PlanetScale vs Supabase - Detailed Comparison 2026
Supabase is rated slightly higher on SAASAF.AI (4.7/5 vs 4.5/5). PlanetScale starts at $39/month with no free tier. Supabase starts at $25/month and has a free tier.
Which Is Better, PlanetScale or Supabase?
Supabase holds a slight edge in user satisfaction with a rating of 4.7/5 compared to PlanetScale's 4.5/5. When it comes to features, PlanetScale offers 6 capabilities while Supabase provides 6. PlanetScale differentiates with Database Branching and Schema Changes, while Supabase stands out with Postgres Database and Authentication. On pricing, Supabase is the more budget-friendly option at $25/month compared to PlanetScale at $39/month, and Supabase also offers a free tier.
At a Glance
Full Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | PlanetScale | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Pricing Model | Usage Based | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $[object Object] | $[object Object] |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| AI-Powered | No | No |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Founded | 2018 | 2020 |
| Company Size | 51-200 | 51-200 |
| Integrations | 3+ | 4+ |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Authentication | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto Scaling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Database Branching | ✓ | ✗ |
| Edge Functions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Insights | ✓ | ✗ |
| Postgres Database | ✗ | ✓ |
| Read Replicas | ✓ | ✗ |
| Realtime | ✗ | ✓ |
| Schema Changes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Storage | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Embeddings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vitess | ✓ | ✗ |
How Much Do PlanetScale and Supabase Cost?
PlanetScale Pricing
Usage Based
$[object Object]
Billed monthly
PlanetScale uses usage-based pricing where you pay for what you consume. Plans start at $39/month.
Supabase Pricing
Freemium
$[object Object]
Free tier available
Billed monthly
Supabase offers a freemium pricing model starting at $25/month. A free tier is available with limited features.
Pros and Cons
PlanetScale Pros
- Database branching is genuinely transformative for schema work
- Non-blocking schema changes via Vitess
- Automatic horizontal sharding for massive scale
- Tight Prisma and Drizzle ORM integration
- Battle-tested at YouTube and Slack scale
PlanetScale Cons
- No free tier since 2024 - $39/month minimum
- MySQL only - no Postgres support
- Lacks foreign key constraints (Vitess limitation)
- Some advanced features require custom Vitess knowledge
Supabase Pros
- Real Postgres with full SQL, joins, and extensions
- Auth, Realtime, Storage, and Functions in one platform
- Open source - self-host the entire stack
- Generous free tier supports real production projects
- Best-in-class AI/vector embedding support via pgvector
Supabase Cons
- Cold starts on free-tier projects after inactivity
- Edge Functions runtime is Deno-only
- Self-hosting Realtime and Studio requires effort
- Pricing scales with compute, storage, and egress
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose PlanetScale if...
Best for: PlanetScale is best for production SaaS companies running MySQL at scale who value branching and non-blocking schema changes. Teams expecting to shard horizontally benefit most.
- You need Database Management
- You need High Availability
- You need Scaling
Ideal for: smb, mid-market, enterprise
Industries: technology
Choose Supabase if...
Best for: Supabase is best for indie hackers, AI-native startups, and SaaS founders who want a Postgres backend with auth and realtime out of the box. Teams building RAG and vector-search features benefit most.
- You need App Development
- You need Authentication
Ideal for: individual, smb, mid-market
Industries: technology
Platform Availability
PlanetScale
Web-based application accessible via any browser. No dedicated desktop or mobile apps are currently offered.
Supabase
Web-based application accessible via any browser. No dedicated desktop or mobile apps are currently offered.
Explore More
Tool Profiles
Alternatives
Categories
Use Cases
- Database Management
- High Availability
- Scaling
- App Development
- Authentication
PlanetScale vs Supabase: Frequently Asked Questions
Is PlanetScale or Supabase better?
Supabase is rated slightly higher on SAASAF.AI, at 4.7/5 versus 4.5/5 for PlanetScale, but the better pick depends on your use case. PlanetScale is best for production SaaS companies running MySQL at scale who value branching and non-blocking schema changes. Supabase is best for indie hackers, AI-native startups, and SaaS founders who want a Postgres backend with auth and realtime out of the box.
How does PlanetScale pricing compare to Supabase?
Supabase is cheaper to start, at $25/month versus $39/month for PlanetScale. PlanetScale uses a usage-based model and Supabase uses a freemium model. Only Supabase offers a free tier. Listed figures are starting prices; seats, usage and add-ons can change the final bill.
What is the difference between PlanetScale and Supabase?
PlanetScale is a serverless MySQL-compatible database platform built on Vitess. Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service built on top of PostgreSQL. PlanetScale lists features such as Database Branching, Schema Changes and Auto Scaling. Supabase lists Postgres Database, Authentication and Storage. PlanetScale runs on 1 platform and Supabase on 1.
What are alternatives to both PlanetScale and Supabase?
Alternatives to PlanetScale include Neon (4.6/5) and Vercel (4.6/5). Alternatives to Supabase include Neon (4.6/5) and Auth0 (4.4/5). Neon has a free tier. Vercel has a free tier. Each tool has a full alternatives page on SAASAF.AI with pricing and feature comparisons.
What platforms do PlanetScale and Supabase support?
PlanetScale and Supabase are both available on Web. PlanetScale integrations listed on SAASAF.AI include Vercel, Netlify and GitHub. Supabase integrations include Vercel, Netlify and GitHub. PlanetScale lists 3 integrations and Supabase lists 4 in the SAASAF.AI directory. Both are delivered as SaaS, so most features work from a web browser.