PocketBase alternatives

All PocketBase alternatives

1. 

   

   Supabase

   111.4KstarsLike

   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 alternatives

   Pros

   • 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 / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Backend as a Service

   Platforms

   WebSelf-hosted

   Features

   API accessBuilt-in databaseFile storageRealtime databaseServerless functionsUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about Supabase
2. 

   

   Appwrite

   57.6KstarsLike

   Appwrite 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 alternatives

   Pros

   • 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 / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Backend as a ServiceHosting & Deployment

   Platforms

   WebSelf-hosted

   Features

   Built-in databaseFile storageRealtime databaseServerless functionsUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about Appwrite
3. 

   

   Firebase

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   Firebase is Google's platform for building web and mobile apps without running your own servers. It provides Cloud Firestore and the Realtime Database, authentication, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, hosting, analytics, crash reporting and push messaging, with SDKs for iOS, Android, web, Flutter and Unity, plus Gemini-based AI features. A free Spark plan suits prototypes, with usage-based billing beyond it.

   8 Firebase alternatives

   Pros

   • Complete toolkit from auth and databases to hosting and crash reports
   • Mature SDKs for iOS, Android, web, Flutter and Unity
   • The free Spark plan is enough for prototypes

   Cons

   • Usage-based billing can spike unexpectedly with traffic or inefficient queries
   • Firestore’s NoSQL model makes complex queries and reporting awkward
   • Strong lock-in to Google Cloud services

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Backend as a ServiceHosting & Deployment

   Platforms

   Web

   Features

   AnalyticsFile storageRealtime databaseServerless functionsUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about Firebase
4. 

   

   Nhost

   9.4KstarsLike

   Nhost 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 alternatives

   Pros

   • 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 / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Backend as a Service

   Platforms

   WebSelf-hosted

   Features

   API accessBuilt-in databaseFile storageRealtime databaseServerless functionsUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about Nhost
5. 

   

   Convex

   12.7KstarsLike

   Convex is a backend platform for app developers in which the database schema, queries, mutations and server functions are all written in TypeScript. Queries are reactive, so connected clients update automatically when data changes, with no manual caching. It also includes file storage, scheduled jobs, search and authentication. Convex Cloud has a free tier, and the backend can be self-hosted under the FSL license.

   8 Convex alternatives

   Pros

   • Schema, queries and functions are all written in TypeScript
   • Reactive queries update clients automatically, with no caching code
   • Scheduled jobs, search, file storage and auth included

   Cons

   • Its own data model differs from SQL, which makes migrating away harder
   • The FSL license is source available, not open source
   • TypeScript-centric, less suited to teams using other backend languages

   Cost / License

   FreemiumSource available

   Categories

   Backend as a Service

   Platforms

   WebSelf-hosted

   Features

   Built-in databaseFile storageRealtime databaseServerless functionsUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about Convex
6. 

   

   Back4app

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   Back4app is a backend-as-a-service platform built on the open source Parse Server. It provides a database with auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, user authentication, file storage, Cloud Code functions and live queries, managed from a spreadsheet-like dashboard. The company also offers a container-based web deployment platform and an AI agent for building cloud backends. Free plans are available for prototyping.

   8 Back4app alternatives

   Pros

   • Built on open source Parse Server, which limits lock-in
   • Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs for your data
   • Spreadsheet-like dashboard is approachable for beginners

   Cons

   • The Parse ecosystem is less active than newer backend platforms
   • Free plans are meant for prototypes; production needs a paid plan

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Backend as a ServiceHosting & Deployment

   Platforms

   Web

   Features

   API accessBuilt-in databaseFile storageRealtime databaseServerless functionsUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about Back4app
7. 

   

   Xata

   1.1KstarsLike

   Xata 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 alternatives

   Pros

   • 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 / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Backend as a Service

   Platforms

   WebSelf-hosted

   Features

   API accessBuilt-in databasePreview deployments

   Visit websiteMore about Xata