Pick / avoid summary (fast)
Skim these triggers to pick a default, then validate with the quick checks and constraints below.
- ✓ Managed Postgres plus an integrated developer platform experience
- ✓ Often accelerates shipping for teams that want platform tooling around Postgres
- ✓ Good fit for teams prioritizing speed-to-ship
- ✓ MySQL-compatible relational option with modern workflows
- ✓ Often evaluated when teams want serverless model and scaling patterns
- ✓ Can be a strong fit for teams preferring MySQL ecosystem
- × Platform coupling can increase switching cost
- × Production scaling and limits must be validated for your workload
- × Not Postgres; ecosystem and features differ from Postgres-centric stacks
- × Operational constraints and limits must be validated
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CheckChanging SQL ecosystem later is costly—treat it as a long-term decision.
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The trade-offintegrated Postgres platform coupling vs MySQL-first serverless workflow.
At-a-glance comparison
Supabase Database
Managed Postgres as part of Supabase’s developer platform, evaluated when teams want a relational core plus integrated tooling and speed-to-ship.
- ✓ Managed Postgres plus an integrated developer platform experience
- ✓ Often accelerates shipping for teams that want platform tooling around Postgres
- ✓ Good fit for teams prioritizing speed-to-ship
PlanetScale
Serverless MySQL platform (Vitess-based) evaluated when teams want MySQL compatibility plus modern workflows and horizontal scaling patterns.
- ✓ MySQL-compatible relational option with modern workflows
- ✓ Often evaluated when teams want serverless model and scaling patterns
- ✓ Can be a strong fit for teams preferring MySQL ecosystem
What breaks first (decision checks)
These checks reflect the common constraints that decide between Supabase Database and PlanetScale in this category.
If you only read one section, read this — these are the checks that force redesigns or budget surprises.
- Real trade-off: Managed Postgres as part of an integrated developer platform vs a MySQL-compatible serverless workflow with a different ecosystem and operational model.
- Operational model and ownership: Define your scaling path (single region vs multi-region resilience)
- Ecosystem alignment vs portability: Identify integration gravity (identity, networking, observability)
Implementation gotchas
These are the practical downsides teams tend to discover during setup, rollout, or scaling.
Where Supabase Database surprises teams
- Platform coupling can increase switching cost
- Production scaling and limits must be validated for your workload
- Database governance and schema ownership still matter
Where PlanetScale surprises teams
- Not Postgres; ecosystem and features differ from Postgres-centric stacks
- Operational constraints and limits must be validated
- Migration and data model decisions still carry switching costs
Pros and cons
Supabase Database
Pros
- + Managed Postgres plus an integrated developer platform experience
- + Often accelerates shipping for teams that want platform tooling around Postgres
- + Good fit for teams prioritizing speed-to-ship
- + Useful when you want one coherent platform experience around Postgres + app workflows
- + Good fit for product teams that prefer platform DX over building bespoke infra
Cons
- − Platform coupling can increase switching cost
- − Production scaling and limits must be validated for your workload
- − Database governance and schema ownership still matter
- − Enterprise governance requirements may require additional validation beyond a dev-first platform
- − Migration planning is still required if you later move to a hyperscaler-native baseline
- − Operational posture still needs ownership (observability, backups, access controls)
PlanetScale
Pros
- + MySQL-compatible relational option with modern workflows
- + Often evaluated when teams want serverless model and scaling patterns
- + Can be a strong fit for teams preferring MySQL ecosystem
- + Good fit when you want a modern workflow around a MySQL-compatible database
- + A clear alternative when you want MySQL compatibility but don’t want to self-manage MySQL operations
Cons
- − Not Postgres; ecosystem and features differ from Postgres-centric stacks
- − Operational constraints and limits must be validated
- − Migration and data model decisions still carry switching costs
- − Platform coupling can create switching cost if you adopt platform-specific workflows deeply
- − You must validate production constraints early to avoid rework later
- − Not a fit if your stack is deeply Postgres-centric and you need Postgres compatibility
Keep exploring this category
If you’re close to a decision, the fastest next step is to read 1–2 more head-to-head briefs, then confirm pricing limits in the product detail pages.
FAQ
How do you choose between Supabase Database and PlanetScale?
Choose Supabase Database when you want Postgres paired with an integrated developer platform experience to accelerate shipping. Choose PlanetScale when MySQL compatibility is a requirement and you want a modern serverless MySQL workflow. The decision is integrated Postgres platform vs MySQL-first workflow and compatibility.
When should you pick Supabase Database?
Pick Supabase Database when: Managed Postgres plus an integrated developer platform experience; Often accelerates shipping for teams that want platform tooling around Postgres; Good fit for teams prioritizing speed-to-ship; Useful when you want one coherent platform experience around Postgres + app workflows.
When should you pick PlanetScale?
Pick PlanetScale when: MySQL-compatible relational option with modern workflows; Often evaluated when teams want serverless model and scaling patterns; Can be a strong fit for teams preferring MySQL ecosystem; Good fit when you want a modern workflow around a MySQL-compatible database.
What’s the real trade-off between Supabase Database and PlanetScale?
Managed Postgres as part of an integrated developer platform vs a MySQL-compatible serverless workflow with a different ecosystem and operational model.
What’s the most common mistake buyers make in this comparison?
Comparing feature lists instead of deciding on Postgres vs MySQL compatibility and whether you want an integrated platform vs a database-focused workflow.
What’s the fastest elimination rule?
Pick Supabase Database if Postgres + integrated platform DX is the fastest path to ship.
What breaks first with Supabase Database?
Outgrowing platform limits once workload and team count scale. Governance/access control needs if enterprise requirements appear later. Cost predictability if usage grows without guardrails.
What are the hidden constraints of Supabase Database?
Platform coupling should be an explicit decision. Validate scaling/limits and operational expectations early. Have an explicit migration/exit plan if you later need hyperscaler-native governance.
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Sources & verification
We prefer to link primary references (official pricing, documentation, and public product pages). If links are missing, treat this as a seeded brief until verification is completed.