Palanca (Hungarian: Palánka) is a commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, Romania.

It is composed of five villages: Cădărești (Magyarcsügés), Ciugheș (Oláhcsügés), Pajiștea (Gyepece), Palanca, and Popoiu.

The commune is situated in the southern foothills of the Tarcău Mountains, at the eastern end of the Ghimeș-Palanca Pass, which connects Moldavia to Transylvania.

It is traversed by national road DN12A [ro], which starts in Onești, 57 km (35 mi) to the southeast, continues over the mountain pass to Ghimeș-Făget, and ends in Miercurea Ciuc.

The Palanca halt serves the CFR railway line 501, which runs parallel with the road and connects Adjud to Siculeni.