# Neon vs PlanetScale: which serverless database wins in 2026?

**Source:** https://promtable.com/compare/neon-vs-planetscale

> 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.

---
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-PR** ✓ | Per-keyspace branches + deploy requests |
| Storage / compute separation | Yes — scale to zero | Yes — durable storage layer |
| Scale to zero | **Yes (free + paid)** ✓ | Limited (PlanetScale removed Hobby tier) |
| Horizontal scale | Read replicas + connection pooling | **Vitess sharding — proven at petabyte scale** ✓ |
| Vector / AI support | **pgvector built-in** ✓ | No native vector type |
| Pricing model | **Pay for active compute + storage** ✓ | Flat tier-based |
| Free tier | **Generous** ✓ | 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

- **Neon** — Postgres apps, AI / RAG (pgvector), Git-like branching, scale-to-zero, free tier.
- **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.

## Related

- [/compare/neon-vs-supabase](https://promtable.com/compare/neon-vs-supabase)
- [/alternatives/neon](https://promtable.com/alternatives/neon)
- [/glossary/serverless-database](https://promtable.com/glossary/serverless-database)

*Last updated: 2026-06-01*
---

Original page: https://promtable.com/compare/neon-vs-planetscale
Maintained by Promtable (https://promtable.com). Content: CC BY 4.0. Cite as "Promtable — https://promtable.com/compare/neon-vs-planetscale".
Contact: info@vibecodingturkey.com.