PlanetScale vs CockroachDB

Serverless MySQL with branching meets the cockroach of databases: hard to kill, spreads everywhere, and surprisingly good at sql. 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

CockroachDB

The cockroach of databases: hard to kill, spreads everywhere, and surprisingly good at SQL.

Pros

• Strong consistency across distributed nodes without manual sharding
• PostgreSQL wire protocol compatibility for easy migration
• Automatic data replication and rebalancing for high availability

Cons

• Higher latency compared to single-node databases due to distributed overhead
• Complex licensing and pricing can be a headache for scaling

The Verdict

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

Use CockroachDB if: You prioritize strong consistency across distributed nodes without manual sharding over what PlanetScale offers.

The Bottom Line

PlanetScale wins

Serverless MySQL with branching. DevOps for databases.