Turso vs PlanetScale for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Turso Overview

Turso takes SQLite and distributes it globally. Your database runs at the edge, close to your users, with read replicas in multiple regions. The core is libSQL, an open-source fork of SQLite that adds features like server mode, replication, and HTTP access. You get SQLite's simplicity with the distribution of a global database service.

Embedded replicas are Turso's killer feature. Your application embeds a local SQLite database that syncs with Turso's servers. Reads happen locally with zero network latency. Writes go to the primary and replicate back. For read-heavy applications, the performance is extraordinary. Your database queries take microseconds instead of milliseconds.

The free tier includes 9GB of total storage, 500 databases, and 25 million row reads per month. That's generous enough for multiple side projects. For a solo developer running several small applications, Turso's free tier covers all of them without costing anything.

PlanetScale Overview

PlanetScale is serverless MySQL built on Vitess, the technology that powered YouTube's database infrastructure. The headline feature is database branching with non-blocking schema changes. You create a branch, make schema changes, test them, and merge. No downtime. No table locking. Schema migrations that would bring a traditional MySQL database to its knees happen seamlessly.

The developer experience is polished. The dashboard shows your schema, lets you run queries, and provides insights into query performance. The CLI integrates with your development workflow. Deploy requests (their version of pull requests for database schema) create a reviewable diff of your schema changes.

However, PlanetScale removed its free tier in 2024. The cheapest plan starts at $39/month. For a solo developer running side projects, that's a significant cost, especially when free alternatives exist. The pricing makes PlanetScale hard to recommend for projects that aren't generating revenue.

Key Differences

Underlying database engine. Turso is built on SQLite (via libSQL). PlanetScale is built on MySQL (via Vitess). SQLite is simpler, has fewer features, and doesn't support all SQL operations. MySQL is more feature-rich but more complex. For most solo developer projects, SQLite's feature set is sufficient.

Free tier availability. Turso has a generous free tier. PlanetScale has no free tier. This alone makes Turso the more accessible option for solo developers experimenting with side projects or building MVPs without revenue.

Edge distribution. Turso's core value proposition is edge-hosted SQLite. Your data lives close to your users globally. PlanetScale supports multi-region deployments but it's a premium feature at higher pricing tiers. For latency-sensitive applications, Turso's edge architecture is more accessible.

Embedded replicas. Turso lets you embed a SQLite replica inside your application. Reads are local. This is a fundamentally different architecture that eliminates network latency for read operations. PlanetScale has no equivalent. Every query goes over the network. For read-heavy applications, Turso's approach is dramatically faster.

Schema changes. PlanetScale's non-blocking schema changes are genuinely impressive. You never lock a table during a migration. Turso doesn't have an equivalent workflow. SQLite schema changes are simple but can lock the database briefly during writes. For applications with large tables and frequent schema changes, PlanetScale handles this better.

Foreign keys. PlanetScale historically didn't support foreign keys due to Vitess limitations (they've since added support, but with caveats). Turso supports SQLite's foreign key constraints natively. For data integrity, Turso's foreign key support is simpler and more straightforward.

Ecosystem compatibility. PlanetScale is MySQL-compatible, which means it works with every MySQL ORM and tool. Turso uses libSQL, which is SQLite-compatible. Most SQLite libraries work, but some tools need Turso-specific adapters. PlanetScale has broader out-of-the-box compatibility.

When to Choose Turso

• You want edge-hosted databases with global distribution on a free tier
• Your application is read-heavy and would benefit from embedded local replicas
• You value SQLite's simplicity and want it at a global scale
• You're building edge-first applications on Cloudflare Workers, Deno, or Bun
• You want a generous free tier that covers multiple projects

When to Choose PlanetScale

• You specifically need MySQL compatibility for your application or ORM
• You have large tables with frequent schema changes that need non-blocking migrations
• You're running a revenue-generating application that justifies $39+/month
• You want the polished developer experience of deploy requests for schema reviews
• Your team or infrastructure is already MySQL-based

The Verdict

Turso is the better choice for solo developers in 2026. The free tier, edge distribution, embedded replicas, and SQLite simplicity create a compelling package. You get a globally distributed database for free, with local read performance that traditional client-server databases can't match.

PlanetScale is a solid product, but the lack of a free tier kills it for solo developers building side projects or early-stage products. Paying $39/month for a database when Turso, Supabase, and Neon all offer generous free tiers is hard to justify unless you specifically need MySQL compatibility or non-blocking schema changes at scale.

The 8/10 vs 6/10 rating reflects this pricing reality plus Turso's innovative edge architecture. PlanetScale's technology is impressive, but the pricing targets funded startups and established businesses, not solo developers bootstrapping their first product. Turso meets solo developers where they are: wanting powerful infrastructure without a monthly bill until the project proves itself.