Neon vs PlanetScale (2026)
Head-to-head comparison for vibe coders: scores, free tiers, pricing and best-for, using the same evidence-based methodology. Rankings are never for sale.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 86/100 | 69/100 |
| Free tier | Yes: 100 projects, 1 GB storage per project, 100 CU-hours/project/mo | No |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Pricing | Launch: usage-based, no monthly minimum ($0.106/CU-hour, $0.35/GB-month) | From $5/mo (single-node Postgres PS-5); HA from $15/mo |
| Best for | Serverless Postgres with instant branches for previews and agents | Production databases that need performance and HA |
| Category | Databases & backends | Databases & backends |
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Neon | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Fit for the use case /25 | 22 | 18 |
| Vibe-coder friendliness /15 | 12 | 8 |
| Output quality & reliability /15 | 13 | 14 |
| Pricing & free tier /15 | 14 | 8 |
| Ecosystem & integrations /10 | 9 | 7 |
| Momentum /10 | 8 | 7 |
| Code ownership & lock-in /10 | 8 | 7 |
Based on desk research of official pricing pages and docs; see methodology.
Who wins: Neon or PlanetScale?
By score, Neon wins Neon vs PlanetScale at 86/100 vs 69/100. Neon: A generous free tier and branching that suits agent workflows. Database only, so pair it with your own auth. PlanetScale: Excellent reliability, but no free tier and it's aimed at production teams rather than prototypes. Neon is best for Serverless Postgres with instant branches for previews and agents. PlanetScale is best for Production databases that need performance and HA.
FAQ
- Which is better, Neon or PlanetScale?
- By our score, Neon (86/100) ranks above PlanetScale (69/100). Neon is best for Serverless Postgres with instant branches for previews and agents. The right pick still depends on your workflow; see the side-by-side table.
- What is the Neon vs PlanetScale score?
- Neon scores 86/100 and PlanetScale scores 69/100 on PromptToProd's evidence-based ranking. Scores are never for sale.