Neon
Serverless Postgres with branching (database fork per PR), scale-to-zero, autoscaling. The modern default for Next.js + serverless workloads.
PlanetScale
Serverless MySQL with branching, non-blocking schema changes (Vitess). Acquired by Vercel (rumored). Killed free tier in 2024 — entry plan now $39.
Neon vs PlanetScale
A side-by-side breakdown of Neon and PlanetScale — pricing in INR and USD, regional coverage, who each is best for, and the honest call on which to pick.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Category | database | database |
| Entry pricing (USD) | $19/mo | $39/mo |
| Entry pricing (INR) | — | — |
| Regions covered | IN · US · GLOBAL | IN · US · GLOBAL |
Which one should you pick?
Pick Neon if…
- Your customer base is concentrated in IN / US / GLOBAL.
- Serverless Postgres with branching (database fork per PR), scale-to-zero, autoscaling. The modern default for Next.js + serverless workloads.
- Entry pricing matters and you don't need a feature PlanetScale bundles at its tier.
Pick PlanetScale if…
- Your customer base is concentrated in IN / US / GLOBAL.
- Serverless MySQL with branching, non-blocking schema changes (Vitess). Acquired by Vercel (rumored). Killed free tier in 2024 — entry plan now $39.
FAQ
›Is Neon or PlanetScale cheaper?
Neon starts at $19/mo, PlanetScale starts at $39/mo — Neon wins on entry pricing. But entry pricing is rarely your real cost; check our pricing-curve modelling on each tool's review page for ARR projections.
›When should I pick Neon over PlanetScale?
Both compete in the same database space. Pick Neon if your stack is closer to its native integrations, your team already uses sister products from the same vendor, or its regional coverage matches your customer base. Pick PlanetScale for the inverse.
›Can I migrate from Neon to PlanetScale later?
Most modern SaaS supports CSV/JSON export for the core data model. The migration cost is integration work — every Zapier workflow, every webhook URL, every API token has to be re-wired. Budget 2-4 weeks of engineering time for a non-trivial production migration.
›Are there alternatives to both Neon and PlanetScale?
Yes — browse the full database category at /tools/category/database for every tool we cover.
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