PlanetScale

Serverless MySQL with git-like branching for safe schema changes

Visit Website From $39/mo (free tier discontinued)

PlanetScale brings git workflows to your database. Create a branch, change your schema, test it, then merge it into production with zero downtime. No more scary migration scripts run against your live database at 2 AM.

The big hit was losing the free tier in 2024 — it pushed many indie developers to alternatives like Neon and Supabase. At $39/month, PlanetScale is now aimed at production apps that need reliable MySQL with safe migrations. If you are still picking a database for a new project, Neon (Postgres, free tier) or Supabase (Postgres + extras, free tier) are more practical starting points.

What's good

  • Database branching lets you test schema changes without touching production
  • Non-blocking schema migrations — no downtime during changes
  • Built on Vitess (the same technology that powers YouTube)

Watch out for

  • Free tier was killed — $39/month minimum is steep for side projects
  • MySQL only — if you prefer Postgres, look at Neon or Supabase
  • No foreign key support in the default configuration (Vitess limitation)

Alternatives

Supabase

Postgres database with built-in auth, storage, and real-time — the open-source Firebase alternative

Neon

Serverless Postgres that scales to zero — you only pay when your database is actually being used

More in Databases

CockroachDB

Distributed SQL database that survives outages — Postgres-compatible with a generous free tier

MongoDB Atlas

Managed MongoDB in the cloud — document database with flexible schemas and a massive ecosystem

Neon

Serverless Postgres that scales to zero — you only pay when your database is actually being used