Databases (Core)

PlanetScale

MySQL-compatible serverless database that scales without limits

Status
Generally available
Last checked
Checked · Oct 17, 2026
License
Open source
Pricing
Paid · from $5/mo
Visit PlanetScale Compare with alternatives

What it is

PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible serverless database platform built on Vitess, the technology powering YouTubes database. It offers schema migrations without locking, database branching, and horizontal sharding at scale. Trusted by high-growth startups and enterprises handling billions of rows.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

A good fit for

  • Growth-stage startups and scale-ups who need MySQL compatibility with horizontal scaling and zero-downtime schema changes

  • Enterprise teams running high-traffic applications that have outgrown single-node MySQL

  • Agency and consultant teams managing multiple production databases who need reliable branching workflows

Look elsewhere if

  • Hobby developers or solo developers on a tight budget since the free tier was removed

  • Teams requiring Postgres instead of MySQL

Known weaknesses

Each one links to the public issue, changelog or docs page it came from, where we have one.

No verified weaknesses on file yet. That’s a gap in our data, not a clean bill of health.

What it does well

  • MySQL-compatible

  • Vitess-powered sharding

  • Non-blocking schema migrations

  • Database branching

  • Horizontal scaling

  • Query analytics

  • Connection pooling

  • Multi-region replication

Pricing

Free tier
No
Paid from
$5/mo
Model
Usage-based
Enterprise plan
No

Pricing not independently confirmed — check the vendor’s page. Vendor pricing ↗

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Set up PlanetScale

Setup steps, common gotchas and what to check after 30 days.

Open the setup guide →
Get the badge

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PlanetScale — tracked on AI Navigator

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