MariaDB vs PlanetScale comparison

Why PeerSpot?

MariaDB and PlanetScale are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. MariaDB is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.0, while PlanetScale is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.7. MariaDB holds a 3.2% mindshare in SQL, compared to PlanetScale’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of MariaDB users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of PlanetScale users who would recommend it.

MariaDB

Read 62 MariaDB reviews

7,978 Views
4,468 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

PlanetScale

Read 8 PlanetScale reviews

1,390 Views
1,376 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

MariaDB

PlanetScale

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 2026

MariaDB and PlanetScale compete in the database market. MariaDB has an edge in traditional support and pricing, while PlanetScale offers cutting-edge features for advanced functionality.

Features: MariaDB is recognized for robust security, broad SQL database compatibility, and dynamic scaling. PlanetScale focuses on distributed relational database architecture, real-time scalability, and advanced cloud-based functionalities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: MariaDB provides flexibility for self-hosted environments with comprehensive support, favorable for businesses with in-house IT teams. PlanetScale offers a seamless cloud-based deployment process, excellent documentation, and customer support, suitable for cloud-native users.

Pricing and ROI: MariaDB offers competitive pricing with various packages that include enterprise support, making it cost-effective for traditional RDBMS features. PlanetScale's pay-as-you-grow model might seem higher initially but offers attractive ROI for growth-focused businesses with scalable needs.

To learn more, read our detailed MariaDB vs. PlanetScale Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

MariaDB vs. PlanetScale

September 2026

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Helped 919,894 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

MariaDB

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

15th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Open Source Databases (10th)

PlanetScale

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

21st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

5.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of MariaDB is 3.2%, down from 5.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of PlanetScale is 1.1%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
MariaDB	3.2%
PlanetScale	1.1%
Other	95.7%

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

Prabhat-Ranjan

Architect at LTIMindtree

Cloud deployment has improved security and performance but still needs richer query features

MariaDB is easy to install. Performance of MariaDB has improved with the query optimizer. We use MariaDB's data-at-rest encryption. Encryption is available in MariaDB, so we are secure for transmitting data without concern about moving over networks. Query optimization in MariaDB is better than Oracle. We use advanced replication for MariaDB. Role-based access is available in MariaDB, which is a good feature. The technical support of MariaDB is very helpful. They came and tuned our queries with one-to-one assistance.

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Shrikant S

Consultant at RanceLab

Query insights have cut infrastructure costs and let full‑stack teams manage databases independently

In my opinion, the best features PlanetScale offers are recommendations and statistics on queries. Insights on queries have helped me and my teams significantly. For example, once while I was a CTO at Commutech, I received insights from a query that showed one specific query which checked permissions was selecting all permissions for a user instead of selecting a specific row. This increased the load on the database. Receiving that one insight helped me rewrite that query to only select the permission that needed to be checked, which made scaling possible. Such insights that pinpoint exact problems help in resolving scaling issues. PlanetScale positively impacts my organization by greatly improving productivity and saving significant costs. Typically, if I were to manage my own database, I would need someone to manage that infrastructure, keep updating things, and maintain backups. PlanetScale handles all of that, including backups. We can restore to a point in time using PlanetScale. All these things would normally require a specially skilled person to manage a database. Instead of that, we can have the full-stack developer developing the product manage the database themselves instead of hiring a specialized person just for management. Rather than spending on a DevOps person, we can spend that budget on a developer and build more features instead of spending money on just maintaining infrastructure.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I am editing."

"I recommend this solution; it's great for web applications and it just works."

"The most valuable feature is that it uses multiple cores, which is better than some of the other databases."

"The technical support of MariaDB is very helpful, and they came and tuned our queries with one-to-one assistance."

"One of the great features of MariaDB is its scalability. It's easy to handle even with large databases."

"The solution is very easy to implement."

"What I like best about MariaDB is that it is open-source and reliable."

"MariaDB can solve things better than MySQL, and MariaDB has better performance than MySQL."

More MariaDB pros

"In my opinion, one of the best features PlanetScale offers is the ability to lock all changes to the database, so no particular developer can do changes that could break things for others."

"The branching feature is also good for developer experience."

"One feature I appreciate about PlanetScale is its ability to handle migrations and commands without the need to run them manually in the database."

"The solution is beginner-friendly. Like any new platform, it can be a bit confusing at first. But after spending about an hour with it, you can get a clear idea of what everything is for. It's not very confusing; I think they've improved it recently."

"I recommend using PlanetScale as it provides ease of access and control over database changes using commands from the local terminal."

"PlanetScale positively impacts my organization by greatly improving productivity and saving significant costs."

"I like the solution's developer experience. When you deploy changes to the database in the portal, you can use different deployment strategies and see how things work. You can put changes into different branches, like deployment and staging. This is built into the product, allowing you to navigate changes through different branches."

"The database is accessible 24/7, ensuring my project runs smoothly without interruptions."

More PlanetScale pros

Cons

"MariaDB could be improved by adding more automation."

"When we have had issues with accidental computer shutdown or a power outage, our MariaDB database was corrupted."

"The solution should do some fine-tuning on maybe the transaction per second so that users can get more than they can on the Microsoft SQL Server."

"The key area where MariaDB could be improved is its native GUI tooling; while the command-line interface works perfectly fine, the built-in visual tools for administration, management, and query design feel outdated compared to some competitors."

"The maintenance and performance could be a bit better."

"I’m not sure if it can scale, so I’m not sure how it would fare for significant companies."

"In future releases, mainly the addition of security features would be beneficial for MariaDB."

"MariaDB can improve by adding more features. There are a lot of features, which are available in Oracle, and which are not available in MariaDB. We hope they will introduce the features soon."

More MariaDB cons

"The main thing I didn't like about PlanetScale was that we couldn't run analytical queries on it."

"Regarding needed improvements, I wish PlanetScale would have a free tier so that startups could try it and then opt in for a paid feature."

"I am not sure, but I think recently, the tool removed the free version."

"Recently we started noticing that because of the distance between the database and the server and our particular field, there may be some lagging and that may not be acceptable."

"We encountered some initial issues during the product deployment, which required me to search for solutions on forums."

"I used PlanetScale for hobby projects, so my perspective differs from someone using it commercially. Unfortunately, they've removed the free tier in recent months and pivoted to a business-to-business model. This is sad for hobby developers like me because it's a great product, but I understand they have costs to cover."

"When I tried to integrate the solution with Firebase for authentication, I faced some interruptions. Also, when using it with Next.js and NextAuth.js for Google and social logins, I had some troubles."

"I would like PlanetScale to have a feature where the database can be accessed in the cloud with a link, allowing for a more user-friendly interface compared to the terminal."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"MariaDB is open-source and self-hosted."

"The product is not expensive."

"The tool is open-source."

"We use the solution's free version."

"When it comes to MariaDB, it should have a more cost-effective license."

"MariaDB is a free-to-use solution."

"MariaDB is an open-source software, meaning I don't need to pay for the product."

"There is a monthly subscription to use MariaDB."

More MariaDB pricing and cost advice

"I am currently using the product's free version, which has been sufficient for my portfolio project."

"Last time, when I wanted to use the tool in a project, I could see it was only paid, so I didn't use the service."

"The solution is expensive for beginners. That's why I wasn't motivated to use it more. But they were already providing many features for free for beginners, which was great."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

University

Computer Software Company

32%

Construction Company

18%

Comms Service Provider

16%

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	28
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	26

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for MariaDB?

MariaDB is in the pricey range, especially for huge databases handling terabytes of data. The cost depends on the volume of data and different features enabled during configuration, such as backup ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with MariaDB?

The key area where MariaDB could be improved is its native GUI tooling; while the command-line interface works perfectly fine, the built-in visual tools for administration, management, and query de...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for MariaDB?

My main use case for MariaDB was web applications, and I have been using MariaDB for just about a year now as I was in the development team. A specific web application where I used MariaDB is a hea...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PlanetScale?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that pricing is good enough to be used at enterprise level. It is not cheap, but it is appropriately priced. I do not find it costly at all.

See all answers

What needs improvement with PlanetScale?

Regarding how PlanetScale could be improved, especially considering my experience so far, if it were possible to handle the lagging problem, I suppose it is something that cannot really be changed ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for PlanetScale?

My main use case for PlanetScale is that currently, in the company, we are considering changing our current local database to PlanetScale for stability and other benefits, but it has not been deplo...

See all answers

Comparisons

MySQL vs MariaDB

Compared 12% of the time

PostgreSQL vs MariaDB

Compared 10% of the time

Firebird SQL vs MariaDB

Compared 8% of the time

SQL Server vs MariaDB

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Database vs MariaDB

Compared 5% of the time

More MariaDB Competitors

Amazon Aurora Serverless vs PlanetScale

Compared 27% of the time

Citus Data vs PlanetScale

Compared 17% of the time

Google Cloud SQL vs PlanetScale

Compared 9% of the time

SQL Server vs PlanetScale

Compared 6% of the time

Amazon RDS on Outposts vs PlanetScale

Compared 3% of the time

More PlanetScale Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

MariaDB

October 2026

Download MariaDB product report

Buyer's Guide

PlanetScale

October 2026

Download PlanetScale product report

Overview

MariaDB is a robust database solution known for its scalability, speed, and user-friendliness. It supports seamless integration and provides reliable performance in handling large datasets, offering strong community backing alongside its open-source nature.

MariaDB is renowned for efficiently managing large databases and complex relationships while being stable and easy to integrate. With advanced features like replication, encryption, and SQL compatibility, it offers fast query processing. Its straightforward installation and management processes facilitate seamless enterprise integrations and ensure high performance in real-time data scenarios. However, enhancements in enterprise integration, clustering, and scalability are necessary. Addressing challenges with complex queries, security, and user experience would be advantageous, alongside offering robust technical support and a competitive pricing model.

What are the key features of MariaDB?

Scalability: Handles large databases and complex relationships effectively.
User-Friendliness: Offers easy integration and management.
Speed: Provides fast query processing using multi-core processing efficiently.
Advanced Features: Includes replication, encryption, and SQL compatibility.
Open-Source: Encourages strong community support and continuous improvement.

What benefits should users consider when evaluating MariaDB?

Performance: High performance in real-time data processing.
Integration: Seamless integration with enterprise systems and SaaS applications.
Community Support: Strong open-source community for troubleshooting and development.
Cost-Effectiveness: Competitive pricing compared to proprietary databases.
Compatibility: MySQL compatibility for easier transitions and migrations.

MariaDB is extensively utilized in backend support for cloud telephony platforms, ERP systems, and financial software, being crucial for web application development and data storage. Entities favor its compatibility with MySQL for complex join queries and its support for structured data management in SaaS applications.

MariaDB

PlanetScale offers seamless database management for Postgres and MySQL with features tailored for modern development environments, enabling enhanced project operations through efficient integration and ease of use.

PlanetScale is designed to support modern developer workflows through features like PgBouncer connection pooling and constant availability, making it ideal for serverless applications. Its integration with tools like Cloudflare and DrizzleORM enhances the developer experience, allowing fast setup and effortless database interactions.

What are the most important features of PlanetScale?

PgBouncer connection pooling: Optimizes database connections for serverless environments.
Constant availability: Ensures uninterrupted operations and workflow efficiency.
Developer-friendly: Integrates seamlessly with Cloudflare hyperdrive and DrizzleORM for enhanced project management.
Quick setup: Simplifies setup processes in corporate environments, allowing immediate use.
Local NVMe storage: PlanetScale Metal lets your database run with locally attached NVMe storage, giving you faster reads and writes.
Database branching: Teams can set up independent branches for CICD tests and staging environments, simplifying the development process.

What benefits should users consider when evaluating PlanetScale?

Uninterrupted project operations: Facilitates constant availability for high-performance applications.
Enhanced developer experience: Offers intuitive integrations and project management capabilities.
Ease of integration: Works well with popular tools like Cloudflare hyperdrive and DrizzleORM for efficient workflows.

PlanetScale finds significant use in hosting databases for enterprise companies, other infrastructure providers, chat applications, and hobby projects. Its compatibility with DrizzleORM facilitates seamless MySQL and Postgres database management online. Users leverage its capabilities for OLTP workloads and manage data environments effectively.

PlanetScale

Sample Customers

Google, Wikipedia, Tencent, Verizon, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, Telefónica, Huatai Securities

Block, Intercom, Convex, MyFitnessPal

Buyer's Guide

MariaDB vs. PlanetScale

September 2026

Free Report: MariaDB vs. PlanetScale

Find out what your peers are saying about MariaDB vs. PlanetScale and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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