Firebase and Supabase are both Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions. But they have very different approaches.
Firebase: Google's established choice
Firebase has existed since 2011 and is now owned by Google.
Pros:
- Tight integration with Google Cloud
- Fantastic for mobile apps
- Real-time database out of the box
- Generous free tier
Cons:
- NoSQL only (Firestore)
- Vendor lock-in to Google
- Can get expensive at scale
- Complex pricing structure
Supabase: The open-source alternative
Supabase calls itself "the open-source Firebase alternative".
Pros:
- PostgreSQL (relational database!)
- Open-source - no vendor lock-in
- Row-level security built-in
- Easy migration away if needed
- Simple pricing structure
Cons:
- Younger platform (since 2020)
- Smaller community than Firebase
- Fewer integrations
When to choose what?
| Use Case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Mobile app with Google login | Firebase |
| Web app with complex data | Supabase |
| Startup wanting to avoid lock-in | Supabase |
| Quick prototype | Both work |
| Enterprise with compliance needs | Supabase |
Our choice
We've built many projects with Supabase and use it for most new projects. Why?
- PostgreSQL - A real database we know
- Row-level security - Security at database level
- Open-source - We can self-host if needed
- Simple pricing - No surprises