Neon vs PlanetScale: which serverless database wins in 2026?
Neon wins on Postgres compatibility, database branching for Git-like workflows, and pgvector for AI. PlanetScale wins on MySQL compatibility, Vitess-based scale, and enterprise-grade reliability. Pick Neon for Postgres + AI, PlanetScale for MySQL at horizontal scale.
At a glance
| Dimension | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Database | Postgres (full compat) | MySQL (Vitess) |
| Branching | Git-like branches per-PRWIN | Per-keyspace branches + deploy requests |
| Storage / compute separation | Yes — scale to zero | Yes — durable storage layer |
| Scale to zero | Yes (free + paid)WIN | Limited (PlanetScale removed Hobby tier) |
| Horizontal scale | Read replicas + connection pooling | Vitess sharding — proven at petabyte scaleWIN |
| Vector / AI support | pgvector built-inWIN | No native vector type |
| Pricing model | Pay for active compute + storageWIN | Flat tier-based |
| Free tier | GenerousWIN | Removed (Hobby tier deprecated) |
| Connection pooling | Built-in (PgBouncer) | Built-in |
| Best for | Postgres apps, AI / RAG, scale-to-zero, indie / SMB | MySQL apps, enterprise scale, Vitess workloads |
Verdict
Neon is the right pick for Postgres-flavored apps — branching for Git-like dev workflows, pgvector for AI / RAG, scale-to-zero pricing for indie / SMB, generous free tier. PlanetScale is the right pick for MySQL apps that need Vitess-grade horizontal scale + enterprise reliability — proven at huge scale (Slack, Square, etc.). The Postgres vs MySQL choice usually wins this comparison; Neon and PlanetScale are best-in-class within each lane.
When to pick which
Pick Neon
Postgres apps, AI / RAG (pgvector), Git-like branching, scale-to-zero, free tier.
Pick PlanetScale
MySQL apps, enterprise scale, Vitess sharding, deploy requests workflow.
FAQ
Postgres or MySQL?
Postgres → Neon; MySQL → PlanetScale.
Best for AI / RAG?
Neon — pgvector built into Postgres.
Free tier?
Neon — PlanetScale removed its Hobby (free) tier.
Last updated: 2026-06-01.