PlanetScale Review 2026
by PlanetScale Inc.
Serverless MySQL with branch-based schema changes and infinite scale.
Starting Price
$39/mo
Pricing Model
subscription
Free Tier
No
Category
Databases
Overview
PlanetScale brings Git-style branching to database schemas, eliminating risky migrations. The underlying Vitess engine (built at YouTube) handles billions of rows and connections without downtime.
Pros
- ✓Branch-based schema migrations
- ✓Powered by Vitess (battle-tested)
- ✓Horizontal sharding built in
Cons
- ✗No free tier anymore
- ✗MySQL only — no Postgres
- ✗Can be pricey for small teams
Key Features
- Database branching
- Vitess engine
- Non-blocking schema changes
- Insights
- Global replicas
Pricing
Hobby free tier discontinued; Scaler from $39/mo. Scaler Pro from $99/mo.
Check current pricing on PlanetScale →Who is PlanetScale for?
Teams running MySQL at scale who need safe schema migrations
Ready to try PlanetScale?
Check the latest pricing and plans on the official site.
Visit PlanetScale →Frequently Asked Questions
Is PlanetScale free?
No, PlanetScale does not offer a free tier. Plans start at $39/mo.
How much does PlanetScale cost?
PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Hobby free tier discontinued; Scaler from $39/mo. Scaler Pro from $99/mo.
What is PlanetScale used for?
Serverless MySQL with branch-based schema changes and infinite scale. Teams running MySQL at scale who need safe schema migrations
Is PlanetScale worth it?
PlanetScale's main strengths are branch-based schema migrations and powered by vitess (battle-tested). The main drawback is no free tier anymore.
What are the best alternatives to PlanetScale?
There are several strong alternatives to PlanetScale in the Developer Tools category. See our full comparison on the PlanetScale alternatives page for a ranked list.