PlanetScale vs Render: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of PlanetScale and Render. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: PlanetScale starts at Custom pricing and Render starts at $19/mo. Compare all 13 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
PlanetScale vs Render: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | PlanetScale | Render |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $19/mo |
| Number of Plans | 9 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
PlanetScale and Render are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Dev Tools. Together they offer 13 pricing plans with 26 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Render 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 |  Render Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Single node Custom pricing | Hobby $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Metal Custom pricing | Professional $19/monthCheapest $19 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | High Availability Custom pricing | Organization $29/monthCheapest $29 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | Instance and VTGate sizes Custom pricing | Enterprise 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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Render
Render offers a free plan.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Render
Try Render 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)
- •PlanetScale's usage-based pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps
Choose Render if:
- •You need a free plan with For personal projects and small-scale applications, 1 project with 2 environments—Render offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You want more features built-in—Render offers 26 additional features across its plans
- •You prioritize Render's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
Render offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while PlanetScale requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Render a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Render's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $19/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. Render'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, Render 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 Render
How many pricing plans does PlanetScale have vs Render?
Does PlanetScale or Render offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for PlanetScale or Render?
Does PlanetScale or Render offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do PlanetScale and Render compare for Dev Tools?
Sources
- PlanetScale Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Render Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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