Netlify vs PlanetScale — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Netlify starts at $9/mo. PlanetScale starts at $5/mo. PlanetScale is $4/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Netlify.
See price history: Netlify · PlanetScale
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- Netlify (Hybrid) — Netlify is hybrid: a fixed subscription from $9/mo plus metered usage on top (Credits/month). Your real bill moves with volume, not seat count.
- PlanetScale (Unknown model) — PlanetScale bills on a fixed plan from $5/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
Frontend deployment, direct alternative to Vercel with a broader framework focus (Jamstack umbrella). Distinctive for its April 2026 pricing restructure — Pro moved to flat $20/mo with unlimited seats, offset by heavier bandwidth and compute meters. Netlify's own blog argued per-seat pricing can't survive an AI world where "everyone is a builder." Free tier still generous for personal projects. Popular with static site generators (Hugo, Astro, Eleventy) and non-Next.js frameworks.
Serverless MySQL platform built on Vitess (YouTube's original scaling infra). Positioned as the alternative to Amazon Aurora for teams that need horizontal scale with zero downtime schema changes. PS-5 cluster starts at $39/mo, HA clusters from $59/mo. Distinctive for branching + deploy requests (git-like workflow for schema changes). Killed its free tier in April 2024 — controversial move that drove users to Neon + Turso.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Netlify monthly | Netlify annual | PlanetScale monthly | PlanetScale annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / Hobby | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Personal / $5 PlanetScale | $9 | $9 | $5 | $5 |
| Pro / power | Pro / — | $20 | $20 | — | — |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Netlify is worth it if… JAMstack developers and small teams deploying static sites + serverless functions — particularly if you value zero-config Git deploys and edge functions. Free covers hobby projects; Personal covers indie devs with credit-based scaling; Pro unlocks unlimited seats and more credits; Enterprise custom.
PlanetScale is worth it if… developers who want serverless MySQL with branching (Git-like schema changes) and read replicas — particularly for high-traffic apps that outgrow shared Postgres. New $5/mo tier launched 2026 undercutting AWS RDS on entry pricing; Scaler adds more resources; Enterprise custom.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Netlify over PlanetScale if…
Choose Netlify if…
- You're fine with a base subscription plus metered usage on top (from $9/mo).
- You match the profile Netlify is built for: JAMstack developers and small teams deploying static sites + serverless functions — particularly if you value zero-config Git deploys and edge functions.
- You need a general-purpose developer & infrastructure option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose PlanetScale if…
- You're comfortable with PlanetScale's from $5/mo entry point.
- You match the profile PlanetScale is built for: developers who want serverless MySQL with branching (Git-like schema changes) and read replicas — particularly for high-traffic apps that outgrow shared Postgres.
- You need a general-purpose developer & infrastructure option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Netlify | PlanetScale | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $9/mo | $5/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Hybrid | — |
| Verification | Pricing under review | Checked October 3, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 3, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Netlify and PlanetScale
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- How much does PlanetScale cost in 2026?
- Does PlanetScale have a free plan?
- How often does PlanetScale change prices?
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