The @neondatabase/serverless and @planetscale/database packages are JavaScript clients for their respective serverless database platforms. Neon provides a PostgreSQL-compatible serverless database with a client optimized for edge runtimes and WebSockets, while PlanetScale offers a MySQL-compatible platform built on Vitess with a client designed for HTTP-based connections. Both emerged to solve the challenge of connecting to databases from serverless and edge environments where traditional TCP connections are unavailable.
This comparison matters because choosing between these clients fundamentally determines your database engine (PostgreSQL vs MySQL), connection strategy, and edge compatibility. Developers building applications on Vercel Edge, Cloudflare Workers, or similar platforms need clients that work without TCP, while those prioritizing PostgreSQL compatibility or specific MySQL features will naturally gravitate toward one option. Both target modern JavaScript developers working with serverless architectures, but they serve different ecosystem preferences and technical requirements.
Choose @neondatabase/serverless if you need PostgreSQL compatibility or are migrating from an existing PostgreSQL application. The WebSocket-based architecture provides genuine PostgreSQL protocol support, making it the clear choice when you require PostgreSQL-specific features, have a team experienced with PostgreSQL, or depend on the broader PostgreSQL ecosystem of tools and extensions. The larger bundle size is justified if you're building data-intensive applications where PostgreSQL's advanced querying capabilities matter more than milliseconds of cold start time.
Choose @planetscale/database if you prioritize minimal bundle size, have MySQL expertise, or value PlanetScale's superior database operations workflow. The stateless HTTP approach with smaller bundle makes it ideal for edge functions where cold start performance is critical and you're making simple queries. PlanetScale's branching and deploy request workflow is more mature for teams managing schema changes across environments. If you don't specifically need PostgreSQL features and want a simpler, lighter client with excellent operational tooling, PlanetScale is the pragmatic choice.