Clerk vs PlanetScale: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Clerk and PlanetScale. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Clerk starts at Custom pricing and PlanetScale starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 13 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Clerk vs PlanetScale: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Clerk | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Number of Plans | 4 | 9 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Clerk and PlanetScale are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Dev Tools. Together they offer 13 pricing plans with 0 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Clerk stands out with a free plan for getting started.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Dev Tools needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Clerk Try it free |  PlanetScale Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Hobby $0/monthCheapest | Single node Custom pricing |
| Tier 2 | Pro Custom pricing | Metal Custom pricing |
| Tier 3 | Business Custom pricing | High Availability Custom pricing |
| Tier 4 | Enterprise Custom pricing | Instance and VTGate sizes Custom pricing |
| Tier 5 | — | Storage amount Custom pricing |
| Tier 6 | — | Add-ons Custom pricing |
| Tier 7 | — | Bring your own cloud Custom pricing |
| Tier 8 | — | Upgraded support Custom pricing |
| Tier 9 | — | your own Custom pricing |
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What Reviewers Say
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk offers a free plan.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Clerk
Try Clerk freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Clerk if:
- •You need a free plan with core features—Clerk offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You prioritize Clerk's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •You need predictable billing — Clerk's usage-based model avoids surprise overages
Choose PlanetScale if:
- •You need 9 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You prioritize PlanetScale's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •You want PlanetScale's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 9 pricing tiers
Clerk offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while PlanetScale requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Clerk a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Clerk's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against PlanetScale's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Clerk's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while PlanetScale's 9 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Clerk is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Clerk vs PlanetScale
How many pricing plans does Clerk have vs PlanetScale?
Does Clerk or PlanetScale offer a free plan?
Does Clerk or PlanetScale offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Clerk and PlanetScale compare for Dev Tools?
Sources
- Clerk Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- PlanetScale Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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