Overview
PlanetScale is a serverless MySQL database platform built on Vitess, the same technology that powers YouTube and Slack's databases. It brings modern developer workflows to MySQL, including database branching similar to Git - you can create development branches, test schema changes, and merge them to production with zero downtime. What sets PlanetScale apart is its operational simplicity combined with massive scalability. The platform handles sharding automatically, provides instant horizontal scaling, and includes non-blocking schema changes. PlanetScale's connection pooling and serverless model mean you don't pay for idle databases. It's MySQL-compatible, so you can use existing tools, ORMs like Prisma, and migration scripts. With features like automatic backups, replication, and query insights, PlanetScale removes all the operational burden of running MySQL at scale. Perfect for teams that want the reliability of MySQL with modern developer experience and serverless pricing. Popular for Next.js apps, SaaS products, and applications requiring relational databases.
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Visit PlanetScale →Frequently Asked Questions about PlanetScale
What is PlanetScale?
PlanetScale is a serverless MySQL database platform built on Vitess, the same technology that powers YouTube and Slack's databases. It brings modern developer workflows to MySQL, including database branching similar to Git - you can create development branches, test schema changes, and merge them to production with zero downtime. What sets PlanetScale apart is its operational simplicity combined with massive scalability. The platform handles sharding automatically, provides instant horizontal scaling, and includes non-blocking schema changes. PlanetScale's connection pooling and serverless model mean you don't pay for idle databases. It's MySQL-compatible, so you can use existing tools, ORMs like Prisma, and migration scripts. With features like automatic backups, replication, and query insights, PlanetScale removes all the operational burden of running MySQL at scale. Perfect for teams that want the reliability of MySQL with modern developer experience and serverless pricing. Popular for Next.js apps, SaaS products, and applications requiring relational databases.
Is PlanetScale free to use?
Yes, PlanetScale offers a free tier. Free tier + usage-based
What features does PlanetScale offer?
PlanetScale offers SQL database, REST API, and more.
Can I self-host PlanetScale?
No, PlanetScale is a Managed platform and cannot be self-hosted.
What is PlanetScale best for?
PlanetScale is particularly well-suited for saas apps, next.js, serverless, mysql users.