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CodeSandbox vs PlanetScale: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of CodeSandbox and PlanetScale. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: CodeSandbox starts at $170/mo and PlanetScale starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 12 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

CodeSandbox vs PlanetScale: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureCodeSandboxPlanetScale
Starting Price$170/moCustom pricing
Number of Plans39
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelper-seatusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

CodeSandbox and PlanetScale are both priced at $170/mo, making them equally accessible Dev Tools. Together they offer 12 pricing plans with 23 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

CodeSandbox stands out with a free plan for getting started. CodeSandbox uses per-seat pricing while PlanetScale uses usage-based pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

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
CodeSandbox
CodeSandbox
Try it free
PlanetScale
PlanetScale
Try it free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 5 members
  • 40 hours of monthly VM credits
  • Unlimited Browser & VM Sandboxes
  • CodeSandbox SDK lite
  • Private Sandboxes
  • VM specs up to 4 vCPUs + 8 GiB RAM
  • VS Code extension
Start with Free
Single node
Custom pricing
Start with Single node
Tier 2
Build
$170/monthCheapest
$170 / year
Includes
  • 20 members
  • 160 hours of monthly VM credits
  • Access to on-demand VM credits priced at $0.15 per hour
  • 1,000 new Sandboxes an hour
  • 250 concurrent VMs
  • 10,000 hourly requests
  • CodeSandbox SDK
  • More VM tiers
Start with Build
Metal
Custom pricing
Start with Metal
Tier 3
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Unlimited members
  • Up to 50% off bulk VM credit packs
  • Create as many Sandboxes as you need
  • Bespoke concurrent VMs
  • Hourly request limits tailored to your requirements
  • VM specs up to 64 vCPUs + 128 GiB RAM
  • Dedicated support
  • SOC 2 Type II compliance
Start with Enterprise
High Availability
Custom pricing
Start with High Availability
Tier 4
Instance and VTGate sizes
Custom pricing
Start with Instance and VTGate sizes
Tier 5
Storage amount
Custom pricing
Start with Storage amount
Tier 6
Add-ons
Custom pricing
Start with Add-ons
Tier 7
Bring your own cloud
Custom pricing
Start with Bring your own cloud
Tier 8
Upgraded support
Custom pricing
Start with Upgraded support
Tier 9
your own
Custom pricing
Start with your own

Swipe to compare plans →

CodeSandbox

Cloud development environments for rapid web prototyping

View all CodeSandbox plans

PlanetScale

Serverless MySQL database with branching and deploy requests

View all PlanetScale plans
Our Pick

CodeSandbox

CodeSandbox offers a free plan.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: CodeSandbox

Try CodeSandbox free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose CodeSandbox if:

  • You need a free plan with 5 members, 40 hours of monthly VM credits—CodeSandbox offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You want more features built-in—CodeSandbox offers 23 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize CodeSandbox's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

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)
  • PlanetScale's 9-tier usage-based structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning

CodeSandbox offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while PlanetScale requires paid subscription from the start. This gives CodeSandbox a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow CodeSandbox's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $170/mo 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. CodeSandbox's 3 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, CodeSandbox 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions: CodeSandbox vs PlanetScale

How many pricing plans does CodeSandbox have vs PlanetScale?
CodeSandbox offers 3 pricing plans, while PlanetScale offers 9 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does CodeSandbox or PlanetScale offer a free plan?
CodeSandbox offers a free plan, while PlanetScale does not. If budget is a concern, CodeSandbox lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for CodeSandbox or PlanetScale?
Both CodeSandbox and PlanetScale offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
Does CodeSandbox or PlanetScale offer custom enterprise pricing?
Yes, both CodeSandbox and PlanetScale offer custom enterprise pricing tiers with quote-based pricing. Contact each vendor for a tailored quote.
What pricing models do CodeSandbox and PlanetScale use?
CodeSandbox uses a per-seat pricing model, while PlanetScale uses usage-based pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do CodeSandbox and PlanetScale compare for Dev Tools?
Both CodeSandbox and PlanetScale are Dev Tools. CodeSandbox offers 3 plans starting at $170/mo, while PlanetScale offers 9 plans starting at Custom pricing. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Dev Tools needs.

Sources

  1. CodeSandbox Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. PlanetScale Official PricingVendor pricing page

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