PlanetScale
Serverless MySQL platform with branching, non-blocking schema changes, and unlimited scale.
My Experience
PlanetScale built something genuinely innovative — database branching. You can branch your production database, test schema changes on the branch, then merge back with zero downtime. It's how database migrations should work.
The non-blocking schema changes are magic for production systems. Add a column, change a type, drop an index — all without locking the table. Combined with instant rollback, you can experiment with schema changes fearlessly.
The painful part: they killed the free tier in 2024. At $39/month minimum, it's a significant cost for indie devs. For comparison, Neon gives you a free Postgres with branching. If you're not committed to MySQL, Neon is the better deal for side projects.
Pros
- +Database branching for development — like git for your schema
- +Non-blocking schema changes with instant rollback
- +Built-in connection pooling with no configuration needed
Cons
- −Removed free tier in 2024 — now starts at $39/month
- −MySQL only — no Postgres support
- −Foreign key support limited on lower plans
Best For
Teams building on MySQL who need branching workflows and schema migrations without downtime.
