Open source backend in one file with SQLite, auth and realtime
PocketBase 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.
- features
- 5
- alternatives
- 7
- platform
- 1
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
Pros
- 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
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
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