PlanetScale vs DigitalOcean
A detailed comparison to help you choose between PlanetScale and DigitalOcean.
Quick Verdict
4.4/5
PlanetScale
357 reviews
4.1/5
DigitalOcean
413 reviews
PlanetScale is rated higher (4.4 vs 4.1). PlanetScale is serverless MySQL-compatible database with git-like branching, non-blocking schema changes, and auto-scaling. Used by companies serving billions of queries. Cloud VPS and managed services platform offering droplets, databases, and app hosting. Built for developers who want straightforward pricing and documentation without enterprise complexity.
PlanetScale Serverless MySQL with database branching | DigitalOcean Simple, predictable cloud infrastructure for developers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.4 (357 reviews)✓ | 4.1 (413 reviews) |
| Pricing model | freemium | paid |
| Starting price | Free tier available✓ | From €6/mo |
| Best for | Teams running MySQL at scale who need schema migrations without downtime | Startups and solo developers building web applications, APIs, and small-scale infrastructure who prioritize simplicity and documentation over enterprise features. |
| Specifications (entry plan) | ||
| CPU cores | 0 vCPU | 1 vCPU✓ |
| RAM | 0 GB | 1 GB✓ |
| Storage | 0 GB | 25 GB✓ |
| Bandwidth | 0 TB/mo | 1 TB/mo✓ |
| SLA uptime | 99.99% | 99.99% |
| Data-center count | 6 | 15✓ |
| €/vCPU/mo | — | €6.00 |
| €/GB RAM/mo | — | €6.00 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU score (sysbench) | — | 2,200 |
| Disk read (fio) | — | 560 MB/s |
| Disk IOPS (4K random) | — | 8,400 |
| Network out | — | 0.5 Gbps |
| Latency (TTFB) | — | 32 ms |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ✓ | |
| DDoS protection | ✓ | |
| Automated backups | ||
| Snapshots | ✓ | |
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ✓ | |
| Free tier | ||
| Data-center locations | ||
| Regions | United StatesEuropean Union | United StatesNetherlandsSingaporeUnited KingdomGermanyCanada+2 |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tiermanaged optionbackups includedeu datacenterus datacenterapi access | free tierhourly billingnvme storageipv6ddos protectionbackups includedsnapshotsmanaged options3 compatibleeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenterterraform providerkubernetes supportprivate networkingapi access |
| Visit PlanetScale → | Visit DigitalOcean → | |
PlanetScale
Pros
- + Non-blocking schema changes — no downtime migrations
- + Database branching like git
- + Auto-scales to handle traffic spikes
Cons
- - No foreign keys (Vitess architecture limitation)
- - Read replicas only on higher plans
DigitalOcean
Pros
- + Deploy Droplets in under one minute with streamlined console
- + Access extensive community documentation and tutorials
- + Get transparent, predictable pricing with no surprise fees
- + Manage infrastructure via API, CLI, or web dashboard
Cons
- - Limited geographic presence compared to AWS or Google Cloud
- - Smaller ecosystem of third-party integrations and tools
- - Scaling to enterprise requirements may require migration elsewhere
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