Which is cheaper, Nhost or PlanetScale?

PlanetScale is 5.0x cheaper than Nhost. Nhost starts at $0/mo, PlanetScale starts at $5/mo.

Does Nhost have a free tier?

Yes, Nhost offers a free tier with projects: 1.

Nhost has moderate switching cost. PlanetScale has moderate switching cost. Both have similar switching complexity.

Database

Nhost

Open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL and Hasura with auth and storage

Switching Cost: moderate

PlanetScale

← More affordable

Managed MySQL-compatible and Postgres database platform with horizontal sharding via Vitess

Switching Cost: moderate

You're paying a premium for Nhost — expect around a 5.0x higher bill compared to PlanetScale.

The free tier advantage goes to Nhost, which offers a no-cost entry point that PlanetScale lacks.

Price-conscious teams should choose PlanetScale — the cost advantage is hard to ignore, especially for growing workloads.

Price-conscious teams should choose PlanetScale — the cost advantage is hard to ignore, especially for growing workloads.

Price Difference

5.0x

PlanetScale is cheaper by $20/mo

Free Tier

Nhost

Has a free tier option