Free PocketBase alternatives

Top Backend as a Service like PocketBase

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to PocketBase is Supabase, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to PocketBase are Appwrite, Firebase, Nhost, and Convex.

Most alternatives to PocketBase are in the Backend as a Service category, compared here by price, platform and features.

PocketBase alternatives

All Free Open source

7 apps

Supabase
111.4Kstars
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
Web Self-hosted
Features
API access Built-in database File storage Realtime database Serverless functions User authentication
Visit website More about Supabase
Appwrite
57.6Kstars
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 Service Hosting & Deployment
Platforms
Web Self-hosted
Features
Built-in database File storage Realtime database Serverless functions User authentication
Visit website More about Appwrite
Firebase
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 Service Hosting & Deployment
Platforms
Web
Features
Analytics File storage Realtime database Serverless functions User authentication
Visit website More about Firebase
Nhost
9.4Kstars
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
Web Self-hosted
Features
API access Built-in database File storage Realtime database Serverless functions User authentication
Visit website More about Nhost
Convex
12.7Kstars
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
Web Self-hosted
Features
Built-in database File storage Realtime database Serverless functions User authentication
Visit website More about Convex
Back4app
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 Service Hosting & Deployment
Platforms
Web
Features
API access Built-in database File storage Realtime database Serverless functions User authentication
Visit website More about Back4app
Xata
1.1Kstars
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
Web Self-hosted
Features
API access Built-in database Preview deployments
Visit website More about Xata

PocketBase vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of PocketBase, compared with its most popular alternatives.

PocketBase vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
PocketBase	FreeOpen source	Self-hosted
Supabase	FreemiumOpen source	Web, Self-hosted
Appwrite	FreemiumOpen source	Web, Self-hosted
Firebase	Freemium	Web
Nhost	FreemiumOpen source	Web, Self-hosted
Convex	FreemiumSource available	Web, Self-hosted

PocketBase alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to PocketBase?

The most popular alternative to PocketBase is Supabase: Open source Postgres development platform and Firebase alternative. Other great alternatives are Appwrite, Firebase, Nhost, and Convex.