Fly.io vs PlanetScale: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Fly.io vs PlanetScale.
⚡ Quick Verdict
PlanetScale edges ahead with a 4.3/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Fly.io | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $29/mo | $29/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $29/mo | $39/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ 3 shared-CPU VMs, 160 GB outbound data, 3 GB persistent volumes. | ✅ 1 database, 5 GB storage, 1 billion row reads/mo. Hobby plan discontinued for new users in 2024. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Fly.io | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Launch | $0/mo | $29/mo |
| Scale | $29/mo | $39/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fly.io | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Documentation | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Pros & Cons
Fly.io
✅ Pros
- Deploy to 30+ regions for low-latency globally
- Run any Docker container — language agnostic
- Real Machines API for custom orchestration
- SQLite on Fly (LiteFS) for edge-native databases
❌ Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Vercel/Render
- CLI-centric workflow can frustrate dashboard users
- Billing can be unpredictable with usage-based model
PlanetScale
✅ Pros
- Non-blocking schema changes — no more migration downtime
- Git-like branching for database schemas
- Vitess-powered, horizontally scalable
- Excellent integration with Prisma and Drizzle
❌ Cons
- Free tier removed for new users (2024)
- No support for foreign key constraints (Vitess limitation)
- Can get expensive at scale compared to self-hosted
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Fly.io if...
- You are a globally distributed apps
- You are a docker-based deployments
🚫 Skip if...
- Beginners wanting one-click deploy
- Static site hosting
✅ Choose PlanetScale if...
- You are a startups needing zero-downtime deployments
- You are a teams using prisma/drizzle orm
🚫 Skip if...
- Projects requiring foreign key enforcement
- Budget-sensitive solo devs
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Fly.io (4.2/5) and PlanetScale (4.3/5) are excellent tools in their category. PlanetScale takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fly.io better than PlanetScale?
It depends on your needs. Fly.io excels in some areas while PlanetScale has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Fly.io pricing compare to PlanetScale?
Fly.io starts at Free / $0/mo, while PlanetScale starts at Free / $29/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Fly.io to PlanetScale?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. PlanetScale typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Fly.io.
Which is easier to use, Fly.io or PlanetScale?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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