Open source Convex alternatives
Top Backend as a Service like Convex
The most popular alternative to Convex is Supabase, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Convex are Appwrite, PocketBase, Nhost, and Xata.
Most alternatives to Convex are in the Backend as a Service category, compared here by price, platform and features.
All Convex alternatives
Supabase is an open source backend platform built on Postgres. Each project gets a full Postgres database with auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, authentication, file storage, realtime subscriptions, edge functions and vector support for AI applications. It can be used as a hosted service with a free tier or self-hosted with Docker, and appeals to developers who want SQL rather than a NoSQL backend.
8 Supabase alternativesPros
- Full Postgres database with SQL, extensions and row-level security
- Auto-generated APIs, auth, storage and realtime in one platform
- Open source and self-hostable with Docker
Cons
- Free-tier projects are paused after a period of inactivity
- Self-hosting is more involved to set up than the managed service
- Row-level security policies take time to get right
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsAppwrite is an open source backend server that bundles authentication, databases, file storage, serverless functions, messaging and realtime events behind one consistent API, with SDKs for web, mobile and Flutter. Since 2025 it also hosts websites and web apps through Appwrite Sites. It can be self-hosted with Docker or used through Appwrite Cloud, which has a free plan.
8 Appwrite alternativesPros
- Auth, database, storage, functions and messaging behind one API
- Open source and straightforward to self-host with Docker
- SDKs for web, mobile and Flutter apps
Cons
- Database queries are more limited than raw SQL
- Self-hosted upgrades between versions can require careful migrations
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsPocketBase is an open source backend that ships as a single Go executable with an embedded SQLite database. It provides realtime subscriptions, user authentication including OAuth2, file storage and an admin dashboard, and can be extended in Go or JavaScript. It suits small projects and prototypes that need a backend running in minutes. It has not reached version 1.0, so breaking changes can still happen.
7 PocketBase alternativesPros
- The whole backend ships as one executable that runs in minutes
- Embedded SQLite with realtime, auth and an admin dashboard
- Can be extended in Go or JavaScript
Cons
- Not yet at version 1.0, so breaking changes can still happen
- Single-server SQLite design limits horizontal scaling
- No official managed hosting, so you run and back up the server yourself
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsNhost is an open source backend platform that combines a dedicated Postgres database, an instant GraphQL API powered by Hasura with realtime subscriptions, authentication, file storage and serverless functions. It also offers AI tooling such as vector embeddings. Projects run on Nhost Cloud, which has a free starter plan, or can be self-hosted, and a CLI supports local development.
8 Nhost alternativesPros
- Dedicated Postgres database for each project
- Instant GraphQL API with realtime subscriptions through Hasura
- Open source, with a CLI for local development and self-hosting
Cons
- GraphQL-first approach adds a learning curve for REST-oriented teams
- Smaller community and ecosystem than Supabase or Firebase
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsXata is a Postgres platform built around copy-on-write branching, which lets teams create full copies of large databases in seconds for previews, testing and development. It adds scale-to-zero compute, data anonymization and zero-downtime schema migrations. The platform is open source under Apache-2.0 for self-hosting on Kubernetes, and is also available as the managed Xata Cloud with a free trial.
8 Xata alternativesPros
- Copy-on-write branches clone large databases in seconds
- Built-in data anonymization for safer test environments
- Zero-downtime schema migrations and scale-to-zero compute
Cons
- Self-hosting requires Kubernetes, which is heavy for small teams
- Focused on Postgres, without the auth or file storage of a full backend
- The cloud offers a free trial rather than a permanent free tier
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesPlatforms
Convex vs its alternatives at a glance
Pricing, platforms and the key features of Convex, compared with its most popular alternatives.
| App | Pricing | Platforms | Built-in database | File storage | Realtime database | Serverless functions | User authentication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreemiumSource available | Web, Self-hosted | ||||||
| FreemiumOpen source | Web, Self-hosted | ||||||
| FreemiumOpen source | Web, Self-hosted | ||||||
| FreeOpen source | Self-hosted | ||||||
| FreemiumOpen source | Web, Self-hosted | ||||||
| FreemiumOpen source | Web, Self-hosted |
Convex alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Convex?
The most popular alternative to Convex is Supabase: Open source Postgres development platform and Firebase alternative. Other great alternatives are Appwrite, PocketBase, Nhost, and Xata.
Is there a free alternative to Convex?
Yes, 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Supabase, Appwrite, PocketBase, and Nhost.
Is there an open source alternative to Convex?
Yes, 5 open source alternatives are listed, including Supabase, Appwrite, PocketBase, and Nhost.
Is Convex free?
Convex has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features.
Compare Convex with its alternatives
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