Best PlanetScale Alternatives in 2026
The top PlanetScale alternatives are Amazon RDS, Amazon Aurora and Google Cloud SQL: 15 managed database hosting our editors would look at instead of PlanetScale, in our ranking order.
PlanetScale: A focused managed database platform for teams that need branching, sharding, and high availability. Where it falls short: no free plan; paid plans start at $5 per month.
Switching from PlanetScale? For most managed database hosting buyers the best PlanetScale alternative is Amazon RDS, built for aWS teams needing broad managed SQL coverage. On a budget, Neon starts at $0.11/mo, against $5/mo for PlanetScale. Oracle Autonomous AI Database has a free plan, which PlanetScale does not. Oracle Autonomous AI Database offers the most backup retention (60 days).
Why People Look for a PlanetScale Alternative
- No free plan; paid plans start at $5 per month
- Platform access is limited to the web
- Enterprise pricing is custom rather than published
- No free plan — 6 of the alternatives below have it
- Paid from $5/mo — Neon is $0.11/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallAmazon RDS9.4
AWS teams needing broad managed SQL coverage
Visit Amazon RDS - Lowest priceNeon8.4
Paid plans from $0.11/mo
Visit Neon - Best free optionOracle Autonomous AI Database9.1
Has a free plan (PlanetScale has none)
Visit Oracle Autonomous AI Database - Most backup retentionOracle Autonomous AI Database9.1
60 days
Visit Oracle Autonomous AI Database
All 15 PlanetScale Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forAWS teams needing broad managed SQL coverage
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.0
A broad AWS-managed SQL service with high availability, scaling, and operational automation.
- High availability
- Read replicas
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Amazon RDS -
Best forHigh-scale AWS relational workloads
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.0
A managed AWS database for scalable relational workloads and global deployments.
- High availability
- Read replicas
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Amazon Aurora -
Best forGoogle Cloud teams running mainstream SQL engines
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.0
A capable managed SQL service for teams already operating in Google Cloud.
- High availability
- Read replicas
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Google Cloud -
Best forTeams wanting autonomous Oracle database operations
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.0
A broad automation platform for teams running Oracle transactional, analytical, JSON, and AI workloads.
- High availability
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Oracle -
Best forLow-cost Azure SQL applications
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.0
A low-cost managed SQL service for applications built on Azure.
- High availability
- Read replicas
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Azure SQL -
Best forTeams building managed document workloads
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.0
A managed MongoDB service for teams building document-based applications.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit MongoDB Atlas -
Best forPostgreSQL teams seeking low-cost managed hosting
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.0
A low-cost managed PostgreSQL service with useful automation and cloud tooling.
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Aiven -
Best forAzure teams needing managed PostgreSQL
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.0
A feature-rich managed PostgreSQL service for production workloads on Azure.
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Azure Database -
Best forDistributed PostgreSQL-compatible applications
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.0
A PostgreSQL-compatible managed database for applications spanning regions and clouds.
- Point-in-time recovery
- High availability
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit CockroachDB -
Best forPostgreSQL workloads needing analytics and AI features
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 8.0
A managed PostgreSQL service for transactional, analytical, and AI-enabled workloads.
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forDevelopers wanting serverless Postgres with branching
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Free plan
- Paid from: $0.11/mo vs $5/mo
- Editor score 8.4 vs 8.0
A strong fit for variable workloads that need serverless Postgres and database branching.
- Point-in-time recovery
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Neon -
Best forDevelopers wanting a Postgres-backed application platform
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.3 vs 8.0
A broad Postgres application platform with a useful free tier and clear paid options.
- Point-in-time recovery
- Read replicas
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Supabase -
Best forAzure teams running managed MySQL
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 8.0
A configurable managed MySQL service for applications already running on Azure.
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing multiple database engines
- Better than PlanetScale:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 8.0
A broad, budget-oriented managed database service with practical cloud operations.
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit DigitalOcean -
Best forPostgreSQL teams wanting predictable managed operations
A focused managed PostgreSQL service with strong recovery and availability options.
- Point-in-time recovery
- High availability
- Read replicas
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Crunchy Bridge
PlanetScale Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to PlanetScale?
Amazon RDS: #1 in our Managed Database Hosting ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad AWS-managed SQL service with high availability, scaling, and operational automation.
Is there a free alternative to PlanetScale?
Yes. Oracle Autonomous AI Database, Azure SQL Database, MongoDB Atlas, Aiven for PostgreSQL and Neon have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to PlanetScale?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Neon starts lowest, at $0.11/mo.
Why do people look for PlanetScale alternatives?
No free plan; paid plans start at $5 per month; Platform access is limited to the web; Enterprise pricing is custom rather than published.
Which PlanetScale alternative has the most backup retention?
Oracle Autonomous AI Database, with 60 days.
How do I switch from PlanetScale?
Export your data from PlanetScale (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel PlanetScale.
How to Switch from PlanetScale
- Export your data from PlanetScale (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel PlanetScale.
PlanetScale vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | High availability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | PlanetScale | No | $5/mo | Yes | 8.0 |
| 1 | Amazon RDS | No | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Amazon Aurora | No | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 3 | Google Cloud SQL | No | $0.04 usage-based | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | Oracle Autonomous AI Database | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 5 | Azure SQL Database | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 6 | MongoDB Atlas | Yes | $8/mo | 8.9 | |
| 7 | Aiven for PostgreSQL | Yes | $5/mo | Yes | 8.8 |
| 8 | Azure Database for PostgreSQL | No | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 9 | CockroachDB Cloud | No | $0.06/unit usage-based | Yes | 8.6 |
| 10 | AlloyDB for PostgreSQL | No | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 11 | Neon | Yes | $0.11/mo | Yes | 8.4 |
| 12 | Supabase | Yes | $25/mo | 8.3 | |
| 13 | Azure Database for MySQL | No | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 14 | DigitalOcean Managed Databases | No | $15.15/mo | Yes | 8.1 |
| 15 | Crunchy Bridge | No | $9/mo | Yes | 8.0 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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