Neon vs PlanetScale: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Neon positions itself as "serverless postgres with scale-to-zero and branching" 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 — Neon uses a freemium approach and PlanetScale a subscription-based model, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Neon 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.
At a glance
| Neon | PlanetScale | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 82/100 | 73/100 |
| Starting price | Free | $39/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Serverless Postgres with scale-to-zero and branching | Serverless MySQL platform with branching |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| PostgreSQL compatible | Yes | No |
| Scale to zero | Yes | No |
| Database branching | Yes | Yes |
| Autoscaling | Yes | No |
| Point-in-time restore | Yes | No |
| MySQL compatible | No | Yes |
| Non-blocking schema changes | No | Yes |
| Connection pooling | No | Yes |
| Auto-scaling | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Read replicas | Yes | Enterprise |
| IP allowlisting | Launch+ | No |
| VPC peering | Scale+ | No |
| Logical replication | Yes | No |
| pgvector | Yes | No |
| Vitess-powered sharding | No | Yes |
| Rewind (time travel) | No | Yes |
| Query analytics | No | Yes |
| Private networking | No | Enterprise |
integrations
| Feature | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Vercel | Yes | Yes |
| Railway | Yes | Yes |
| Prisma | Yes | Yes |
| Drizzle | Yes | Yes |
| Next.js | Yes | No |
| Supabase | No | No |
| Laravel | No | Yes |
| Rails | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Neon means going without MySQL compatible, Non-blocking schema changes, Connection pooling (which PlanetScale offers). Choosing PlanetScale means losing PostgreSQL compatible, Scale to zero, Autoscaling. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
Choose Neon 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 Neon or PlanetScale better?
Neon scores 82/100 compared to PlanetScale's 73/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Neon excels at ease of use (9/10) while PlanetScale scores 7/10.
How much does Neon cost compared to PlanetScale?
Neon starts at free (free tier available). PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Neon is the more affordable option.
Does Neon or PlanetScale have a free plan?
Neon offers a free tier. PlanetScale does not — its cheapest plan starts at $39/mo.
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