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Neo4j vs PlanetScale

Neo4j logo

Neo4j

Software

The world's leading graph database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Neo4j has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Neo4j auraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Neo4j and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Neo4j and PlanetScale differ
AttributeNeo4jPlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, Docker, WebCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20072018

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 Neo4j

  • Native Graph Storage
  • Cypher Query Language
  • ACID Transactions
  • High Availability
  • Graph Data Science
  • Full-text Search
  • Native Indexes
  • GraphQL

Only in PlanetScale

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Neo4j

  • Running a managed graph database on AWS, Azure or Google Cloudnot PlanetScale
  • Building knowledge graphs and GraphRAG retrieval for AI applicationsnot PlanetScale
  • Fraud detection, recommendations and supply chain analysis over connected datanot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

  • MySQL database hosting with automatic failover and replicationnot Neo4j
  • Vitess-based sharding for horizontal scaling across large datasetsnot Neo4j
  • Cloud provider flexibility across AWS, GCP, Azure with 60+ regionsnot Neo4j
  • Cost-effective database clusters using ARM64 architecture optionsnot Neo4j

Where each one falls short

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

Neo4j

  • AuraDB Free has no service availability SLA, no backups and no point-in-time recovery
  • AuraDB Free imposes limits on node and relationship counts and runs single-zone only
  • SSO authentication and role-based access control are excluded from AuraDB Free and AuraDB Professional, starting only at Business Critical at $146 per GB per month with a 2GB minimum cluster
  • AuraDB Professional starts at $65 per GB per month with a minimum 1GB cluster and caps at 128GB memory per instance
  • AuraDB Professional backups are daily with only 7-day retention, against 30 days on Business Critical
  • Customer managed keys and private endpoints are available only on AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud, which is quote only with no published price
  • Change data capture, query log forwarding, secondaries and access to Neo4j Professional Services are excluded below the Business Critical tier
  • Support on AuraDB Free is community only and AuraDB Professional is best effort, with 24x7 one-hour response starting at Business Critical
  • AuraDB Virtual Dedicated Cloud is sold on prepaid contract terms with enterprise commercial negotiation rather than self-serve card payment

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

Neo4j

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Single database
    • Cypher queries
    • APOC library
  • AuraDB FreeFree
    • 50K nodes
    • 175K relationships
    • Cloud hosted
  • AuraDB Professional$65/month
    • Dedicated instance
    • Auto-scaling
    • Enterprise support

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Neo4j if

  • You need native graph storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
  • You also want cypher query language.
Neo4j 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 Neo4j or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Neo4j 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, Neo4j or PlanetScale?
Neo4j has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Neo4j and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does Neo4j or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Neo4j runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use Neo4j for free?
Yes. Neo4j has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/month.
What is Neo4j best used for?
Neo4j is most often used for running a managed graph database on aws, azure or google cloud, building knowledge graphs and graphrag retrieval for ai applications, fraud detection, recommendations and supply chain analysis over connected data. Of those, running a managed graph database on aws, azure or google cloud and building knowledge graphs and graphrag retrieval for ai applications are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Neo4j do that PlanetScale cannot?
Neo4j covers Native Graph Storage, Cypher Query Language, ACID Transactions, High Availability. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle Web support.
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