PlanetScale vs Pulumi: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of PlanetScale and Pulumi. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: PlanetScale starts at Custom pricing and Pulumi starts at $40/mo. Compare all 13 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
PlanetScale vs Pulumi: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | PlanetScale | Pulumi |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $40/mo |
| Number of Plans | 9 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
PlanetScale and Pulumi are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Dev Tools. Together they offer 13 pricing plans with 28 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Pulumi 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 |  PlanetScale Try it free |  Pulumi Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Single node Custom pricing | Individual $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Metal Custom pricing | Team $40/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 3 | High Availability Custom pricing | Enterprise $400/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 4 | Instance and VTGate sizes Custom pricing | Business Critical Custom pricing Includes
|
| 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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Pulumi
Pulumi offers a free plan.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Pulumi
Try Pulumi freeWhich Should You Choose?
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 need predictable billing — PlanetScale's usage-based model avoids surprise overages
Choose Pulumi if:
- •You need a free plan with IaC state management, Unlimited projects, stacks, and environments—Pulumi offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You want more features built-in—Pulumi offers 28 additional features across its plans
- •You prioritize Pulumi's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
Pulumi offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while PlanetScale requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Pulumi a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Pulumi's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $40/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. Pulumi'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, Pulumi 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: PlanetScale vs Pulumi
How many pricing plans does PlanetScale have vs Pulumi?
Does PlanetScale or Pulumi offer a free plan?
Does PlanetScale or Pulumi offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do PlanetScale and Pulumi compare for Dev Tools?
Sources
- PlanetScale Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Pulumi Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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