Serverless Databases in 2025: PlanetScale vs Neon vs Turso
January 16, 20259 min readBy VIBEBUFF Team
ServerlessDatabasePlanetScaleNeonTursoEdge
A comprehensive guide to serverless databases. Compare PlanetScale, Neon, Turso, and other options for your next serverless application.
The Serverless Database Revolution
Serverless databases have transformed how we build applications. No more connection pooling headaches or cold start issues.
What Makes a Database Serverless?
- Auto-scaling: Scales up and down automatically
- Pay-per-use: Only pay for what you consume
- No Connection Limits: HTTP-based connections
- Edge Compatible: Works in edge functions
PlanetScale: Serverless MySQL
Built on Vitess (YouTube's database technology):
- Branching: Git-like database branches
- Non-blocking Schema Changes: Zero-downtime migrations
- Insights: Query performance analytics
- Generous Free Tier: 5GB storage, 1B row reads/month
Best For
- Teams familiar with MySQL
- Applications needing horizontal scaling
- Projects requiring database branching workflows
Neon: Serverless PostgreSQL
The serverless PostgreSQL pioneer:
- Branching: Instant database copies
- Auto-suspend: Scales to zero when idle
- Bottomless Storage: Separated compute and storage
- PostgreSQL Compatible: Full PostgreSQL features
Best For
- PostgreSQL users going serverless
- Development environments needing branches
- Cost-conscious projects (scales to zero)
Turso: Edge-First SQLite
SQLite at the edge with libSQL:
- Global Replication: Data close to users
- Embedded Replicas: Local SQLite for reads
- Minimal Latency: Sub-millisecond reads
- SQLite Compatible: Familiar SQL syntax
Best For
- Edge-first applications
- Read-heavy workloads
- Applications needing minimal latency
Comparison Table
| Feature | PlanetScale | Neon | Turso |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database | MySQL | PostgreSQL | SQLite |
| Branching | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Edge Support | Limited | Good | Excellent |
| Free Tier | Generous | Good | Good |
| Scale to Zero | No | Yes | Yes |
Choosing the Right One
Choose PlanetScale When
- You need MySQL compatibility
- Horizontal scaling is important
- You want database branching for CI/CD
Choose Neon When
- You prefer PostgreSQL
- Cost optimization matters (scale to zero)
- You need full PostgreSQL features
Choose Turso When
- Building edge-first applications
- Read latency is critical
- You want embedded replicas
Getting Started
All three offer generous free tiers. We recommend starting with Neon for most projects due to PostgreSQL's versatility and Neon's excellent free tier.
Find more database options in our Tools directory or compare platforms with our Compare tool.