Two serverless databases with branching. One runs Postgres, the other MySQL. Here's why it matters more than you think.
Neon offers serverless Postgres with database branching, scale-to-zero, and a generous free tier. PlanetScale removed their free tier and uses MySQL. For new projects in 2026, Neon is the clear default.
Serverless Postgres with branching and scale-to-zero
Serverless MySQL platform with branching and sharding
| Feature | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Database Engine | PostgreSQL | MySQL (Vitess) |
| Free Tier | Yes, 0.5 GB storage, autoscaling | Removed in 2024, starts at $39/mo |
| Database Branching | Instant copy-on-write branches | Branch-based workflow |
| Scale to Zero | Auto-suspends when idle | Always-on minimum |
| Connection Pooling | Built-in pgbouncer | Built-in connection handling |
| Sharding | Not built-in | Vitess-powered horizontal sharding |
| Foreign Keys | Full Postgres FK support | Added in 2023 (was missing) |
| JSON Support | JSONB, binary, indexable | JSON, text-based |
| ORM Support | Prisma, Drizzle, TypeORM natively | Prisma, Drizzle (MySQL mode) |
| Read Replicas | Instant read replicas | Global read replicas |
For new projects in 2026, Neon is the default choice. Postgres is the industry standard, the free tier lets you start without paying, database branching makes development seamless, and scale-to-zero means you're not paying for idle resources. PlanetScale is a solid choice if you're committed to MySQL or need Vitess-level sharding, but losing the free tier hurt its appeal for indie developers and startups.
For most new projects, yes. Neon uses Postgres (the most popular database), offers database branching, scales to zero, and has a generous free tier. PlanetScale removed their free tier and uses MySQL, which fewer modern frameworks optimize for.
No. PlanetScale removed their free Hobby plan in April 2024. Their Scaler plan starts at $39/month. Neon still offers a generous free tier with 0.5 GB storage and autoscaling compute.
Database branching lets you create instant copies of your database (like Git branches) for development, testing, or preview deployments. Both Neon and PlanetScale support branching, but Neon's is built on copy-on-write with instant creation.
Postgres is the better default for new projects. It has better JSON support, more advanced features, excellent ORM support (Prisma, Drizzle), and is the standard for modern frameworks. MySQL is fine if you have existing MySQL expertise or infrastructure.
Yes. Neon automatically scales compute to zero when idle, so you only pay for actual usage. This makes it perfect for development, staging, and low-traffic apps. It spins back up in milliseconds on the first query.
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