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Dgraph vs PlanetScale

Dgraph logo

Dgraph

Software

The only native GraphQL database with graph backend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Dgraph has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Dgraph the GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dgraph and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Dgraph and PlanetScale differ
AttributeDgraphPlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Mac, Docker, WebCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20162018

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 Dgraph

  • Native GraphQL
  • Distributed Architecture
  • ACID Transactions
  • GraphQL Subscriptions
  • Full-text Search
  • Geolocation Queries
  • GraphQL
  • Ratel UI

Only in PlanetScale

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

Both cover

  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Dgraph

  • Knowledge graphsnot PlanetScale
  • Fraud detectionnot PlanetScale
  • Recommendation enginesnot PlanetScale
  • Network analysisnot PlanetScale
  • Master data managementnot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

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

Where each one falls short

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

Dgraph

  • The GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README

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

Dgraph

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Native GraphQL
    • Graph queries
    • Full-text search
  • Cloud$39/month
    • Managed service
    • Auto-scaling
    • Enterprise support

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Dgraph if

  • You need native graphql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
  • You also want distributed architecture.
Dgraph 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 Dgraph or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Dgraph 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, Dgraph or PlanetScale?
Dgraph has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dgraph and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does Dgraph or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use Dgraph for free?
Yes. Dgraph has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/month.
What is Dgraph best used for?
Dgraph is most often used for knowledge graphs, fraud detection, recommendation engines, network analysis. Of those, knowledge graphs and fraud detection are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Dgraph do that PlanetScale cannot?
Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Distributed Architecture, ACID Transactions, GraphQL Subscriptions. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Connection Pooling. Both handle Horizontal Scaling, Web support.
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