Supabase vs PlanetScale
Database as a Service pricing comparison · 2026 · Updated April 2026
Supabase has a free plan, then $25–$599/mo, while PlanetScale costs $5–$50/mo. PlanetScale is typically 91% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
Supabase and PlanetScale are both managed database platforms with generous free tiers, but they serve different technical needs. Supabase is a full backend-as-a-service platform built on PostgreSQL — it bundles authentication, storage, real-time subscriptions, and edge functions alongside the database. PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible database with a serverless branching model inspired by Git workflows.
The choice often comes down to: do you need a full backend platform (Supabase) or a world-class MySQL database with exceptional developer experience (PlanetScale)?
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Supabase | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free /month | $5 /month |
| Pro | $25 /month | $50 /month |
| Team | $599 /month | Custom |
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
Market Intelligence
Supabase
- Median annual cost
- $1,000
- Based on
- 33 deals
PlanetScale
- Median annual cost
- $360
- Based on
- 9 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Supabase | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | — |
| Cancellation | — | prorated on current invoice (Base Plan) |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly subscription | — |
| Can downgrade | Yes | — |
Continue researching
Our Verdict
Supabase is the better choice for teams that want a complete backend platform — especially at the $25/month Pro tier where you get database, auth, storage, and real-time in one bill. PlanetScale excels for teams that need MySQL compatibility, serverless connection scaling, or the workflow safety of database branching. Both have strong free tiers to evaluate, though PlanetScale has restricted free access in recent updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Does PlanetScale still have a free tier?
PlanetScale eliminated its free hobby plan in 2024 for MySQL databases. Their newer PostgreSQL offering (from $5/month) has a different structure. Check their current pricing page for the latest.
02 Can Supabase replace Firebase?
Yes — Supabase is explicitly designed as an open-source Firebase alternative. It provides similar features (auth, storage, real-time database) but uses Postgres instead of a NoSQL document store.
03 Is PlanetScale good for high traffic?
PlanetScale's serverless architecture handles traffic spikes well with no connection pool limits, making it strong for variable-traffic applications. Their higher tiers provide dedicated resources.
04 Can I migrate from Supabase to PlanetScale?
Migration requires converting your schema from PostgreSQL to MySQL (or PlanetScale's PostgreSQL dialect) and exporting/importing data. The schema differences between Postgres and MySQL mean this is non-trivial.