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SurrealDB alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SurrealDB: younger ecosystem with fewer ORMs and tools, and surrealQL is another language to learn. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SurrealDB, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MongoDB Atlas currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1PocketBase logoPocketBaseOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS +14 of 457.2
  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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from SurrealDB

    Simple self-hosted backend with realtime and auth on SQLite.

    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 ×0.369
    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 SurrealDB 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 SurrealDB alternative for…

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

MongoDB Atlas logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for most people

MongoDB Atlas

Mature managed document database with vector search.

PocketBase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for a free option

PocketBase

Simple self-hosted backend with realtime and auth on SQLite.

Supabase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Supabase

Postgres with pgvector, auth and realtime in a widely used platform.

Supabase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for open source

Supabase

Postgres with pgvector, auth and realtime in a widely used platform.

Supabase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for self-hosting

Supabase

Postgres with pgvector, auth and realtime in a widely used platform.

PocketBase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for Mac

PocketBase

Simple self-hosted backend with realtime and auth on SQLite.

PocketBase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for Windows

PocketBase

Simple self-hosted backend with realtime and auth on SQLite.

PocketBase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for Linux

PocketBase

Simple self-hosted backend with realtime and auth on SQLite.

Firebase logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for iPhone and Android

Firebase

Managed realtime document database with client SDKs.

MongoDB Atlas logo

Best SurrealDB alternative for working in the browser

MongoDB Atlas

Mature managed document database with vector search.

SurrealDB alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SurrealDB?

MongoDB Atlas ranks first right now. Mature managed document database with vector search. Supabase and Firebase follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SurrealDB?

Yes. MongoDB Atlas (free plan + paid), Supabase (free plan + paid), Firebase (free plan + paid) and PocketBase (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to SurrealDB?

Yes: Supabase and PocketBase. Supabase and PocketBase can also be self-hosted.

Which SurrealDB alternatives work on Linux?

PocketBase runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from SurrealDB?

The complaints we hear most: younger ecosystem with fewer ORMs and tools; surrealQL is another language to learn; business Source Licence rather than a standard open-source licence.

How is this list ranked?

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