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MySQL Workbench VS PlanetScale

Compare MySQL Workbench VS PlanetScale and see what are their differences

MySQL Workbench logo MySQL Workbench

MySQL Workbench is a unified visual tool for database architects, developers, and DBAs.

PlanetScale logo PlanetScale

The last database you'll ever need. Go from idea to IPO.
  • MySQL Workbench Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-16
  • PlanetScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15

MySQL Workbench features and specs

  • Intuitive Interface
    MySQL Workbench offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies database design and management tasks, making it accessible even to those who are not highly technical.
  • Comprehensive Toolset
    It provides a wide array of tools, including data modeling, SQL development, and server administration, allowing users to perform various tasks within a single environment.
  • Visual Database Design
    The tool supports visual database design, enabling users to create and manage models graphically, which helps in understanding complex database structures.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    MySQL Workbench is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering flexibility in terms of operating system usage.
  • Community and Support
    MySQL Workbench benefits from a large user community and comprehensive documentation, making it easier to find solutions to common problems.
  • Integrated Tools
    It integrates seamlessly with other MySQL tools and products, enhancing its capabilities for users working within a MySQL environment.
  • Backup and Recovery
    The software includes features for backup and data recovery, which are essential for maintaining data integrity and security.

Possible disadvantages of MySQL Workbench

  • Resource Intensive
    MySQL Workbench can be resource-intensive and may slow down your system, especially when working with large databases or complex queries.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, the tool has a steep learning curve for beginners, particularly those who are new to database management and SQL.
  • Crashes and Bugs
    Some users report occasional crashes and bugs, which can be disruptive to workflow and result in lost work if not saved frequently.
  • Limited Non-MySQL Support
    While MySQL Workbench is feature-rich for MySQL, it offers limited support for other databases, making it less versatile for diversified database environments.
  • No Direct Query Execution Monitoring
    The tool lacks direct monitoring for running queries, which can make it difficult to track and manage long-running queries efficiently.
  • High Memory Usage
    The application tends to use a high amount of memory, which can be a drawback for users working on machines with limited RAM.

PlanetScale features and specs

  • Scalability
    PlanetScale is designed for massive scale, leveraging the Vitess engine that powers YouTube. This makes it suitable for applications requiring high scalability for both read and write operations.
  • Global Distribution
    Offers multi-region deployment, ensuring low-latency access and higher availability, beneficial for globally distributed applications.
  • Serverless Approach
    The platform takes a serverless approach to database management, which means automatic scaling, less infrastructure to manage, and potential cost savings.
  • Branching and Sharding
    Supports database branching for isolated environments like development, testing, and production. It also supports sharding, which helps in distributing data across multiple nodes for better performance and reliability.
  • High Availability
    PlanetScale provides high availability with automated failover mechanisms, ensuring minimal downtime.
  • Strong Data Integrity
    Uses Vitess’s strong consistency models to ensure data integrity across distributed systems.
  • Developer Friendly
    Includes tools and features that make it easier for developers to manage, such as automatic migrations and simplified schema management.
  • Integration
    Can be easily integrated with various cloud service providers, making it flexible for different deployment environments.

Possible disadvantages of PlanetScale

  • Learning Curve
    The platform comes with a learning curve, especially for teams unfamiliar with Vitess or managing distributed databases.
  • Cost
    While it can offer cost savings in some areas, the pricing for large-scale deployments and multi-region setups can be relatively high.
  • Complexity of Advanced Features
    Advanced features like sharding and branching can add complexity to the database management operations.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to more established databases, the ecosystem and community around PlanetScale might be smaller, which can affect the availability of third-party tools and community support.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using a proprietary platform can lead to vendor lock-in, making it harder to switch to other database services if needed.
  • Early-stage Platform
    While promising, PlanetScale is relatively new compared to some other established database services, which means it may lack some maturity or have bugs that older platforms have ironed out.

MySQL Workbench videos

MySQL Workbench Tutorial | Introduction To MySQL Workbench | MySQL DBA Training | Edureka

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Create MySQL Database - MySQL Workbench Tutorial
  • Tutorial - MySQL Workbench Tutorial

PlanetScale videos

PlanetScale Beta - Release Radar

More videos:

  • Review - Using PlanetScale (MySQL) with Next.js and Vercel!
  • Review - PlanetScale and Prisma: building in the cloud - Nick Van Wiggeren | Prisma Day 2021

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MySQL Workbench and PlanetScale)
Databases
65 65%
35% 35
MySQL Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Database Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare MySQL Workbench and PlanetScale

MySQL Workbench Reviews

15 Best MySQL GUI Clients for macOS
MySQL Workbench is probably the default, if not the ultimate GUI client for MySQL database developers, architects, and analysts. Being compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux, it includes a good selection of database design and administration tools that will definitely simplify your daily work.
Source: blog.devart.com
Best MySQL GUI Clients for Linux in 2023
MySQL Workbench is the default Linux MySQL GUI client for database developers, architects, and analysts. It is a cross-platform solution, compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Source: blog.devart.com
9 Best Database Software For Mac [Reviewed & Ranked]
MySQL Workbench is a unified visual tool and acts as a database client for MySQL database servers. It provides features for data modeling, SQL development, and SQL testing and acts as an admin tool for server configuration.
Source: alvarotrigo.com
Top Ten MySQL GUI Tools
MySQL Workbench is a visual schema and query builder that is currently the only SQL client supported and developed by MySQL. It provides compatibility with all current features of MySQL. This open-source relational database software is offered in three editions: Standard, Community, and Enterprise.
Best Database Tools for 2022
MySQL Workbench is a useful database tool that comes as a desktop tool specifically designed for MySQL and is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. As a visual tool for database architects, developers, database administrators (DBAs), and students, it is a complete solution for these professionals with data modeling, SQL development, user administration, server...
Source: vertabelo.com

PlanetScale Reviews

We have no reviews of PlanetScale yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PlanetScale seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 102 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

MySQL Workbench mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of MySQL Workbench yet. Tracking of MySQL Workbench recommendations started around Mar 2021.

PlanetScale mentions (102)

  • Ask HN: What's the best free database provider out there?
    Https://planetscale.com/ would be a good bet. - Source: Hacker News / 14 days ago
  • List of 45 databases in the world
    PlanetScale — Serverless database platform built on MySQL and Vitess. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Good alternatives to Heroku
    Planetscale - Directly from their website: "PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible serverless database that brings you scale, performance, and reliability — without sacrificing developer experience.". - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • MySQL or Top Alternatives in 2024 and How to Choose One
    PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible database that offers scale, performance, and reliability, and many more powerful database features. Leveraging cloud-native architecture, PlanetScale enables organizations to deploy, manage, and scale MySQL-compatible databases with ease. With features such as automatic sharding, distributed transactions, and high availability, PlanetScale enables businesses to handle large... - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Breaking the Myth: Scalable, Multi-Region, Low-Latency App Exists And Will Not Cost You A Kidney.
    For MySQL, we've got PlanetScale, and for PostgreSQL, there's Neon. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing MySQL Workbench and PlanetScale, you can also consider the following products

DBeaver - DBeaver - Universal Database Manager and SQL Client.

Datahike - A durable datalog database adaptable for distribution.

DataGrip - Tool for SQL and databases

MarkLogic Server - MarkLogic Server is a multi-model database that has both NoSQL and trusted enterprise data management capabilities.

HeidiSQL - HeidiSQL is a powerful and easy client for MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL. Open source and entirely free to use.

Datomic - The fully transactional, cloud-ready, distributed database