IBM Db2 Database vs PlanetScale comparison

IBM and PlanetScale are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3, while PlanetScale is ranked #16 with an average rating of 8.2. IBM holds a 7.4% mindshare in SQL, compared to PlanetScale’s 0.2% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of PlanetScale users who would recommend it.

IBM Db2 Database

Read 74 IBM Db2 Database reviews

5,504 Views
2,309 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

PlanetScale

Read 6 PlanetScale reviews

126 Views
26 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

PlanetScale

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 Database and PlanetScale compete in the database solutions market. PlanetScale appears to have the upper hand due to its modern features and perceived value, while IBM Db2 offers robust support and competitive pricing.

Features: IBM Db2 Database includes advanced data management, scalability, and comprehensive SQL and NoSQL workload support. PlanetScale is known for its flexible schema management, non-blocking schema changes, and cloud-native capabilities.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 could enhance its interface and user experience and improve cloud-native support. PlanetScale could strengthen its structured query capabilities, improve relational database features, and expand its enterprise support system.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 provides traditional deployment and enterprise support suitable for large-scale organizations. PlanetScale offers a modern deployment model favoring startups and tech-savvy businesses with agile customer service.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2 requires up-front investment with a promise of solid ROI through stability and support. PlanetScale's flexible pricing offers potential for quicker ROI, appealing to businesses focusing on flexibility and growth.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. PlanetScale Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. PlanetScale

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM Db2 Database

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

PlanetScale

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

16th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

8.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.4%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of PlanetScale is 0.2%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

ArpitKhare

Database Admin Senior Consultant at Capgemini

Offers optimizer plan and ALSM features along with exceptional stability

The TSA version of IBM Db2 Database doesn't meet my stability expectations. Every time when a switch over occurs, some stability issues can be noticed. The vendor should offer a free version of IBM Db2 Database. For instance, if our company wants to train new individuals on all the features of IBM Db2 Database, they can only be trained after purchasing the paid version of the solution. About ten years ago, a trial version was available for the solution that was highly beneficial for companies. The vendor can add AI or ML features in the future version of IBM Db2 Database.

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Neeraj Sameer Allu

Founder at Tuft

Manages databases in serverless environments and easy to get started with

The main thing I didn't like about PlanetScale was that we couldn't run analytical queries on it. They bill based on the number of rows read, so even a simple count query could easily use up our allocated resources. Apart from that, I actually loved it. It's based on MySQL, so it doesn't have foreign key constraints or cascades. We have to delete manually or use an ORM. As it's based on MySQL, we can use log posters for complex queries, but it only supports MySQL. I feel like Postgres is more useful for custom or complex queries.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The setup process has become much easier recently."

"The solution's initial setup is straightforward."

"The solution's security is very tough and impenetrable."

"It has a good feature called pureScale, which is just for scalability. It is a perfect solution for environments where scalability is going to be an issue."

"It's easy to search and extract data from the warehouse using queries."

"Its robustness, scalability, availability, and performance are valuable. All these are the major attributes of a relational database for supporting a very high-volume business, and Db2 is very good in all those areas and in all those attributes."

"The solution is easy to install and simple to maintain. The most valuable aspect of the solution is its general user-friendliness for users of all kinds."

"Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"I did not face any downtime when using the product."

"The solution is beginner-friendly. Like any new platform, it can be a bit confusing at first. But after spending about an hour with it, you can get a clear idea of what everything is for. It's not very confusing; I think they've improved it recently."

"The branching feature is also good for developer experience."

"I like the solution's developer experience. When you deploy changes to the database in the portal, you can use different deployment strategies and see how things work. You can put changes into different branches, like deployment and staging. This is built into the product, allowing you to navigate changes through different branches."

"The database is accessible 24/7, ensuring my project runs smoothly without interruptions."

Cons

"The queries can be difficult for beginners because there are so many. I would like to see more use cases for flow analysis that enable us to correlate the flow with events. Adding this feature in a QI format would be good for beginners."

"The solution's data retrieval speed could be improved, especially for heavy queries. Better optimization or indexing might also be involved."

"The backup solution lacks flexibility."

"The GUI interface is not particularly friendly for those who do not have experience with the product."

"Its process of building up queries could be more accessible."

"The solution could improve by providing more integration."

"We need some time to improve the performance. We have to perform a weekly REORG, or else RUNSTATS for the databases."

"The initial set up was complex."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"I am not sure, but I think recently, the tool removed the free version."

"We encountered some initial issues during the product deployment, which required me to search for solutions on forums."

"The main thing I didn't like about PlanetScale was that we couldn't run analytical queries on it."

"I used PlanetScale for hobby projects, so my perspective differs from someone using it commercially. Unfortunately, they've removed the free tier in recent months and pivoted to a business-to-business model. This is sad for hobby developers like me because it's a great product, but I understand they have costs to cover."

"When I tried to integrate the solution with Firebase for authentication, I faced some interruptions. Also, when using it with Next.js and NextAuth.js for Google and social logins, I had some troubles."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is expensive. The price depends on the size of the machine on which you are installing the Db2 and the features you are using. It also depends on the country. IBM has different policies and different options for payment for this product."

"It's very expensive."

"I would rate the pricing a five out of ten. It's not super expensive, but also not cheap."

"It is expensive when compared to other products."

"Db2 is less expensive than Oracle."

"If I consider the price of IBM Db2 Database, I would say there are cheaper products in the market."

"The solution's pricing is fine."

"It is expensive."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"I am currently using the product's free version, which has been sufficient for my portfolio project."

"Last time, when I wanted to use the tool in a project, I could see it was only paid, so I didn't use the service."

"The solution is expensive for beginners. That's why I wasn't motivated to use it more. But they were already providing many features for free for beginners, which was great."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

37%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Db2 Database?

Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Db2 Database?

IBM Db2 is an expensive solution. While I am not heavily involved with pricing, additional companies provide capabilities or products like those from BMC, which many installations might also purchase.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?

IBM is implementing some release improvements. It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PlanetScale?

I am currently using the product's free version, which has been sufficient for my portfolio project. The paid version ranges from $39 to $1,000, depending on the features and scale required.

See all answers

What needs improvement with PlanetScale?

I would like PlanetScale to have a feature where the database can be accessed in the cloud with a link, allowing for a more user-friendly interface compared to the terminal. This would make it easi...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for PlanetScale?

I have used PlanetScale as it is an advanced version of MySQL. It functions as a platform where MySQL is live, similar to AWS. I use PlanetScale to store data in a live environment where queries ca...

See all answers

Comparisons

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 33% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 18% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 15% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

MySQL vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

June 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Relational Databases Tools

June 2025

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Also Known As

DB2

No data available

Overview

DB2 Enterprise for Linux, UNIX, and Windows is the ideal data server for the most demanding workloads. New XML support is designed to help firms minimize the time and effort it takes to persist and use their XML data reducing development costs and improving business agility.

IBM

PlanetScale offers seamless database management with features tailored for modern development environments, enabling enhanced project operations through efficient integration and ease of use.

PlanetScale is designed to support modern developer workflows through features like automated connection pooling and constant availability, making it ideal for serverless applications. Its integration with tools like GitHub and Prisma enhances the developer experience, allowing fast setup and effortless database interactions. However, users note challenges with analytical queries due to row-based billing and the absence of foreign key constraints. Integration with platforms such as Firebase and Next.js presents additional hurdles. Recent changes, such as the removal of the free tier, have impacted adoption by hobby developers, highlighting a need for more accessible pricing plans.

What are the most important features of PlanetScale?

Automated Connection Pooling: Optimizes database connections for serverless environments.
Constant Availability: Ensures uninterrupted operations and workflow efficiency.
Developer-Friendly: Integrates seamlessly with GitHub and Prisma for enhanced project management.
Quick Setup: Simplifies setup processes in corporate environments, allowing immediate use.

What benefits should users consider when evaluating PlanetScale?

Uninterrupted Project Operations: Facilitates constant availability for high-performance applications.
Enhanced Developer Experience: Offers intuitive integrations and project management capabilities.
Ease of Integration: Works well with popular tools like Prisma and MySQL for efficient workflows.

PlanetScale finds significant use in hosting databases for portfolios, company websites, and academic projects. Its compatibility with Prisma facilitates seamless MySQL database management online. Users leverage its capabilities for analytical queries and manage data environments effectively. Teams value the platform for specialized tasks such as URL shortening and social media automation, which are crucial in rapidly evolving digital industries.

PlanetScale

Sample Customers

Knorr-Bremse, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Australian Government Department of Defence, SCHWENK Zement, Friedhelm Loh Group, YAZAKI Europe Limited, Ekornes ASA, Baldor Electric, VSN Systemen BV, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, PLANSEE Group, TE Connectivity, Hansgrohe SE, Openmatics, University of Toronto

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. PlanetScale

June 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. PlanetScale

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Db2 Database vs. PlanetScale and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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