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Software · head to head

ExpressVPN vs PlanetScale

ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN

Software

High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service

From
$6.67/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ExpressVPN the App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ExpressVPN and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where ExpressVPN and PlanetScale differ
AttributeExpressVPNPlanetScale
Starting price$6.67/month$15/month
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Mobile, ApiCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20092018

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 ExpressVPN

  • Lightway protocol
  • TrustedServer technology
  • Network Lock kill switch
  • Split tunneling
  • No activity logs
  • Private DNS
  • Speed test
  • MediaStreamer

Only in PlanetScale

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

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ExpressVPN

  • Vpnnot PlanetScale
  • Privacynot PlanetScale
  • Streamingnot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

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

Where each one falls short

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

ExpressVPN

  • The App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase
  • The same listing caps a single ExpressVPN subscription at 14 simultaneous device connections

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

ExpressVPN

$6.67/month
  • 1 Month$12.95/month
    • 8 devices
    • 94 countries
    • Unlimited bandwidth
  • 12 Months$6.67/month
    • All features
    • 3 months free
    • Best value
  • 6 Months$9.99/month
    • All features
    • 30-day guarantee

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ExpressVPN if

  • You need lightway protocol.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want trustedserver technology.
ExpressVPN 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 ExpressVPN or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and PlanetScale at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ExpressVPN or PlanetScale?
ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and PlanetScale at $15/month.
Does ExpressVPN or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
ExpressVPN runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
What is ExpressVPN best used for?
ExpressVPN is most often used for vpn, privacy, streaming. Of those, vpn and privacy are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can ExpressVPN do that PlanetScale cannot?
ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock kill switch, Split tunneling. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support.
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