PlanetScale vs Supabase: 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 Supabase goes after "open-source firebase alternative with postgres" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — PlanetScale uses a subscription-based model and Supabase a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Supabase 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 | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 73/100 | 88/100 |
| Starting price | $39/mo | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Serverless MySQL platform with branching | Open-source Firebase alternative with Postgres |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | PlanetScale | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| MySQL compatible | Yes | No |
| Database branching | Yes | No |
| Non-blocking schema changes | Yes | No |
| Connection pooling | Yes | No |
| Auto-scaling | Yes | No |
| PostgreSQL database | No | Yes |
| Authentication | No | Yes |
| Storage | No | Yes |
| Edge Functions | No | Yes |
| Realtime subscriptions | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | PlanetScale | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Vitess-powered sharding | Yes | No |
| Rewind (time travel) | Yes | No |
| Query analytics | Yes | No |
| Read replicas | Enterprise | No |
| Private networking | Enterprise | No |
| Row-level security | No | Yes |
| Database webhooks | No | Yes |
| pgvector (AI embeddings) | No | Yes |
| Branching | No | Pro+ |
| Foreign data wrappers | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | PlanetScale | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Prisma | Yes | Yes |
| Drizzle | Yes | Yes |
| Laravel | Yes | No |
| Rails | Yes | No |
| Vercel | Yes | Yes |
| Railway | Yes | No |
| Next.js | No | Yes |
| React | No | Yes |
| Flutter | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing PlanetScale means going without PostgreSQL database, Authentication, Storage (which Supabase offers). Choosing Supabase 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.
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. Supabase (201-500 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose PlanetScale if...
- You're ready to invest from $39/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Supabase 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 Supabase better?
Supabase scores 88/100 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 Supabase scores 8/10.
How much does PlanetScale cost compared to Supabase?
PlanetScale starts at $39/mo. Supabase starts at free (free tier available). Supabase is the more affordable option.
Does PlanetScale or Supabase have a free plan?
Supabase offers a free tier. PlanetScale does not — its cheapest plan starts at $39/mo.
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