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Software · head to head

CosmosDB vs PlanetScale

CosmosDB logo

CosmosDB

Software

Globally distributed, multi-model database service from Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CosmosDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CosmosDB autoscale provisioned throughput enforces a minimum of 1,000 RU/s, billed hourly whether or not the database is used; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: CosmosDB covers Global Distribution, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CosmosDB and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where CosmosDB and PlanetScale differ
AttributeCosmosDBPlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, AzureCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded19752018

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CosmosDB

  • Global Distribution
  • Multi-model APIs
  • Elastic Scaling
  • Five Consistency Levels
  • SLA-backed Latency
  • Automatic Indexing
  • Serverless
  • Azure Functions

Only in PlanetScale

  • Database Branching
  • Non-blocking Schema Changes
  • Insights
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Connection Pooling
  • Query Caching
  • Automatic Backups
  • Global Replication

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CosmosDB

  • Running a globally distributed multi model database on Azurenot PlanetScale
  • Serving low latency reads and writes from multiple Azure regionsnot PlanetScale
  • Storing document, key value and graph data behind a managed servicenot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

  • MySQL database hosting with automatic failover and replicationnot CosmosDB
  • Vitess-based sharding for horizontal scaling across large datasetsnot CosmosDB
  • Cloud provider flexibility across AWS, GCP, Azure with 60+ regionsnot CosmosDB
  • Cost-effective database clusters using ARM64 architecture optionsnot CosmosDB

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CosmosDB

  • Autoscale provisioned throughput enforces a minimum of 1,000 RU/s, billed hourly whether or not the database is used
  • Provisioned throughput is charged in every region the account is replicated to, so multi region accounts multiply the RU bill
  • Storage charges cover data, indexes and backups in each replicated region
  • Egress out of Azure and between regions is charged, though ingress is free
  • The free allowance is one account per Azure subscription, limited to 1,000 RU/s and 25 GB
  • RU/s rates vary by region and are only shown through the pricing calculator rather than a flat published rate

PlanetScale

  • EBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • EBS Non-HA single-node option lacks redundancy and automatic failover
  • Pricing varies by cloud provider and region, requiring queries for specific rates
  • ARM64 architecture only available on EBS tier, not Metal deployments

Pricing, plan by plan

CosmosDB

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1000 RU/s
    • 25GB storage
    • First 12 months
  • ServerlessFree
    • Pay per request
    • Auto-scaling
    • Event-driven workloads

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CosmosDB if

  • You need global distribution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Azure.
  • You also want multi-model apis.
CosmosDB review

Choose PlanetScale if

  • You need database branching.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want non-blocking schema changes.
PlanetScale review

Questions people ask

Is CosmosDB or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. CosmosDB starts at Free and PlanetScale at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CosmosDB or PlanetScale?
CosmosDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CosmosDB and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does CosmosDB or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
CosmosDB runs on Web, Azure. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use CosmosDB for free?
Yes. CosmosDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/month.
What is CosmosDB best used for?
CosmosDB is most often used for running a globally distributed multi model database on azure, serving low latency reads and writes from multiple azure regions, storing document, key value and graph data behind a managed service. Of those, running a globally distributed multi model database on azure and serving low latency reads and writes from multiple azure regions are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can CosmosDB do that PlanetScale cannot?
CosmosDB covers Global Distribution, Multi-model APIs, Elastic Scaling, Five Consistency Levels. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle Web support.
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