PlanetScale vs Apache Cassandra

Serverless MySQL with branching meets the distributed database that scales like a dream but queries like a nightmare. Here's our take.

PlanetScale

Nice Pick

Serverless MySQL with branching. DevOps for databases.

Pros

• Database branching
• Serverless
• No downtime deploys

Cons

• MySQL only
• No foreign keys
• Free tier removed

Apache Cassandra

The distributed database that scales like a dream but queries like a nightmare.

Pros

• Massive horizontal scalability with no single point of failure
• Excellent write performance for time-series and IoT data
• Flexible schema design that evolves without downtime

Cons

• Complex querying with limited JOIN support
• Steep learning curve for data modeling and tuning

The Verdict

Use PlanetScale if: You want database branching and can live with mysql only.

Use Apache Cassandra if: You prioritize massive horizontal scalability with no single point of failure over what PlanetScale offers.

The Bottom Line

PlanetScale wins

Serverless MySQL with branching. DevOps for databases.