgres?
Yes, the
pscale traffic-control command lets you manage budgets and rules for Postgres database branches. This feature is available on the Base plan for Postgres databases and helps control query costs.Source: planetscale.com