Serverless MySQL
A real MySQL endpoint in seconds. TLS by default, every standard MySQL driver works. From $5/mo on Solo; MariaDB speaks the same wire protocol on the Free tier. Cloud, desktop, or self-host with SpinDB.
Tables
- users
- events
- orders
- sessions
| id | name | created_at |
|---|---|---|
| 1247 | signup | 2026-03-12 14:21 |
| 1246 | purchase | 2026-03-12 14:08 |
| 1245 | login | 2026-03-12 13:55 |
| 1244 | signup | 2026-03-12 13:44 |
| 1243 | purchase | 2026-03-12 13:30 |
Where to run it
Cloud, desktop, or self-host
One database, three places it can live. Pick the speed you want and move between them when you outgrow it.
Branch MySQL in seconds
Fork a running MySQL into a full, isolated copy with its own connection string. Copy-on-write makes it near-instant, not a dump and restore. Point a preview deploy at it, test a migration, then throw it away. Layerbase branches 9 engines, not just Postgres.
See how branching worksWhat you get
Production features, free tier included
Every MySQL database ships with the same primitives: TLS, web console, hibernation, and a real dashboard. No tiered features hidden behind a sales call.
Web IDE
Query console in the dashboard, no extra client to install.
TLS by default
All connections encrypted. No setup required.
Always-on connections
Pin a database to your always-on pool to prevent hibernation.
Scale to zero
Hibernates when idle. Wakes on the next connection.
Connection pooling
Pooled endpoint for serverless and edge workloads.
Direct connections
Bypass the pooler for migrations and replication.
Native HTTPS endpoint
Engines whose own wire protocol speaks HTTPS. Every database, including this one, is also queryable over the platform's HTTPS query API and web console.
Serverless driver
Drop-in HTTP driver for edge runtimes (Upstash REST, PlanetScale, or the engine-native client).
IP whitelisting
Restrict access to specific IPs or CIDR ranges.
Automatic backups
Scheduled dumps and volume snapshots with one-click restore on paid plans. Free tier includes a manual backup slot.
Why Layerbase
Predictable pricing, no cloud setup
MySQL on Layerbase Cloud is priced the same way as every other engine: a flat monthly plan with nothing metered behind it.
A fixed monthly price
Plans are flat: Free at $0, then $5/mo Solo and $15/mo Pro. No per-hour compute meter, no per-database line items, and no bill that changes shape when your traffic does.
No bandwidth charges
Reads and writes are not metered. There are no ingress or egress fees, so moving data in and out of your database never adds to the bill.
No cloud account to wire up
You do not need an AWS, GCP, or Azure account. Sign up, create a database, and connect. Layerbase runs the infrastructure, so there is no cloud provider to configure or pay separately.
Side by side
Hosted MySQL, compared
| Provider | Free tier | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| PlanetScale | None since April 2024 | PS-5 at $5/mo single node, $15/mo for high availability |
| Layerbase | MySQL from Solo at $5/mo; MariaDB, a wire-compatible drop-in, is on the Free tier | $5 or $15/mo flat. No meters. |
PlanetScale
- Free tier
- None since April 2024
- Billing
- PS-5 at $5/mo single node, $15/mo for high availability
Layerbase
- Free tier
- MySQL from Solo at $5/mo; MariaDB, a wire-compatible drop-in, is on the Free tier
- Billing
- $5 or $15/mo flat. No meters.
Competitor facts as of July 2026, from public pricing pages.
Quick start
Connect with any MySQL client
WordPress-style apps, Rails or Laravel workloads, existing MySQL schemas, and services that need broad MySQL client compatibility.
- Host a WordPress, Rails, or Laravel app database without setting up your own server
- Run migrations from a legacy MySQL deployment without changing client code
- Serverless apps that prefer the PlanetScale serverless driver over a TCP connection
- Per-developer dev databases that match production exactly
- Self-host on your own hardware with SpinDB when compliance requires it
mysql --ssl-mode=REQUIRED -h your-host.cloud.layerbase.dev -P <port> -u layerbase -p app
Already have data? Migrate it from Railway, PlanetScale Any connection string works too.
More on MySQL
All articles- July 29, 2026
PlanetScale has no free tier. Here is where the $5 databases live now.
The Hobby plan closed in March 2024 and PlanetScale docs now say plainly that there is no free plan. Here is what replaced it, what $5 a month actually buys in 2026, and when paying PlanetScale is still the right call.
Read - June 24, 2026
Should you use Cloud Clusters MySQL hosting (sqlclusters)?
A fair review of Cloud Clusters MySQL hosting (sqlclusters.com) and an honest comparison with Layerbase Cloud: pricing, MySQL version, branching, web console, and local tooling.
Read - June 23, 2026
Migrating from PlanetScale to Layerbase
PlanetScale retired its free Hobby tier and its MySQL plans now start in the tens of dollars a month. Here is how to move to plain managed MySQL on Layerbase: what changes, how to copy your data with one service token, and the driver swap.
Read - June 14, 2026
Branching with any database
Neon branches Postgres. PlanetScale branches MySQL. Layerbase branches all of them, because branching happens at the filesystem, not inside the engine. Here is how it works.
Read - May 15, 2026
SkySQL alternatives: serverless MariaDB hosting in 2026
MariaDB shut down its own managed SkySQL product. If you want managed MariaDB without rebuilding on AWS RDS or Aurora, here are the options worth looking at.
Read
FAQ
Common MySQL questions
Which MySQL version do you run?
Layerbase Cloud tracks recent stable MySQL releases, currently 9.x, with 8.4 also available. You can pick a specific supported version from the create flow.
Do you support the PlanetScale serverless driver?
Yes. MySQL-family databases on Layerbase also speak the PlanetScale serverless driver via an HTTP-based hostname, which is the right path for edge runtimes that cannot hold a TCP connection.
Can I use mysqldump and standard tooling?
Yes. The endpoint speaks the standard MySQL wire protocol. mysqldump, mysql CLI, MySQL Workbench, DBeaver, Prisma, Drizzle, and any standard driver work without code changes.
TLS configuration?
TLS is required and enabled by default. Most clients accept the default trust store; for stricter setups, the dashboard exposes the CA certificate.
Can I run MySQL locally?
Yes. SpinDB manages multiple local MySQL versions with one command, and Layerbase Desktop adds a GUI on top.