Open source Firebase alternatives

All Firebase 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. 

   

   PocketBase

   61.4KstarsLike

   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.

   7 PocketBase alternatives

   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

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   Backend as a Service

   Platforms

   Self-hosted

   Features

   API accessBuilt-in databaseFile storageRealtime databaseUser authentication

   Visit websiteMore about PocketBase
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. 

   

   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