Cloudflare vs PlanetScale — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Cloudflare and PlanetScale to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Cloudflare takes the lead with a 4.6 rating and is best for every website for cdn/dns, and developers building on edge computing.. PlanetScale (4.3) is the better pick if you need teams needing mysql at scale with safe schema migrations and database branching..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Cloudflare | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★★ 4.6(398) | ★★★★ 4.3(145) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | paid |
| Starter Price | $20/mo (Pro) | $39/mo (Scaler) |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Learning Curve | medium | medium |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Every website for CDN/DNS, and developers building on edge computing. | Teams needing MySQL at scale with safe schema migrations and database branching. |
| Verdict | recommended | situational |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Cloudflare | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|
| Global CDN with 300+ locations | — | |
| Workers (edge computing) | — | |
| R2 object storage (no egress fees) | — | |
| Pages (site hosting) | — | |
| DDoS protection | — | |
| DNS management | — | |
| D1 edge database | — | |
| Database branching | — | |
| Non-blocking schema changes | — | |
| Serverless scaling | — | |
| Connection pooling | — | |
| Query insights | — | |
| Automatic backups | — |
Cloudflare
Pros
- ✓Most valuable free tier — CDN, DNS, and security for free
- ✓Workers edge computing with 300+ global locations
- ✓R2 storage eliminates egress fees
Cons
- ✕Edge computing paradigm requires rethinking application architecture
- ✕Workers have runtime limitations (CPU time, memory)
- ✕Enterprise pricing is opaque
PlanetScale
Pros
- ✓Database branching enables safe schema development
- ✓Non-blocking schema changes mean zero-downtime migrations
- ✓Serverless scaling handles traffic spikes automatically
Cons
- ✕No free tier — $39/mo minimum
- ✕MySQL only — no PostgreSQL support
- ✕Row-based pricing requires monitoring to avoid bill surprises
The Bottom Line
Both Cloudflare and PlanetScale are solid tools in the Developer Tools space. Cloudflare edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and is the better choice for every website for cdn/dns, and developers building on edge computing.. However, if you prioritize teams needing mysql at scale with safe schema migrations and database branching., PlanetScale is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.