Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL, providing a backend-as-a-service with a hosted database, authentication, file storage, edge functions, and a real-time API — all accessible through auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs. Founded in 2020 and backed by Sequoia, it has become the leading open-source backend platform for developers who want the speed of Firebase with the power and flexibility of PostgreSQL. The free tier is generous enough to host production side projects indefinitely.
Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative with Postgres, Auth, Storage, and Edge Functions — the developer-favorite backend-as-a-service platform.
Best for: Developers building web and mobile applications who want a full-stack backend (database, auth, storage, functions) without managing infrastructure — especially teams comfortable with SQL and PostgreSQL
- Free plan
4.6/5 ratingEditorial score 88/100supabase.com
The editorial note
What to know about Supabase
Is it right for you?
Who Supabase suits
Choose it if
- Developers building web and mobile applications who want a full-stack backend (database, auth, storage, functions) without managing infrastructure — especially teams comfortable with SQL and PostgreSQL
Look elsewhere if
- Teams needing NoSQL document database flexibility — Firebase Firestore is better suited for unstructured, rapidly changing data models without fixed schemas that PostgreSQL's relational model enforces
What you get
Key features
- PostgreSQL database hosting
- Auto-generated REST and GraphQL API
- Authentication and user management
- File storage
- Edge functions (Deno)
- Real-time subscriptions
- Row Level Security
- Vector embeddings support
Works with
Integrations8
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | FreeBilled monthly | 2 projects, 500MB database, 1GB file storage, 2GB bandwidth, 50k MAU auth |
| Pro | $25 / monthBilled monthly | 8GB database, 100GB storage, 250GB bandwidth, 100k MAU, daily backups, email support |
| Team | $599 / monthBilled monthly | SOC2, HIPAA eligible, advanced security, point-in-time recovery, priority support |
| Enterprise | CustomBilled monthly | Custom limits, dedicated support, SLA, custom contracts, on-premise option |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- PostgreSQL-native — full SQL power, extensions, and relationships instead of NoSQL limitations
- Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from database schema eliminate backend boilerplate
- Row Level Security (RLS) policies enforce data access rules at the database level
- Generous free tier (500MB database, 1GB file storage) suitable for production side projects
- Open-source and self-hostable — not locked into Supabase's hosted service
Cons
- Session pooler has 15-connection cap on free tier — connection exhaustion in serverless environments
- RLS policies require careful configuration — misconfiguration can expose data unintentionally
- Edge functions are based on Deno — less familiar than Node.js for some developers
- Some advanced PostgreSQL features require understanding database internals beyond basic SQL
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Development & Coding
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Entry plan
- Free
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- supabase.com
The verdict
Our take on Supabase
Supabase is the best backend-as-a-service for developers who want PostgreSQL with the convenience of Firebase. The combination of real SQL, auto-generated APIs, and RLS policies makes backend development dramatically faster. The free plan is excellent for prototyping, though the inactivity pause makes Pro ($25/month) necessary for anything used regularly. For AI applications needing vector search, Supabase with pgvector is the leading choice.
Editorial review
From the journal
Editorial review of Supabase
Supabase is the best backend-as-a-service for developers who want PostgreSQL with the convenience of Firebase. The combination of real SQL, auto-generated APIs, and RLS policies makes backend development dramatically faster. The free plan is excellent for prototyping, though the inactivity pause makes Pro ($25/month) necessary for anything used regularly. For AI applications needing vector search, Supabase with pgvector is the leading choice.
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