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Databases · head to head

Fivetran HVR vs PlanetScale

Fivetran HVR logo

Fivetran HVR

Databases

Log-based change data capture for database replication and synchronization

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Databases

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only PlanetScale has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fivetran HVR pricing not published separately; part of Fivetran's usage model; PlanetScale pricing varies significantly across 17+ AWS and GCP regions
  • They diverge on capability: Fivetran HVR covers Log-based change capture, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fivetran HVR and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Fivetran HVR and PlanetScale differ
AttributeFivetran HVRPlanetScale
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelUsage-based, integrated with Fivetran billingusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsData Warehouse, Data Lake, Operational DatabasesCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20122018

Identical on both: 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 Fivetran HVR

  • Log-based change capture
  • Real-time replication
  • Schema evolution handling
  • Multi-table consistency
  • Zero-impact monitoring
  • Fivetran integration

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.

Fivetran HVR

  • Real-time database replication to data warehousesnot PlanetScale
  • Maintaining operational copies for analyticsnot PlanetScale
  • Disaster recovery and business continuitynot PlanetScale
  • Feeding AI systems with fresh governed datanot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

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

Where each one falls short

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

Fivetran HVR

  • Pricing not published separately; part of Fivetran's usage model
  • Requires Fivetran relationship for implementation
  • Limited standalone documentation and community resources
  • May be overkill for simple batch replication needs
  • Competitive offerings provide more transparent per-connector pricing

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

Fivetran HVR

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Fivetran HVR review.

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 Fivetran HVR if

  • You need log-based change capture.
  • You work on Data Warehouse, Data Lake, Operational Databases.
  • You also want real-time replication.
Fivetran HVR 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 Fivetran HVR or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Fivetran HVR starts at On request and PlanetScale at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fivetran HVR or PlanetScale?
PlanetScale has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Fivetran HVR and Free for PlanetScale.
Does Fivetran HVR or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Fivetran HVR runs on Data Warehouse, Data Lake, Operational Databases. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use PlanetScale for free?
Yes. PlanetScale has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fivetran HVR starts at On request.
What is Fivetran HVR best used for?
Fivetran HVR is most often used for real-time database replication to data warehouses, maintaining operational copies for analytics, disaster recovery and business continuity, feeding ai systems with fresh governed data. Of those, real-time database replication to data warehouses and maintaining operational copies for analytics are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Fivetran HVR do that PlanetScale cannot?
Fivetran HVR covers Log-based change capture, Real-time replication, Schema evolution handling, Multi-table consistency. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fivetran HVR: What databases does Fivetran HVR support?

HVR supports major databases including Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and others that emit transaction logs.

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
Fivetran HVR: Is HVR part of standard Fivetran pricing?

Yes, HVR is integrated into Fivetran's usage-based pricing model with standard per-row-synced and transformation costs.

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
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
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
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