Head-to-Head Comparison
Neon vs PlanetScale: Serverless Postgres vs MySQL
Neon is serverless Postgres with branching and scale-to-zero. PlanetScale is serverless MySQL with similar branching features. Choice depends on your SQL dialect preference and existing stack.
Last updated: 2025-01
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Serverless Postgres | Serverless MySQL |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Medium |
| Pricing | Free tier + usage | Usage-based |
| Database Type | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
| Branching | Yes | Yes |
| Scale to Zero | Yes | Yes |
| Free Tier | Generous | Removed |
Neon
- Best For
- Serverless Postgres
- Learning Curve
- Medium
- Pricing
- Free tier + usage
- Database Type
- PostgreSQL
- Branching
- Yes
- Scale to Zero
- Yes
- Free Tier
- Generous
PlanetScale
- Best For
- Serverless MySQL
- Learning Curve
- Medium
- Pricing
- Usage-based
- Database Type
- MySQL
- Branching
- Yes
- Scale to Zero
- Yes
- Free Tier
- Removed
Winner by Category
Best for Beginners
NeonFree tier still available
Best for Customisation
NeonPostgres has more extensions
Best for Speed
TieBoth are highly optimised
Best for Learning
TieBoth teach good database practices
Best Value
NeonHas a free tier
Our Recommendation
Choose Neon for Postgres and a free tier. Pick PlanetScale if your team already knows MySQL and needs its specific features.
When to Choose Each Tool
1
Choose Neon
New projects or Postgres preference
2
Choose PlanetScale
Existing MySQL expertise or migration
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