Firebase Alternatives That Give You More Control Over Your Backend
Firebase is convenient, but vendor lock-in and unpredictable pricing push teams away. Compare Supabase, Appwrite, PocketBase and more on features, cost and freedom.
At MG Software we choose Supabase as the default Firebase replacement for most projects thanks to PostgreSQL, open-source licensing and the self-hosting option. For enterprise teams on AWS we recommend Amplify Gen 2. We deploy PocketBase for rapid prototypes and MVPs where speed and cost are the top priorities. We help you migrate from Firestore to SQL and set up your new backend.
Why do people look for alternatives to Firebase is Google's Backend-as-a-Service platform, acquired in 2014 and expanded into a suite of more than 20 products. It offers Firestore (NoSQL database), Authentication, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, Hosting, Cloud Messaging, Crashlytics and Remote Config. The Spark plan is free with generous limits, while the Blaze plan operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. Firebase is particularly popular with mobile developers thanks to SDKs for iOS, Android, Flutter and the web. Firestore's real-time synchronisation makes it a go-to solution for chat apps, collaboration tools and live dashboards.?
Teams look for Firebase alternatives because of strong vendor lock-in to Google Cloud. Firestore uses a proprietary NoSQL data model that is not straightforward to migrate to other databases. Cloud Functions run exclusively on Google Cloud and are limited to Node.js, Python and Go. Costs become unpredictable as usage grows: Firestore charges per document read and write, meaning a popular feature can unexpectedly triple the monthly bill. Complex queries are limited in Firestore compared to SQL databases. Teams that want ownership over their data and infrastructure find that Firebase pulls them ever deeper into the Google ecosystem.
Best alternatives
Supabase
Supabase positions itself as the open-source Firebase alternative, built on PostgreSQL instead of a proprietary NoSQL database. It provides a real-time database, authentication, object storage, edge functions and an auto-generated REST and GraphQL API. The free tier supports two projects, Pro costs $25 per month and Team runs at $599 per month. Supabase can be self-hosted via Docker, giving teams full data ownership when vendor independence is a requirement.
Pros
- +Built on PostgreSQL: full SQL support with joins, views, indexes and stored procedures out of the box
- +Open-source and self-hostable via Docker for complete control over data and infrastructure
- +Auto-generated REST and GraphQL API based on your database schema without writing extra code
- +Row Level Security for fine-grained access control directly at database level without middleware
Cons
- -Less mature mobile SDKs than Firebase: Flutter and React Native support is relatively newer
- -No equivalent of Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications to mobile devices natively
- -Edge Functions are based on Deno and do not support all Node.js packages without adaptation
AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify is Amazon's answer to Firebase, offering authentication via Cognito, a GraphQL API via AppSync, object storage via S3 and serverless functions via Lambda. Amplify Gen 2 (launched late 2024) uses a TypeScript-first approach with infrastructure-from-code. Billing is fully usage-based with no fixed monthly charges. Amplify integrates with over 200 AWS services, making it particularly suited for teams that need enterprise-level scalability and compliance.
Pros
- +Direct access to over 200 AWS services including DynamoDB, SQS, SNS and Step Functions
- +Enterprise scalability with automatic scaling, multi-region support and SLA guarantees
- +Amplify Gen 2 offers a modern TypeScript-first developer experience with type-safe backends
- +No fixed monthly costs: you pay only for actual consumption across each individual service
Cons
- -Steep learning curve: requires understanding of AWS concepts like IAM roles, Cognito pools and CloudFormation
- -Vendor lock-in to AWS is comparable to Firebase on Google: migration is expensive and complex
- -Documentation is extensive but fragmented across outdated Gen 1 examples and newer Gen 2 guides
Appwrite
Appwrite is an open-source BaaS combining authentication, databases, object storage, serverless functions and real-time messaging in a self-hostable package. Appwrite Cloud offers a managed version with a free tier, Pro from $15 per month and Scale from $599 per month. The platform supports more than 10 SDKs for web, mobile and server-side development. Appwrite uses MariaDB as its underlying database and provides a document-based data model similar to Firestore.
Pros
- +Fully open-source and self-hostable via Docker with a single docker-compose command
- +More than 10 SDKs for web, Flutter, React Native, Swift, Kotlin, Python, Node.js and more
- +Built-in authentication with OAuth, Magic Link, Phone and over 30 social login providers
- +Serverless functions support Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, Dart, Swift and additional languages
Cons
- -Underlying MariaDB data model is less flexible than PostgreSQL for complex relational queries
- -Smaller ecosystem and community than Firebase or Supabase with fewer third-party integrations
- -Real-time synchronisation is less mature than Firestore for complex collaboration scenarios
PocketBase
PocketBase is a lightweight open-source backend built as a single Go binary that uses SQLite as its database. It offers real-time subscriptions, authentication, file storage and an admin dashboard in under 30 MB. PocketBase runs on any server that supports Go binaries and is particularly suited for hobby projects, prototypes and small production apps. The community is growing rapidly with over 40,000 GitHub stars.
Pros
- +Extremely simple deployment: a single binary with no Docker, Node.js or other dependencies required
- +SQLite database offers fast read operations and simple backups through file copying
- +Built-in admin dashboard for managing collections, users and files through the browser
- +Minimal server costs: runs perfectly on a $4 per month Hetzner VPS for small to medium apps
Cons
- -SQLite is not suitable for applications with high concurrent write operations or multi-server setups
- -No horizontal scaling possible: PocketBase runs on a single server without clustering support
- -Limited ecosystem of plugins and integrations compared to Firebase or Supabase platforms
Convex
Convex is a reactive backend platform that uses TypeScript functions as the sole backend layer. It provides a real-time database with automatic caching and invalidation, serverless functions, file storage, scheduling and built-in authentication through integration with Clerk or Auth0. The free tier supports small projects, Pro costs $25 per month. Convex is designed for applications that need real-time data without manual WebSocket logic or polling.
Pros
- +Fully reactive: UI components update automatically when backend data changes without polling needed
- +Type-safe from database to frontend through complete TypeScript integration and code generation
- +Built-in caching and query invalidation eliminate the need for manual cache management logic
- +ACID transactions on the database ensure data consistency without race conditions in your app
Cons
- -Strong vendor lock-in: Convex is not open-source and cannot be self-hosted on your own servers
- -Younger platform with a smaller ecosystem than Firebase or Supabase and fewer community resources
- -TypeScript only as backend language with no support for Python, Go or other programming languages
Comparison at a glance
Supabase offers the most complete Firebase replacement with PostgreSQL, open-source licensing and self-hosting options. AWS Amplify delivers enterprise scalability within the full AWS ecosystem. Appwrite combines open-source ownership with broad language support for serverless functions. PocketBase is the simplest option for small projects at minimal cost. Convex provides the most innovative real-time data model for TypeScript teams willing to accept vendor lock-in.
What to consider when switching?
- Importance of open-source and the ability to fully self-host your backend infrastructure
- Preference for SQL (PostgreSQL) versus NoSQL (document-based) as your primary data model
- Level of dependency on Firebase-specific services like Cloud Messaging and Crashlytics
- Need for enterprise scalability and compliance versus speed of prototyping and iteration
- Budget model: fixed monthly costs versus pay-as-you-go with unpredictable usage volume
Which alternative does MG Software recommend?
At MG Software we choose Supabase as the default Firebase replacement for most projects thanks to PostgreSQL, open-source licensing and the self-hosting option. For enterprise teams on AWS we recommend Amplify Gen 2. We deploy PocketBase for rapid prototypes and MVPs where speed and cost are the top priorities. We help you migrate from Firestore to SQL and set up your new backend.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest limitations of Firebase?
The strongest limitation is vendor lock-in to Google Cloud. Firestore uses a proprietary NoSQL data model that is difficult to migrate. Cloud Functions support only three languages and run exclusively on Google Cloud. Complex queries with multiple fields require composite indexes that must be created manually. Costs become unpredictable at scale because billing is per document operation rather than per query or per month.
Is Supabase really a good Firebase alternative?
Yes, Supabase covers most Firebase use cases: authentication, database, storage, edge functions and real-time subscriptions. The key difference is that Supabase runs on PostgreSQL, providing full SQL support including joins, views and stored procedures. Supabase is open-source and self-hostable. Mobile SDKs are younger than Firebase but functionality is growing rapidly and is fully sufficient for most web projects today.
Can I use Firebase Authentication separately with a different backend?
Yes, Firebase Authentication works independently from Firestore and other Firebase services. You can use Firebase Auth for user management and tokens while running a different backend platform like Supabase or your own server. You validate Firebase ID tokens on your backend using the Firebase Admin SDK. This is a common strategy for teams that want to migrate away from Firebase gradually.
How much does Firebase cost at scale?
Firebase Blaze plan charges per operation: Firestore costs $0.06 per 100,000 reads and $0.18 per 100,000 writes. Cloud Functions cost $0.40 per million invocations plus compute time. Storage costs $0.026 per GB per month. An app with 100,000 daily active users can easily cost $200 to $500 per month depending on the data model. Costs are difficult to predict because they depend on individual user behaviour patterns.
Is Appwrite suitable for production use?
Yes, thousands of teams use Appwrite in production. Managed Appwrite Cloud provides SLA guarantees and automatic backups. For self-hosted installations you handle uptime, patches and backups yourself. Appwrite uses MariaDB as its database, which is reliable but less flexible than PostgreSQL for complex queries. For medium-sized applications Appwrite is a solid choice, especially when open-source and self-hosting are priorities.
What is the difference between Firebase and Supabase databases?
Firebase uses Firestore, a proprietary NoSQL document database with real-time synchronisation. Data is stored in documents within collections. Supabase uses PostgreSQL, a relational SQL database with tables, columns, joins and views. PostgreSQL offers more query power and flexibility, while Firestore is simpler for basic document-based data models. For complex data relationships PostgreSQL is generally the better choice.
Which Firebase alternative is easiest to get started with?
PocketBase is the simplest: download a single binary, start it and you have a working backend with database, authentication and file storage. Supabase Cloud is also quick to set up through their web dashboard with a free tier. Appwrite Cloud offers a comparable experience. Firebase itself is fast to start with too, but these alternatives offer more freedom. For the shortest time-to-prototype PocketBase is unmatched.
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