Managed databases

MongoDB Atlas vs PlanetScale

Same category, different tradeoffs. Pick from the published entry price and the limits below.

MongoDB Atlas

Managed document database with a free shared tier

Free M0, then paid

Strengths

  • M0 is a real free cluster for prototypes
  • Dedicated tiers cover production

Limits

  • A real bill splits compute, storage, and backup
  • Document modeling is a poor fit for relational workloads

Vendor pricing Alternatives

PlanetScale

Managed Postgres and Vitess clusters sized by SKU

Paid clusters

Strengths

  • Cluster price is a monthly SKU, easier to budget
  • Schema changes can ship through branching

Limits

  • There is no permanent free cluster
  • You pick a size instead of paying only for idle time

Vendor pricing Alternatives