Which is cheaper, Nhost or PlanetScale Vitess?

Nhost is 1.6x cheaper than PlanetScale Vitess. Nhost starts at $0/mo, PlanetScale Vitess starts at $39/mo.

Does Nhost have a free tier?

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

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

Database

Nhost

← More affordable

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

Switching Cost: moderate

MySQL-compatible distributed database with horizontal sharding via Vitess

Switching Cost: moderate

You're paying a premium for PlanetScale Vitess — expect around a 1.6x higher bill compared to Nhost.

Startups take note: Nhost provides a free tier, while PlanetScale Vitess requires payment from day one.

You'll notice different pricing structures: flat-rate for Nhost versus usage-based for PlanetScale Vitess.

Nhost stands out for teams needing a free tier — zero upfront costs for prototyping and testing is a genuine advantage.

Nhost stands out for teams needing a free tier — zero upfront costs for prototyping and testing is a genuine advantage.

Price Difference

1.6x

Nhost is cheaper by $14/mo

Free Tier

Nhost

Has a free tier option

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies