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Neon vs PlanetScale
Comparing two database platforms on pricing, features, free tier, and trade-offs.
Quick summary
Neon — Serverless Postgres. Neon is a serverless Postgres platform with branching, autoscaling, and a generous free tier.
PlanetScale — The MySQL-compatible serverless database. PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible serverless database built on Vitess with branching and non-blocking schema changes.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $39/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Engine | PostgreSQL | MySQL (Vitess) |
| Branching | Yes | Yes |
| Free Tier | 0.5GB storage | Discontinued |
| Serverless | Yes | Yes |
| Scale-to-zero | Yes | No |
| Point-in-time Recovery | Yes | Yes |
Neon
Serverless Postgres
Pros
- Git-like branching for databases
- Scale-to-zero saves money
- Standard Postgres
Cons
- Cold starts after scale-to-zero
- Younger platform vs RDS
PlanetScale
The MySQL-compatible serverless database
Pros
- Horizontal scaling via Vitess
- Schema branching workflow
- Non-blocking migrations
Cons
- No free tier
- No foreign key constraints by default
- MySQL only
Which should you choose?
Choose Neon if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage. Choose PlanetScale if you need production-grade features and are ready to pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Neon or PlanetScale?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Neon is the safer default because Neon is open source, which means you can self-host and avoid vendor lock-in. PlanetScale is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Neon cheaper than PlanetScale?
Neon starts at $19/mo, while PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Neon to PlanetScale?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Neon-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most database migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Neon or PlanetScale open source?
Neon is open source; PlanetScale is a proprietary managed service.
Does Neon or PlanetScale have a free tier?
Neon has a free tier; PlanetScale does not.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Neon. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.