Last updated: April 22, 2026
PlanetScale vs Neon: Managed MySQL vs Managed PostgreSQL in 2026
Quick Answer
PlanetScale is a managed MySQL-compatible database (Vitess) with database branching and non-blocking schema changes. Neon is serverless PostgreSQL with branching, auto-scaling to zero, and a generous free tier. PlanetScale is MySQL-based; Neon is PostgreSQL-based.
PlanetScale vs Neon — Side by Side
| Feature | PlanetScale | Neon |
|---|---|---|
| Database Engine | MySQL (Vitess) | PostgreSQL |
| Branching | Yes: Git-like schema branches | Yes: instant copy-on-write branches |
| Scale to Zero | Sleep after inactivity (paid plans) | Yes: true serverless, scale to zero |
| Free Tier | Hobby plan (limited) | Generous: 0.5GB storage, auto-suspend |
| Schema Changes | Non-blocking via Vitess | Standard PostgreSQL migrations |
| Foreign Keys | Supported (added 2023) | Full support (native PostgreSQL) |
| Extensions | MySQL: limited | PostgreSQL: pgvector, PostGIS, etc. |
Verdict
Choose Neon for PostgreSQL with serverless scaling, generous free tier, and the rich PostgreSQL extension ecosystem. Choose PlanetScale for MySQL-compatible workloads with non-blocking schema changes and Vitess-powered horizontal scaling.
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