What is Supabase?
Supabase, an open-source Firebase alternative, offers hosted PostgreSQL, auth, storage, real-time APIs, REST and GraphQL, edge functions, SDKs, and a free tier.
Supabase
What it is
An open-source Firebase alternative built on Postgres. You get a hosted database, instant REST/GraphQL APIs, auth, file storage, real-time listeners, and serverless functions—without inventing a backend. Use SQL, extensions, and the Studio UI, or self-host if you’re allergic to platforms.
Why it works
It leans on boring, proven Postgres. That means sane transactions, migrations, and row-level security instead of homegrown rules engines. The stack is composable: bring your favorite tools, keep your data portable, and avoid the “delete project, lose app” kind of lock-in.
Where it bites
Power comes with homework. You’ll need to grok SQL and RLS, or you’ll ship bugs. Realtime and auth are solid, but policies get complex fast. Edge Functions run on Deno, so some Node habits don’t apply. Costs can climb with heavy connections or chatty listeners.
Who should use it
Indie devs and startup teams who want speed without magic. If you like control and standard tech, it’s a sweet spot. If you want zero-ops and no database thinking, look elsewhere.
What features and use cases does Supabase offer?
- Managed PostgreSQL with powerful extensions (e.g., PostGIS, pgvector) and auto-generated REST/GraphQL APIs
- Built-in authentication and authorization (email/OAuth/SSO) with JWT and Row Level Security policies
- Real-time database subscriptions, presence, and broadcast channels over WebSockets
- Scalable object storage for files with fine-grained access control and CDN support
- Edge Functions (serverless, Deno) for backend logic, webhooks, and scheduled tasks
- Developer tooling: dashboard, SQL editor, migrations, CLI, and type-safe client SDKs
- Managed infrastructure with monitoring, backups, and automatic scaling in an open-source stack
Prices
| Plan | Price | Short description |
|---|---|---|
| Free | free | Hobby/dev projects with limited resources and quotas. |
| Pro | $25 per project/month | Production plan with usage-based scaling and higher limits. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing with advanced security/compliance and dedicated support. |
Prices may vary by region. We do not guarantee the accuracy of prices. For current information see: https://supabase.com
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