{"slug":"planetscale-vs-railway)","question":"PlanetScale vs Railway","answer":"PlanetScale specializes in MySQL database hosting with branching and built-in scaling for $29-$500/month, while Railway offers a broader platform-as-a-service for deploying apps, databases, and services starting at $5/month with pay-as-you-go pricing. PlanetScale is database-focused; Railway is application-focused.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose PlanetScale if you need a specialized MySQL database with sophisticated branching for development workflows, Prisma integration, and don't mind a higher minimum cost. Choose Railway if you want an all-in-one platform to host your entire application stack (frontend, backend, databases) with flexible pay-as-you-go pricing and multi-database support.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Primary Focus","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"MySQL database platform","entityBValue":"Full application deployment platform"},{"label":"Minimum Monthly Cost","winner":"b","entityAValue":"$29 (Hobby plan)","entityBValue":"$5 (pay-as-you-go)"},{"label":"Database Engine Support","winner":"b","entityAValue":"MySQL 8.0 only","entityBValue":"PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis"},{"label":"Git Branching/Environments","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Native git-like branching with automatic preview databases","entityBValue":"Environment variables and deployment configs"},{"label":"Application Hosting","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Database-only (requires external hosting)","entityBValue":"Full app hosting with auto-scaling"}],"winner":{"slug":"railway","name":"Railway"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"PlanetScale","slug":"planetscale","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/planetscale","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/planetscale"},{"name":"Railway","slug":"railway","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/railway","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/railway"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Can I use PlanetScale and Railway together?","answer":"Yes, many developers use PlanetScale for their MySQL database and Railway to host their application code. PlanetScale provides the database with branching features, while Railway handles the app deployment, creating a combined solution that uses both platforms' strengths."},{"question":"Which is cheaper for a small project with low traffic?","answer":"Railway is significantly cheaper for small projects, starting at $5/month with pay-as-you-go pricing. PlanetScale's minimum Hobby tier is $29/month. However, if you only need a database and use external hosting, PlanetScale's specialized features may justify the cost for MySQL-specific workflows."},{"question":"Does PlanetScale work with Prisma ORM?","answer":"Yes, PlanetScale has native Prisma integration with automatic preview databases that sync with git branches. Prisma queries work directly with PlanetScale's MySQL instances, and the branching model aligns perfectly with Prisma's development workflow."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/planetscale-vs-railway)","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/planetscale-vs-railway)), PlanetScale specializes in MySQL database hosting with branching and built-in scaling for $29-$500/month, while Railway offers a broader platform-as-a-service for deploying apps, databases, and servic","dateModified":"2026-07-09T06:59:03.791Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/planetscale-vs-railway)","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/planetscale-vs-railway)","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/planetscale-vs-railway)","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/planetscale-vs-railway)#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/planetscale-vs-railway)","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"PlanetScale vs Railway","reviewBody":"PlanetScale specializes in MySQL database hosting with branching and built-in scaling for $29-$500/month, while Railway offers a broader platform-as-a-service for deploying apps, databases, and services starting at $5/month with pay-as-you-go pricing. PlanetScale is database-focused; Railway is application-focused.","datePublished":"2026-07-09T06:59:03.234Z","dateModified":"2026-07-09T06:59:03.791Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/planetscale-vs-railway)","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/planetscale-vs-railway)","name":"PlanetScale vs Railway","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}