PocketBase vs Supabase

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

PocketBase

An open-source backend in a single Go binary, with SQLite, auth, file storage and realtime.

Open sourceSelf-hostable

Visit PocketBase PocketBase profile

Supabase

Hosted Postgres with auth, storage, realtime and edge functions bundled into one open-source backend.

Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostable

Visit Supabase Supabase profile

The short answer

PocketBase suits solo developers and small apps that want a full backend in one executable on a cheap server, with nothing else to operate. Supabase suits projects that need Postgres, room to grow, a managed cloud and a company behind it. The biggest difference is scale and support: PocketBase is a single-server SQLite tool run by volunteers, while Supabase is a hosted platform with paid plans and support.

PocketBase or Supabase: our take

PocketBase packs an embedded SQLite database, authentication with OAuth providers, file storage, realtime subscriptions and an admin dashboard into one binary. You download it, run it on any server, and get a REST API with access rules set in the dashboard. Custom logic comes from using it as a Go framework or adding JavaScript hooks. Operations are minimal: no separate database server, no containers required, and backups are a matter of copying files. It is free and MIT-licensed.

Supabase gives each project a dedicated Postgres database and surrounds it with auth, storage, realtime, auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, edge functions and vector search. Postgres brings SQL, row-level security and a large extension ecosystem, and you can leave with a standard dump. It is open source under Apache-2.0 and self-hostable with Docker, though running the full stack yourself takes real work, which is why most people use the managed cloud.

The limits matter when choosing. PocketBase scales only vertically on a single server, supports only SQLite, has no hosted cloud or paid support, and has not reached version 1.0, so upgrades can include breaking changes. Supabase's free plan is $0/month for 2 active projects, which pause after 1 week of inactivity, and Pro starts from $25/month plus usage charges that can be hard to predict.

Choose PocketBase for side projects, internal tools and small apps where a single server is plenty and you value simplicity over everything else. Choose Supabase if you expect growth, need Postgres features, work in a team, or want someone else to run the infrastructure.

Choose PocketBase if…

Solo developers and small apps that want a full backend on one cheap server
You need Linux, macOS and Windows, which Supabase doesn't list
One binary with no external database or dependencies
Built-in admin dashboard, auth and realtime

Choose Supabase if…

Developers who want Postgres plus auth, storage and realtime without running servers
You need Web, which PocketBase doesn't list
Real Postgres underneath, so SQL, extensions and standard tooling all work
Auth, storage, realtime and functions in one dashboard

What is PocketBase?

PocketBase packs a complete small-app backend into one executable: an embedded SQLite database, user authentication with OAuth providers, file storage, realtime subscriptions and an admin dashboard. You download the binary, run it on any cheap server and you have a REST API with access rules defined in the dashboard. It can also be used as a Go framework, or extended with JavaScript hooks, when you need custom logic. The appeal is how little there is to operate: no separate database server, no containers required, and backups are a matter of copying files. The limits are deliberate. It scales only vertically on a single server, supports only SQLite, and is a volunteer-run personal project with no company, paid support or hosted cloud behind it, and it has not yet reached version 1.0. It is free and MIT-licensed, and runs on Linux, macOS and Windows servers.

What is Supabase?

Supabase gives every project a dedicated Postgres database and wraps it with the pieces most apps need: user authentication, file storage, realtime subscriptions, auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, edge functions and vector search. Because the core is plain Postgres, you can use SQL, row-level security policies, extensions and any Postgres client, and you can leave with a standard database dump. It is the most common choice for people who want a Firebase-style developer experience without a proprietary NoSQL store, and many AI app builders use it as their default backend. The whole stack is open source and can be self-hosted with Docker, although the self-hosted version needs more care than the managed cloud. Pricing starts with a free tier for small projects, which pauses inactive projects, then a monthly Pro plan per organisation with usage-based charges for compute, storage, egress and monthly active users. Team and Enterprise plans add SSO, compliance and support. Everything is managed from a web dashboard and a CLI.

Side by side

Attribute	PocketBase	Supabase
Pricing	Open source	Free plan + paid
Open source	Yes	Yes
Self-hostable	Yes	Yes
Platforms	Self-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows	Web, Self-hosted
Best for	Solo developers and small apps that want a full backend on one cheap server	Developers who want Postgres plus auth, storage and realtime without running servers
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	PocketBase	Supabase
License	MIT	Apache-2.0