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Software · head to head

Periscope Data vs PlanetScale

Periscope Data logo

Periscope Data

Software

SQL and Python analytics platform

From
$1000/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: Periscope Data the periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: Periscope Data covers SQL Editor, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Periscope Data and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Periscope Data and PlanetScale differ
AttributePeriscope DataPlanetScale
Starting price$1000/month$15/month
PlatformsWeb, CloudCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20122018

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 Periscope Data

  • SQL Editor
  • Python/R Integration
  • Version Control
  • Caching
  • Dashboards
  • Redshift
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake

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.

Periscope Data

  • SQL-based analytics and dashboards over a data warehousenot PlanetScale
  • Python and R analysis alongside SQL in one workflownot PlanetScale
  • Shared dashboards for data teamsnot PlanetScale

PlanetScale

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

Where each one falls short

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

Periscope Data

  • The periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • No Periscope Data pricing, plan or seat rate remains published at the original domain
  • Buyers must now purchase through Sisense, whose own pricing is not published as a rate card

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

Periscope Data

$1000/month
  • Team$1000/month
    • SQL Analytics
    • Python/R
    • Dashboards
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced Features
    • Custom Integrations
    • Premium Support

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Periscope Data if

  • You need sql editor.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want python/r integration.
Periscope Data 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 Periscope Data or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Periscope Data starts at $1000/month and PlanetScale at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Periscope Data or PlanetScale?
Periscope Data starts at $1000/month and PlanetScale at $15/month.
Does Periscope Data or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Periscope Data runs on Web, Cloud. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
What is Periscope Data best used for?
Periscope Data is most often used for sql-based analytics and dashboards over a data warehouse, python and r analysis alongside sql in one workflow, shared dashboards for data teams. Of those, sql-based analytics and dashboards over a data warehouse and python and r analysis alongside sql in one workflow are not what PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Periscope Data do that PlanetScale cannot?
Periscope Data covers SQL Editor, Python/R Integration, Version Control, Caching. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle Web support.
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