Developer Tools

Best Apps Like PlanetScale in 2026

Deploy a MySQL-compatible database with branching workflows, zero-downtime migrations, and horizontal scaling.

Why People Look for PlanetScale Alternatives

PlanetScale eliminated its free tier in 2024, which drove away a large portion of its developer user base.
PlanetScale does not support foreign key constraints, which is a significant limitation for some data models.
Pricing became significantly more expensive after the free tier removal, making it less competitive.
The MySQL-only focus limits developers who prefer PostgreSQL or other databases.

6 Best Alternatives to PlanetScale

Each app below addresses a specific gap in PlanetScale's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.

Neon

Serverless PostgreSQL with branching for developers.

Neon is a serverless PostgreSQL database with a branching feature similar to PlanetScale, enabling safe schema changes across development and production. It has a generous free tier.

Developers who want PlanetScale's branching workflow on PostgreSQL with a free tier. Free tier; Launch plan at $19/month
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Supabase

Open-source backend with PostgreSQL, auth, and storage.

Supabase provides a managed PostgreSQL database with a full backend stack including authentication, file storage, and auto-generated APIs. It is open source and has a free tier.

Developers who want a full backend stack around PostgreSQL, not just a database. Free tier; Pro at $25/month
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Turso

Distributed SQLite database for edge and multi-tenant apps.

Turso provides distributed SQLite databases that can be replicated globally. It is particularly well-suited for multi-tenant SaaS apps and edge deployments.

Developers building multi-tenant apps or edge-deployed services who want SQLite's simplicity at scale. Free tier; Starter at $29/month
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Vitess

Open-source MySQL sharding system used by YouTube and Slack.

Vitess is the open-source MySQL-compatible database clustering system that PlanetScale is built on. You can self-host Vitess for complete control.

Engineering teams who want PlanetScale's underlying technology with full self-hosted control. Free (open source); infrastructure costs vary
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CockroachDB

Distributed SQL database with PostgreSQL compatibility.

CockroachDB is a distributed SQL database designed for global scale and high availability. It is PostgreSQL-compatible and supports multi-region deployments.

Teams who need a globally distributed, horizontally scalable SQL database with strong consistency. Free tier; Serverless plan with usage-based pricing
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Xata

Serverless database platform with search and analytics built in.

Xata is a serverless database platform built on PostgreSQL that includes full-text search, file attachments, and a spreadsheet-like UI. It features branch-based workflows.

Developers who want a PostgreSQL-based serverless database with search capabilities and a developer-friendly UI. Free tier; Pro plan available
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How we found these alternatives

PlanetScale is recognized for its innovative Git-inspired schema branching model, which makes database schema changes safer and less risky than traditional MySQL migration workflows.

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