Convex vs PlanetScale

Convex offers a reactive TypeScript backend with built-in data store, not a general-purpose sharded SQL engine.

ConvexReactive backend database for TypeScript apps

PlanetScaleHosted MySQL and Postgres built for scale

Which to pick

Pick Convex if you want…

Reactive TypeScript backend with built-in AI support
Reactive TypeScript backend
A free plan to start with
Open-source code (get-convex/convex-backend on GitHub)
Integrations with TypeScript, Node.js or Stripe (on Convex's list, not PlanetScale's)

Pick PlanetScale if you want…

Sharded MySQL/Postgres with unlimited IOPS
Integrations with Fivetran, Airbyte or Hightouch (on PlanetScale's list, not Convex's)

Side by side

What it is: Convex:Convex is a reactive, TypeScript-first backend platform offering database, functions, sync, search and AI-ready features.; PlanetScale:PlanetScale provides managed, horizontally-sharded MySQL, Vitess, and Postgres databases with unlimited IOPS and high-availability.
Best for: Convex:Reactive TypeScript backend with built-in AI support; PlanetScale:Sharded MySQL/Postgres with unlimited IOPS
Who it’s for: Convex:Developers building TypeScript apps, AI agents and real-time applications.; PlanetScale:Developers and teams needing scalable, high-performance cloud databases.
Pricing: Convex:Freemium; PlanetScale:Paid
Plans: Convex:Free $0 · Professional $25 per developer/month per month · Enterprise $2,500 monthly minimum per month; PlanetScale:Single-node Postgres $5 per month · PlanetScale Metal $50 per month
Open source: Convex:Yes, 12,633 GitHub stars; PlanetScale:—
Works with: Convex:TypeScript, Node.js, Stripe, Twilio, PostHog, Workpool, Workflow, AI Gateway; PlanetScale:Fivetran, Airbyte, Hightouch, Datadog, Vantage, Debezium, Prometheus, pganalyze

Convex features

Reactive database. ACID-compliant, type-safe database that updates clients in real time.
End-to-end type safety. Ensures TypeScript types are enforced across schema, functions and client code.
Automatic caching & scaling. Handles caching and scales automatically to support viral workloads.
Real-time sync. Pushes data changes instantly to all connected users.
Workpool background jobs. Runs model calls and jobs with retries, backoff and parallelism.
Workflow engine. Multi-step processes that checkpoint, retry and resume automatically.

PlanetScale features

Horizontal sharding. Vitess and Neki enable explicit sharding for MySQL and Postgres across thousands of nodes.
Branch-per-environment. Each branch runs on its own isolated cluster for safe schema changes.
Unlimited IOPS on NVMe. PlanetScale Metal uses blazing-fast NVMe drives with unlimited IOPS.
High-availability clusters. One primary and two replicas across three availability zones with automated failover.
Built-in connection pooling. PgBouncer for Postgres and similar pooling for MySQL reduce connection overhead.
Query Insights & observability. Integrated monitoring dashboards for Vitess, Neki, and Postgres workloads.
Database Traffic Control™. Set flexible budgets on query traffic to prevent runaway queries.
Security & compliance. SOC 1/2, PCI DSS, HIPAA compliance with IP restrictions and private link options.

Convex vs PlanetScale FAQ

Is Convex or PlanetScale free?+

Convex has a free plan and paid plans. PlanetScale is paid, from $5/month (Single-node Postgres).

Is Convex or PlanetScale open source?+

Convex is open source (get-convex/convex-backend on GitHub). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for PlanetScale.

Do Convex and PlanetScale integrate with the same tools?+

Their integration lists don't overlap: Convex lists TypeScript, Node.js, Stripe, Twilio and 4 more; PlanetScale lists Fivetran, Airbyte, Hightouch, Datadog and 8 more.

On DevHunt

Convex

Listed by DevHunt

Convex on DevHunt →Convex alternatives

PlanetScale