What is the best PlanetScale alternative with a free plan?

Appwrite is the best PlanetScale alternative with a free plan. PlanetScale removed its free tier in 2024. Appwrite Free includes a serverless TablesDB database, auth for 75,000 monthly active users, storage, functions, and hosting, and Pro adds managed PostgreSQL and MySQL with $10/mo in compute credits.

Does PlanetScale support more than one database model?

PlanetScale offers two relational engines, PostgreSQL and MySQL through Vitess, and no document or vector database. Appwrite gives you five database models in one project: TablesDB on serverless or dedicated compute, plus DocumentsDB, VectorsDB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL on dedicated compute.

How do I migrate from PlanetScale?

For PostgreSQL, run pg_dump against PlanetScale and pg_restore into Appwrite. For MySQL, use mysqldump and import into an Appwrite MySQL database. Any standard client works, so there is no Appwrite-specific tooling to learn.

Is Appwrite managed PostgreSQL production ready?

Managed PostgreSQL and MySQL on Appwrite are in beta. They run on dedicated compute with connection pooling, up to five HA replicas, and point-in-time recovery. TablesDB is generally available and runs on serverless or dedicated compute.

Can I run Appwrite on my own servers?

Yes. Appwrite is fully open source and self-hosts with Docker, with the same APIs, SDKs, and Console as Appwrite Cloud. PlanetScale publishes Vitess as open source, but the PlanetScale platform runs only on PlanetScale.

AppwritevsPlanetScale

Your queries are fast. Is the rest of the request?_

PlanetScale runs fast MySQL and Postgres, and leaves auth, files, functions, and hosting to other vendors, each one another network hop and another bill. Appwrite runs managed PostgreSQL and MySQL next to the rest of your backend, in the same open-source project.

Start building for free Explore managed PostgreSQL

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Network hop between providers

PlanetScale plus three other vendors

Session checkAuth vendor
FunctionFunction host
QueryPlanetScale
File linkStorage vendor

Appwrite, one project and one region

Session checkAuth
FunctionFunctions
QueryPostgreSQL
File linkStorage

Illustrative. Every extra provider adds a network hop, a set of credentials, and a bill.

Pricing_

Start free. Pay for a database when you need one._

PlanetScale removed its free tier in 2024, so every database starts as a paid cluster. Appwrite starts free with serverless TablesDB and the whole backend, and Pro adds managed PostgreSQL and MySQL with $10/mo in compute credits.

Growing on PlanetScale

$0No free tier
Removed in 2024
$5/moSingle-node Postgres
For development and low traffic
$50/moMetal
Local NVMe storage
+ vendorsAuth, storage, functions, hosting
Bought and billed elsewhere

Growing on Appwrite

$0Free
Serverless TablesDB, auth, storage, functions, and hosting
$25/moPro
$10/mo in compute credits covers the smallest dedicated PostgreSQL or MySQL tier
+ add-onsReplicas and PITR
Full tier price per replica, +20% for point-in-time recovery
IncludedThe rest of the backend
Already in the same project

Databases_

Relational is one model. Appwrite has five._

PlanetScale runs PostgreSQL and MySQL. Appwrite runs both, plus TablesDB on serverless or dedicated compute, DocumentsDB, and VectorsDB, all in one project.

Database models in one Appwrite project: 5
PlanetScale: PostgreSQL and MySQL: 2

AppwritePlanetScale

TablesDB
Relational tables
ServerlessDedicated
PlanetScale: Not offered
DocumentsDBBeta
JSON documents
Dedicated
PlanetScale: Not offered
VectorsDBBeta
Vectors and embeddings
Dedicated
PlanetScale: Not offered
PostgreSQLBeta
Native SQL
Dedicated
PlanetScale
PlanetScale Postgres
Single node, HA, or Metal
MySQLBeta
Native SQL
Dedicated
PlanetScale
Vitess
Sharded MySQL clusters

Both engines are relational, and every database is a paid cluster with no free tier. There is no document or vector database.

One platform_

A great database still needs a backend_

PlanetScale stops at the database. Appwrite adds auth, storage, functions, realtime, messaging, hosting, domains, and a firewall in the same project, with one Console and one bill.

10
Appwrite products in one project: 9
Not offered by PlanetScale

Open source_

Run the whole stack anywhere_

Vitess is open source, but the PlanetScale platform runs only on PlanetScale. Appwrite is open source end to end, so your databases and the backend around them run on Appwrite Cloud or on your own servers.

GitHub stars: 57.6K
Contributors: 800+

Self-host in one command

$docker run -it --rm … --entrypoint="install" appwrite/appwrite:2.3.0

No lock-in
Move between Appwrite Cloud and your own servers by changing one endpoint.
Run it anywhere
Self-host on any cloud or on premises for data residency and compliance.
Nothing hidden
Read the code that handles your users and data, and audit how it works.
Fix it, extend it
Patch, extend, or contribute back instead of waiting on a vendor roadmap.

PlanetScale · Platform not self-hostable

Vitess is open source, but the PlanetScale platform, branching, and Postgres service run only on PlanetScale.

Appwrite vs PlanetScale_

Managed SQL on both sides. A backend on one._

Both run managed PostgreSQL and MySQL. Only one gives you the rest of the backend in the same project.

Checked against public pricing and documentation in October 2026.

Compared

Appwrite

PlanetScale

Databases

Database models

Tables, documents, vectors, PostgreSQL, MySQL

PostgreSQL and MySQL through Vitess

Managed PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL 18, in beta

Managed MySQL

In beta

Vitess, with horizontal sharding

Serverless database with no fixed fee

TablesDB, including on the Free plan

High availability

Up to 5 replicas

Async, sync, or quorum with failover

1 primary and 2 replicas across 3 zones

Point-in-time recovery

1 to 35 days

Branching

Snapshot branches

Short-lived, never merge back

Branches and deploy requests

A PlanetScale strength

Around the database

Authentication

MFA, teams, 40+ OAuth providers

File storage with image transformations

Functions in 13+ runtimes

Realtime subscriptions

Email, SMS, and push messaging

Frontend hosting

Pricing and platform

Free plan

Serverless TablesDB, auth, storage, functions, and hosting

Removed in 2024

Entry price for a managed database

From $10/mo

Pro includes $10/mo in compute credits

From $5/mo

Single-node Postgres

Self-host the whole platform

Open source end to end

Vitess is open source, the platform is not

Fair play_

When PlanetScale might still fit_

PlanetScale builds excellent databases. It may still suit you if these sound like your workload.

01
You need horizontal sharding for a very large MySQL or Postgres workload today.
02
Branching with deploy requests is central to how your team ships schema changes.
03
You want local NVMe storage on Metal for the highest IOPS.
04
You only need a database, and your backend already lives elsewhere.
Managed PostgreSQL and MySQL on Appwrite are in beta.

Why developers choose Appwrite over PlanetScale_

For apps that need more than a database, yes. Appwrite runs managed PostgreSQL and MySQL next to TablesDB, DocumentsDB, and VectorsDB, and the same project includes auth, storage, functions in 13+ runtimes, realtime, messaging, and hosting. PlanetScale focuses on the database and leaves the rest of the backend to other vendors.

Go deeper_

See why teams make the switch_

Guides, deep dives, and product pages from the Appwrite team.

BlogHow Appwrite Databases can replace your PlanetScale databaseMoving off PlanetScale onto a full backend.BlogNative databases vs Appwrite databases: which one should you pick?Tables, documents, vectors, and native SQL compared.ProductManaged PostgreSQLRaw Postgres with pooling, replicas, PITR, and branches.ProductAppwrite DatabasesFive engines in two categories, one Console.DocsHigh availabilityStreaming replicas, replication modes, and failover.DocsConnection poolingServe many short-lived clients from a small pool.

Compare_

See how Appwrite stacks up elsewhere_

Appwrite vsSupabasePostgres development platformHosting, messaging, and permissions without SQL policies.Appwrite vsFirebaseApp development platformOpen source, self-hostable, and a free migration path.Appwrite vsVercelFrontend cloudFrontend hosting with the backend in the same project.Appwrite vsNetlifyWeb hosting platformYour site and its backend, in one project.Appwrite vsNeonServerless PostgresPostgres plus the whole backend around it.Appwrite vsAuth0Identity platform3x the free monthly active users and no growth penalty.Appwrite vsConvexReactive TypeScript backendActually open source, in any language.Appwrite vsCloudinaryMedia platformPay per origin image, not per variant.Appwrite vsClerkUser management and authenticationUsers and data in one place, no webhooks to sync.Appwrite vsAWS AmplifyFull-stack framework on AWSOne project instead of a stack of AWS services.PricingOne plan for your whole backend and hosting.Compare plans

Bring your database home to a full backend_

Start free, add managed PostgreSQL or MySQL on Pro, and keep auth, files, and functions in the same project.