Convex
PlanetScale
| Feature | Convex | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $25/mo | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | full-stack-developers, real-time-apps, startups, rapid-prototyping | saas-companies, startups, developer-teams, high-traffic-apps |
| Founded | 2021 | 2018 |
| Real Time Database | ✓ | ✗ |
| Serverless Functions | ✓ | ✗ |
| File Storage | ✓ | ✗ |
| Authentication | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Database Branching | ✗ | ✓ |
| Schema Changes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto Scaling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Read Replicas | ✗ | ✓ |
| Insights Dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cli Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connection Pooling | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Convex Pros
- Real-time by default
- TypeScript-first
- Built-in auth and file storage
- Automatic caching
✗ Convex Cons
- Vendor lock-in
- Newer platform
- Limited to Convex runtime
✓ PlanetScale Pros
- Git-like branching for database schema changes
- Non-blocking schema changes with no downtime
- Built on Vitess (powers YouTube's database)
- Excellent developer experience and CLI
✗ PlanetScale Cons
- Free tier was removed in 2024
- MySQL-compatible only (no PostgreSQL)
- Foreign key constraints not supported in traditional way
The Verdict
Convex is built for full stack developers and real time apps, with a focus on real-time-database and serverless-functions. PlanetScale targets saas companies and startups and leads with database-branching and schema-changes.
On pricing, Convex is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $25/mo compared to $39/mo for PlanetScale. That $14/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Convex has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. PlanetScale requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, PlanetScale offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Convex takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for startups — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.