Appwrite
Open-source backend server with auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging and site hosting.
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- Alternatives ranked
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About Appwrite
Appwrite is an open-source backend platform that bundles authentication, databases, file storage, serverless functions, messaging, realtime events and, more recently, Sites for hosting web frontends. It started as a self-hosted Docker stack and is still one of the easiest full backends to run on your own server, while Appwrite Cloud offers the same features as a managed service. The developer experience leans on official SDKs for web, Flutter, Android, iOS, React Native and several server languages, so mobile and Flutter developers use it a lot as a Firebase replacement. Databases are offered in serverless and dedicated forms, with several database types to choose from. Appwrite Cloud has a free plan for hobby projects, where exceeding limits freezes the project until you upgrade, plus paid plans with usage-based extras and fixed-price dedicated database tiers. The self-hosted edition is free under a BSD licence. It is managed through a web console and a CLI.
Best for: Flutter and mobile developers who want an open-source Firebase alternative they can self-host.
Pros and cons
What works
- Straightforward self-hosting with Docker
- Broad SDK coverage, especially Flutter and mobile
- Backend and frontend hosting in one project
Why people leave
- Free cloud projects freeze when they hit a resource limit
- Smaller ecosystem of third-party guides than Firebase or Supabase
- Pricing structure has changed several times, which makes planning harder
Top Appwrite alternatives
See all 5- 1
Supabase66.5Postgres-based alternative with SQL access and a larger community.
- 2
Firebase62.6More mature mobile SDKs and Google-scale infrastructure if self-hosting is not a goal.
- 3
PocketBase59.6Much lighter self-hosted option when a single binary on SQLite is enough.
- 4
Nhost57.2Open-source Postgres and GraphQL backend with a similar auth and storage bundle.
- 5
Parse Platform55.3Long-running open-source backend server with a large plugin and hosting ecosystem.
Why people left Appwrite
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Appwrite: common questions
Is Appwrite free?
Yes. Appwrite is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Appwrite open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at appwrite/appwrite. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Appwrite run on?
Appwrite is available for Web and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to Appwrite?
The highest-ranked Appwrite alternatives right now are Supabase, Firebase and PocketBase. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.