PlanetScale
SeaTable
| Feature | PlanetScale | SeaTable |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $39/mo | Free / from $7/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | saas-companies, startups, developer-teams, high-traffic-apps | privacy-conscious-teams, european-companies, self-hosters, research-teams |
| Founded | 2018 | 2020 |
| Database Branching | ✓ | ✗ |
| Schema Changes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Scaling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Read Replicas | ✓ | ✗ |
| Insights Dashboard | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cli Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Connection Pooling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spreadsheet Interface | ✗ | ✓ |
| Python Scripting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Forms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Statistics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ SeaTable Pros
- Self-hostable with Docker
- Python scripting for automation
- GDPR-compliant European hosting
- Flexible column types including files
✗ SeaTable Cons
- Smaller community than Airtable
- Plugin ecosystem still growing
- Mobile experience is basic
The Verdict
PlanetScale is built for saas companies and startups, with a focus on database-branching and schema-changes. SeaTable targets privacy conscious teams and european companies and leads with spreadsheet-interface and python-scripting.
On pricing, SeaTable is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $7/mo compared to $39/mo for PlanetScale. That $32/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
SeaTable 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 SeaTable takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: PlanetScale has a slight overall edge — but if self-hostable with docker matters most to you, SeaTable may still be the right call.