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Databases comparison · 2026
PlanetScale edges out CockroachDB in this Databases comparison, scoring 87 against 81 across our seven scored dimensions. PlanetScale has the edge on Price / Value (78 vs 65). The two are closest on Performance, where the gap is just 6 points. Both offer a free tier, making either a low-risk starting point. Use the radar chart and dimension table below to find which fits your specific priorities best.
CockroachDB
Distributed SQL that survives entire region failures
81/100
PlanetScale
Serverless MySQL with database branching
87/100
Radar comparison
CockroachDB
81
PlanetScale
87
Developer UX
Branching, migrations, dashboard, and local dev experience.
Performance
Query latency and connection handling at scale.
Scalability
Auto-scaling, read replicas, and serverless scale-to-zero.
Price / Value
Free tier generosity and cost at production scale.
Reliability
Backups, point-in-time recovery, and uptime SLA.
Ecosystem
ORM support, extensions, and integration breadth.
Overall Score
Based on our independent scoring across 6 dimensions, PlanetScale scores 87/100 overall versus CockroachDB's 81/100 — a 6-point margin. PlanetScale leads on Scalability in particular. That said, CockroachDB may still be the right choice if the dimensions where it scores higher match your specific priorities — the radar chart above shows the full profile side by side.
Both CockroachDB and PlanetScale offer a free tier, so entry-level cost is not a differentiating factor. Compare the feature and usage limits of each free plan to see which gives you more headroom before a paid upgrade is needed.
CockroachDB scores higher on Reliability — 98/100 versus 90/100 for PlanetScale. If reliability is your primary decision criterion, CockroachDB is the stronger choice in this head-to-head.
Switching between databases tools is generally possible but involves migration effort: exporting your data or configuration from CockroachDB, re-importing or reconfiguring in PlanetScale, and updating any API integrations or environment variables in your codebase. The effort scales with how deeply embedded the tool is in your stack. Test PlanetScale on a non-production project first before migrating.
CockroachDB (81/100) is the better fit for teams who prioritise scalability — its strongest dimension — and who want a free entry point. PlanetScale (87/100) is the better fit for teams who prioritise scalability and want a free entry point. If both dimensions matter equally, the overall score winner (PlanetScale) is the safer default choice.
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