PlanetScale vs Stytch: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
PlanetScale positions itself as "serverless mysql platform with branching" while Stytch goes after "authentication infrastructure for modern apps" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — PlanetScale uses a subscription-based model and Stytch a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Stytch 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
| PlanetScale | Stytch | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 73/100 | 82/100 |
| Starting price | $39/mo | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Serverless MySQL platform with branching | Authentication infrastructure for modern apps |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | PlanetScale | Stytch |
|---|---|---|
| MySQL compatible | Yes | No |
| Database branching | Yes | No |
| Non-blocking schema changes | Yes | No |
| Connection pooling | Yes | No |
| Auto-scaling | Yes | No |
| Magic links | No | Yes |
| Passkeys | No | Yes |
| OAuth | No | Yes |
| SMS/TOTP MFA | No | Yes |
| Session management | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | PlanetScale | Stytch |
|---|---|---|
| Vitess-powered sharding | Yes | No |
| Rewind (time travel) | Yes | No |
| Query analytics | Yes | No |
| Read replicas | Enterprise | No |
| Private networking | Enterprise | No |
| B2B SSO | No | Yes |
| Organizations | No | Yes |
| RBAC | No | Yes |
| Device fingerprinting | No | Yes |
| Connected Apps | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | PlanetScale | Stytch |
|---|---|---|
| Prisma | Yes | No |
| Drizzle | Yes | No |
| Laravel | Yes | No |
| Rails | Yes | No |
| Vercel | Yes | No |
| Railway | Yes | No |
| Next.js | No | Yes |
| React | No | Yes |
| Node.js | No | Yes |
| Python | No | Yes |
| Ruby | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing PlanetScale means going without Magic links, Passkeys, OAuth (which Stytch offers). Choosing Stytch means losing MySQL compatible, Database branching, Non-blocking schema changes. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
Choose PlanetScale if...
- You're ready to invest from $39/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Stytch 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
Frequently asked questions
Is PlanetScale or Stytch better?
Stytch scores 82/100 compared to PlanetScale's 73/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — PlanetScale excels at ease of use (7/10) while Stytch scores 9/10.
How much does PlanetScale cost compared to Stytch?
PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Stytch starts at free (free tier available). Stytch is the more affordable option.
Does PlanetScale or Stytch have a free plan?
Stytch offers a free tier. PlanetScale does not — its cheapest plan starts at $39/mo.
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