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Database & Data Management · head to head

DuckDB vs PlanetScale

DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Database & Data Management

Fast in-process analytical database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Database & Data Management

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DuckDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: DuckDB covers In-process Execution, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DuckDB and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where DuckDB and PlanetScale differ
AttributeDuckDBPlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssemblyCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
CategoryUnknownDatabase & Data Management
Founded20192018

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

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 DuckDB

  • In-process Execution
  • Columnar Storage
  • Vectorized Execution
  • Rich SQL Support
  • Parquet Support
  • CSV/JSON Import
  • Zero Dependencies
  • Python

Only in PlanetScale

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

Both cover

  • Node.js

What people use each for

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

DuckDB

  • Analytics and data warehousingnot PlanetScale
  • OLAP queries and data explorationnot PlanetScale
  • Data science and machine learning workflowsnot PlanetScale
  • Multi-format data ingestion and processingnot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

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

Where each one falls short

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

DuckDB

  • Client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios

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

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

Which should you pick?

Choose DuckDB if

  • You need in-process execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
  • You also want columnar storage.
DuckDB 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 DuckDB or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. DuckDB 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, DuckDB or PlanetScale?
DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DuckDB and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does DuckDB or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use DuckDB for free?
Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/month.
What is DuckDB best used for?
DuckDB is most often used for analytics and data warehousing, olap queries and data exploration, data science and machine learning workflows, multi-format data ingestion and processing. Of those, analytics and data warehousing and olap queries and data exploration are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can DuckDB do that PlanetScale cannot?
DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle Node.js.
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