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Databases · head to head

DataGrip vs PlanetScale

DataGrip logo

DataGrip

Databases

Cross-platform database IDE from JetBrains for SQL and NoSQL databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Databases

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: DataGrip commercial use requires a paid subscription; the free tier is non-commercial only.; PlanetScale pricing varies significantly across 17+ AWS and GCP regions
  • They diverge on capability: DataGrip covers Intelligent SQL Completion, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DataGrip and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where DataGrip and PlanetScale differ
AttributeDataGripPlanetScale
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Platformswindows, mac, linuxCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20002018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 DataGrip

  • Intelligent SQL Completion
  • Schema Navigation
  • Data Editor
  • Version Control for Scripts
  • Multi-database Support

Only in PlanetScale

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

What people use each for

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

DataGrip

  • Writing and running SQL queries across multiple database enginesnot PlanetScale
  • Browsing and editing schema and table data visuallynot PlanetScale
  • Version-controlling database migration scriptsnot PlanetScale
  • Standardizing database tooling across a JetBrains-based teamnot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

  • MySQL-compatible applications requiring horizontal scalingnot DataGrip
  • PostgreSQL deployments with custom cluster configurationsnot DataGrip
  • Multi-region database deployments on AWS or GCPnot DataGrip
  • Applications requiring transparent sharding via Vitessnot DataGrip

Where each one falls short

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

DataGrip

  • Commercial use requires a paid subscription; the free tier is non-commercial only.
  • No built-in database administration features like backup scheduling found in dedicated DBA tools.
  • Heavier resource footprint than lightweight single-purpose SQL clients.
  • NoSQL support (e.g. MongoDB) is less mature than its relational database tooling.

PlanetScale

  • Pricing varies significantly across 17+ AWS and GCP regions
  • Additional costs for EBS storage beyond base tier, backup storage, and egress
  • Dedicated PgBouncer and replicas incur separate charges
  • Metal tier pricing increases sharply with larger configurations

Pricing, plan by plan

DataGrip

Free
  • Free (non-commercial)Free
    • Personal, non-commercial use only
  • Individual - Year 1$99/year
    • Full DataGrip license
    • Free updates during subscription
  • Individual - Year 2+$79/year
    • Continuity discount from second year onward

PlanetScale

Free
  • Postgres EBS Single-Node (ARM64 PS-5)$5/month
    • 512 MiB RAM
    • Single-node configuration
    • EBS storage included
  • Postgres EBS HA (ARM64 PS-5)$15/month
    • 512 MiB RAM
    • 3-node high-availability setup
    • 1 primary + 2 replicas
  • Postgres Metal (M-10)$50/month
    • 1/8 vCPU, 1 GiB RAM
    • 3-node HA configuration
    • 10 GiB NVMe storage included
  • Vitess Non-Metal 3-Node$39/month
    • Sharding-capable database
    • x86-64 architecture
    • 3-node configuration

Which should you pick?

Choose DataGrip if

  • You need intelligent sql completion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want schema navigation.
DataGrip review

Choose PlanetScale if

  • You need database branching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want non-blocking schema changes.
PlanetScale review

Questions people ask

Is DataGrip or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. DataGrip starts at Free and PlanetScale at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DataGrip or PlanetScale?
DataGrip starts at Free and PlanetScale at Free.
Does DataGrip or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
DataGrip runs on windows, mac, linux. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use DataGrip for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is DataGrip best used for?
DataGrip is most often used for writing and running sql queries across multiple database engines, browsing and editing schema and table data visually, version-controlling database migration scripts, standardizing database tooling across a jetbrains-based team. Of those, writing and running sql queries across multiple database engines and browsing and editing schema and table data visually are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can DataGrip do that PlanetScale cannot?
DataGrip covers Intelligent SQL Completion, Schema Navigation, Data Editor, Version Control for Scripts. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DataGrip: Is DataGrip free for personal use?

JetBrains introduced a free non-commercial license for DataGrip in October 2025, allowing personal use, while commercial use still requires a paid annual or monthly subscription.

Source
PlanetScale: How much does a PlanetScale Postgres database cost per month?

PlanetScale Postgres pricing starts at $5/month for single-node ARM64 configurations with 512 MiB RAM and $15/month for the same specs in high-availability mode with 1 primary and 2 replicas. Metal tier starts at $50/month for M-10 configuration (1/8 vCPU, 1 GiB RAM). Exact pricing depends on cluster size, node architecture (ARM64 vs x86-64), storage configuration, and selected AWS/GCP region.

Source
DataGrip: Who qualifies for the free non-commercial license?

Only individuals are eligible, for uses like learning, open-source work, or content creation. Anyone paid by an employer, including at a non-profit, must use a commercial license instead.

Source
PlanetScale: Is there a free tier for PlanetScale?

PlanetScale offers a free tier for development and testing workloads. After free tier limits are reached, usage-based pricing applies starting at $5/month for the smallest Postgres single-node configuration, with costs scaling based on cluster size, compute, storage, and additional features like dedicated PgBouncer or replicas.

Source
DataGrip: How long does the free non-commercial license last?

It lasts one year and auto-renews if DataGrip was used at least once in the final six months; otherwise you can simply reapply for a new license.

Source
PlanetScale: What is the difference between PlanetScale ARM64 and x86-64 pricing?

ARM64 instances cost significantly less than x86-64 equivalents. For example, a Postgres EBS HA cluster with 512 MiB RAM costs $15/month on ARM64 but $39/month on x86-64. This pricing difference extends across all cluster sizes, with larger x86-64 configurations reaching up to $5,599/month compared to ARM64 alternatives.

Source
DataGrip: Does the free license have fewer features than the paid version?

No, it is a full-featured IDE identical to the paid version, though it requires anonymized telemetry sharing that cannot be opted out of under the non-commercial agreement.

Source
PlanetScale: What is included in a PlanetScale cluster price versus additional costs?

The advertised cluster price covers the base compute and configured storage. Additional charges apply for EBS storage beyond the base allocation, backup storage, data egress, optional dedicated PgBouncer connections, and replicas beyond the base high-availability configuration. Regional pricing varies across 17+ AWS and GCP zones.

Source
DataGrip: Can I use DataGrip offline with the free license?

No, activation requires logging into a JetBrains Account; offline activation codes are not available for the free non-commercial license.

Source
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