Which is cheaper, PlanetScale or Supabase?

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

Does PlanetScale have a free tier?

No, PlanetScale does not have a free tier.

PlanetScale has moderate switching cost. Supabase has drop-in switching cost. Supabase is easier to switch away from.

Database

PlanetScale

← More affordable

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

Switching Cost: moderate

Supabase

Open-source Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL database, authentication, realtime subscriptions, edge functions, and storage

Switching Cost: drop-in

Budget-wise, PlanetScale is clearly more affordable at roughly a 5.0x price difference.

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

Their pricing models diverge: PlanetScale uses flat-rate, while Supabase operates on a usage-based basis.

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

Supabase

Has a free tier option

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

Supabase

Lower switching costs for easier migration