Firebase Authentication vs PlanetScale: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Firebase Authentication positions itself as "google-backed auth with generous free tier for mobile and web" 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 — Firebase Authentication uses a freemium approach and PlanetScale a subscription-based model, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Firebase Authentication 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. Firebase Authentication (founded 2011) 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
| Firebase Authentication | PlanetScale | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 76/100 | 73/100 |
| Starting price | Free | $39/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Google-backed auth with generous free tier for mobile and web | Serverless MySQL platform with branching |
Pricing comparison
Firebase Authentication
Pricing verified 2026-04-16
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Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Firebase Authentication | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Email/password | Yes | No |
| Google OAuth | Yes | No |
| Apple OAuth | Yes | No |
| Phone SMS | Yes | No |
| Anonymous auth | 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 | Firebase Authentication | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-tenancy | Blaze | No |
| SAML SSO | Blaze ($0.015/MAU) | No |
| Custom claims | Yes | No |
| App Check | Yes | No |
| Blocking functions | Yes | 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 | Firebase Authentication | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Firebase (all products) | Yes | No |
| Google Cloud | Yes | No |
| Flutter | Yes | No |
| Android/iOS SDKs | Yes | No |
| Web SDK | 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 Firebase Authentication means going without MySQL compatible, Database branching, Non-blocking schema changes (which PlanetScale offers). Choosing PlanetScale means losing Email/password, Google OAuth, Apple OAuth. 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. Firebase Authentication (100,000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Firebase Authentication if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
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 Firebase Authentication or PlanetScale better?
Firebase Authentication scores 76/100 compared to PlanetScale's 73/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Firebase Authentication excels at ease of use (8/10) while PlanetScale scores 7/10.
How much does Firebase Authentication cost compared to PlanetScale?
Firebase Authentication starts at free (free tier available). PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Firebase Authentication is the more affordable option.
Does Firebase Authentication or PlanetScale have a free plan?
Firebase Authentication offers a free tier. PlanetScale does not — its cheapest plan starts at $39/mo.
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