PlanetScale vs Amazon Aurora Serverless: Head-to-Head Comparison

Quick Verdict

PlanetScale is the better pick for high-scale MySQL workloads. Amazon Aurora Serverless is the better pick for AWS workloads with variable traffic.

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At a Glance

Feature	PlanetScale	Amazon Aurora Serverless
Best For	High-scale MySQL workloads	AWS workloads with variable traffic
Pricing	Paid plans; free trial available	Pay-as-you-go usage pricing
Free to Start	No	No
License	Proprietary	Proprietary
Deployment	Managed cloud	Managed cloud
Link	Visit PlanetScale	Visit Amazon Aurora Serverless

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Detailed Breakdown

PlanetScale

Database platform built on Vitess, now offering Postgres too

Pros:

• Vitess-powered horizontal scaling
• Non-blocking schema changes
• Database branching

Cons:

• Free Hobby tier was removed in 2024
• Premium pricing

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Amazon Aurora Serverless

Auto-scaling MySQL and PostgreSQL on AWS

Pros:

• Automatic capacity scaling
• MySQL and Postgres compatibility
• Deep AWS integration

Cons:

• AWS only
• Pricing can be complex to estimate

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Key Differences

• Positioning: PlanetScale — database platform built on Vitess, now offering Postgres too. Amazon Aurora Serverless — auto-scaling MySQL and PostgreSQL on AWS.
• Both share the same licensing model (proprietary), so the decision comes down to features and workflow fit.
• Pricing: PlanetScale — paid plans; free trial available. Amazon Aurora Serverless — pay-as-you-go usage pricing.
• Signature strength: PlanetScale — vitess-powered horizontal scaling. Amazon Aurora Serverless — automatic capacity scaling.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is PlanetScale better than Amazon Aurora Serverless?

It depends on your requirements. PlanetScale is a strong fit for high-scale MySQL workloads, while Amazon Aurora Serverless suits AWS workloads with variable traffic.

Is PlanetScale free to use?

PlanetScale does not have a permanent free plan. Pricing model: Paid plans; free trial available.

Is Amazon Aurora Serverless free to use?

Amazon Aurora Serverless does not have a permanent free plan. Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go usage pricing.

Can I self-host PlanetScale or Amazon Aurora Serverless?

PlanetScale is offered as a managed service: managed cloud. Amazon Aurora Serverless is offered as a managed service: managed cloud.

What are the main drawbacks of PlanetScale and Amazon Aurora Serverless?

PlanetScale: free Hobby tier was removed in 2024; premium pricing. Amazon Aurora Serverless: AWS only; pricing can be complex to estimate.