| Supabase | VS | Firebase |
|---|---|---|
| Open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL. Self-hostable with real-time and storage. | Google's mature BaaS platform. Auth, Firestore, Functions, and Hosting with deep GCP integration. |
Supabase
Pros
- Fully open source
- PostgreSQL (real SQL)
- Self-host option
- Row-level security built-in
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem than Firebase
- Fewer pre-built UI components
- Younger platform
Firebase
Pros
- Massive ecosystem and docs
- Free Spark plan
- Deep GCP integration
- Mature and battle-tested
Cons
- Vendor lock-in risk
- NoSQL only (Firestore)
- Expensive at scale
- Closed source
Verdict
Supabase is the open-source choice with real SQL and self-hosting. Firebase wins on ecosystem maturity and Google integration.
When to use which
Use Supabase for data-heavy apps needing real SQL, self-hosting, and open-source control. Use Firebase for rapid prototyping with Google ecosystem and simpler NoSQL needs.
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