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Other options for your stack · 6 options

PlanetScale alternatives

Choose a database by workload, not just its starting price: these six options trade managed scaling for different levels of control and operational work.

Edited by Edward Teller· Updated

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PlanetScale is a managed database platform for MySQL and PostgreSQL workloads, with database branches for separate environments and plans starting at $5 per month. Developers looking to leave often want a free tier, a lower bill or a self-hosted database they can control. The right replacement depends on whether your application needs MySQL, PostgreSQL or a different data model. Compare the database interface your code uses, the cost at expected usage and the work required to operate or migrate it.

01Why people leave PlanetScale

The free plan changed

Reddit users report PlanetScale’s Hobby plan is no longer available to new customers, prompting searches for free PostgreSQL alternatives.

Database bills can outgrow revenue

One Reddit user compared a $213 AWS RDS bill with PlanetScale’s listed $5 starting node; low starting prices still require checking production capacity.

Teams want a different database

Some developers prefer PostgreSQL or self-hosting; others question whether they need a managed platform for a small app.

02The alternatives, ranked by fit

  1. Managed PostgreSQL

    Neon

    Choose Neon when your application uses PostgreSQL or needs managed Postgres rather than a MySQL deployment. Its free plan and $15 starting price make it worth comparing for smaller workloads, and isolated preview databases suit teams with separate environments. Confirm costs against expected usage, and check schema and query compatibility before migrating.

    Trade-off: It is a PostgreSQL option, not a MySQL replacement.

    Neon review
    7.6/10
    from
    $15/mo    free plan
  2. Self-hosted PostgreSQL

    PostgreSQL

    PostgreSQL is an open-source, self-hostable relational database for teams that want control over the server and hosting choices. The database software is free; hosting and operations are yours to budget. It can suit applications already built for PostgreSQL, but migration from another engine still means checking schema, queries and application code.

    Trade-off: You take on deployment, operations and scaling.

    PostgreSQL review
    8.4/10
    from
    Free    free plan
  3. Open-source MySQL

    MySQL

    Choose MySQL when your application already depends on MySQL and you want a self-hostable, GPL database rather than a managed PlanetScale service. The database is open source, but hosting and server size affect production costs; the listed starting price is $178.33, with a free plan. Check edition and licensing requirements before adopting it.

    Trade-off: The listed starting price is higher than PlanetScale’s.

    MySQL review
    7.3/10
    from
    $178.33/mo    free plan
  4. Document data

    MongoDB

    MongoDB fits applications designed around document-shaped data and offers a document-centric query API. Its listed starting price is $8 with a free plan, and it is self-hostable. Moving from a relational database means reviewing how your data and queries map to documents; it is a different model, not a drop-in SQL replacement.

    Trade-off: Document modeling means changing relational data and query code.

    MongoDB review
    7.2/10
    from
    $8/mo    free plan
  5. Analytical SQL

    ClickHouse

    ClickHouse is an open-source, self-hostable option for real-time analytics on large datasets and fast analytical SQL. Its listed price is not available, so compare hosting and operations costs for your deployment. It is a fit when analytics is the workload; evaluate carefully before replacing a relational application database with it.

    Trade-off: You need to operate it, and it targets analytics workloads.

    ClickHouse review
    8.3/10
    from
    Custom
  6. Local SQL analytics

    DuckDB

    DuckDB is a free, open-source, self-hostable in-process SQL database for local analytics, embedded queries and working with Parquet or CSV. It can remove hosted database costs for those use cases. Its architecture makes it a poor like-for-like choice when you need PlanetScale’s managed database service and branches for application environments.

    Trade-off: It is in-process, not a managed database service.

    DuckDB review
    8.5/10
    from
    Free    free plan

03Side by side

ToolScoreFromFree planBest for
PlanetScale (current)7.3$5/moNoTeams scaling MySQL with Vitess
Neon7.6$15/moYesApps needing managed Postgres
PostgreSQL8.4FreeYesTeams that want open-source database software
MySQL7.3$178.33/moYesApplications already built on MySQL
MongoDB7.2$8/moYesApps built around document-shaped data
ClickHouse8.3CustomNoReal-time analytics on large datasets
DuckDB8.5FreeYesLocal SQL analytics and data wrangling

Prices from each vendor's pricing page, checked Nov 10, 2026.

Questions people ask

What is the cheapest PlanetScale alternative?

DuckDB is listed as free, and PostgreSQL is free, open-source database software. Neon and MongoDB also list free plans. Those options do not mean production hosting is free: PostgreSQL and DuckDB require you to account for hosting or operating work, while managed-plan costs depend on usage.

Can I migrate PlanetScale to PostgreSQL?

It depends on which PlanetScale database and features your application uses. A move between MySQL and PostgreSQL requires checking schema, SQL queries and application code for compatibility; do not assume it is a drop-in change. Test the migration against your application before switching production traffic.

Which PlanetScale alternative can I self-host?

PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse and DuckDB are listed as self-hostable. PostgreSQL and MySQL are relational database options; MongoDB uses a document model, while ClickHouse and DuckDB focus on analytics. Self-hosting gives you deployment control but also puts database operations on your team.