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Firebase alternatives: 9 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Firebase: ties your app closely to Google Cloud, and noSQL query limits often force data duplication. We ranked 9 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Firebase, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Supabase currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1PocketBase logoPocketBaseOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS +14 of 455.3
  1. PocketBase logo

    1. PocketBaseTop pick

    Best for: Solo developers and small apps that want a full backend on one cheap server

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Firebase

    Free self-hosted backend with realtime subscriptions in a single binary.

    Pros

    • One binary with no external database or dependencies
    • Built-in admin dashboard, auth and realtime
    • Free and MIT-licensed
    • Easy to back up and move between servers

    Cons

    • Scales only on a single server
    • SQLite only, with no plans for other databases
    • No company, hosted cloud or paid support behind it
    • Pre-1.0, so upgrades can include breaking changes
    Visit PocketBase Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PocketBase a good Firebase alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosting
    Self-hosted only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pocketbase.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Database
    Embedded SQLite
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pocketbase.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Scaling
    Single server (vertical) only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pocketbase.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Firebase alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Supabase logo

Best Firebase alternative for most people

Supabase

Relational Postgres instead of NoSQL, open source, and a similar all-in-one dashboard.

Appwrite logo

Best Firebase alternative for a free option

Appwrite

Open-source Firebase-style backend you can self-host, with SDKs for Flutter and mobile.

AWS Amplify logo

Best Firebase alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

AWS Amplify

The AWS equivalent if your organisation already runs on Amazon Web Services.

Convex logo

Best Firebase alternative for open source

Convex

Reactive queries that update clients automatically, written in TypeScript, without NoSQL modelling pain.

PocketBase logo

Best Firebase alternative for self-hosting

PocketBase

Free self-hosted backend with realtime subscriptions in a single binary.

PocketBase logo

Best Firebase alternative for Mac

PocketBase

Free self-hosted backend with realtime subscriptions in a single binary.

PocketBase logo

Best Firebase alternative for Windows

PocketBase

Free self-hosted backend with realtime subscriptions in a single binary.

PocketBase logo

Best Firebase alternative for Linux

PocketBase

Free self-hosted backend with realtime subscriptions in a single binary.

Cl

Best Firebase alternative for iPhone and Android

Clerk

Hosted auth with prebuilt UI components, usable without moving the rest of your backend.

Back4app logo

Best Firebase alternative for working in the browser

Back4app

Managed Parse Server hosting with predictable per-app plans instead of usage billing.

Firebase alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Firebase?

Supabase ranks first right now. Relational Postgres instead of NoSQL, open source, and a similar all-in-one dashboard. Appwrite and AWS Amplify follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Firebase?

Yes. Supabase (free plan + paid), Appwrite (open source), AWS Amplify (free plan + paid) and Convex (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Firebase?

Yes: Supabase, Appwrite, Convex and PocketBase, plus 1 more in the list above. Supabase, Appwrite and Convex can also be self-hosted.

Which Firebase alternatives work on Linux?

PocketBase runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Firebase?

The complaints we hear most: ties your app closely to Google Cloud; noSQL query limits often force data duplication; pay-as-you-go bills can spike with heavy reads.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Firebase, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.