Auth0 vs PlanetScale: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Auth0 positions itself as "enterprise authentication and identity platform" while PlanetScale goes after "serverless mysql platform with branching" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Auth0 uses a freemium approach and PlanetScale a subscription-based model, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Auth0 lets you start for free, which means you can validate the fit before committing budget. PlanetScale requires a paid commitment upfront, so make sure it matches your workflow before signing. Auth0 (founded 2013) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while PlanetScale (2018) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| Auth0 | PlanetScale | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 79/100 | 73/100 |
| Starting price | Free | $39/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Enterprise authentication and identity platform | Serverless MySQL platform with branching |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Auth0 | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| OAuth 2.0 / OIDC | Yes | No |
| Social login | Yes | No |
| MFA | Yes | No |
| Custom domains | Essentials+ | No |
| Passwordless | Yes | No |
| MySQL compatible | No | Yes |
| Database branching | No | Yes |
| Non-blocking schema changes | No | Yes |
| Connection pooling | No | Yes |
| Auto-scaling | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Auth0 | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| SAML 2.0 | Professional+ | No |
| LDAP/AD | Professional+ | No |
| SCIM provisioning | Enterprise | No |
| Fine-grained auth | Enterprise | No |
| HIPAA BAA | Enterprise | No |
| Vitess-powered sharding | No | Yes |
| Rewind (time travel) | No | Yes |
| Query analytics | No | Yes |
| Read replicas | No | Enterprise |
| Private networking | No | Enterprise |
integrations
| Feature | Auth0 | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Next.js | Yes | No |
| React | Yes | No |
| Salesforce | Yes | No |
| Okta Workflows | Yes | No |
| Zapier | Yes | No |
| Prisma | No | Yes |
| Drizzle | No | Yes |
| Laravel | No | Yes |
| Rails | No | Yes |
| Vercel | No | Yes |
| Railway | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Auth0 means going without MySQL compatible, Database branching, Non-blocking schema changes (which PlanetScale offers). Choosing PlanetScale means losing OAuth 2.0 / OIDC, Social login, MFA. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
PlanetScale (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Auth0 (1,000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Auth0 if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose PlanetScale if...
- You're ready to invest from $39/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Auth0 or PlanetScale better?
Auth0 scores 79/100 compared to PlanetScale's 73/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Auth0 excels at ease of use (7/10) while PlanetScale scores 7/10.
How much does Auth0 cost compared to PlanetScale?
Auth0 starts at free (free tier available). PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Auth0 is the more affordable option.
Does Auth0 or PlanetScale have a free plan?
Auth0 offers a free tier. PlanetScale does not — its cheapest plan starts at $39/mo.
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