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Supabase (8.5) is the pick for this job: Postgres plus auth for an indie app. Postgres, which you can leave with. Auth, storage, and APIs are included so you skip three other vendors at the start. If that isn’t the job, Neon (8.0) is next: Serverless Postgres, including a database per preview.
Use this when the product has to store users, rows, or files. Postgres platforms, backend-as-a-service, and serverless data stores that pair with AI-built frontends. See the full Databases and backend ranking.
Scroll sideways for the full breakdown.
| # | Tool | Score | Ease | Power | Price | Fit | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Supabase | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | Postgres plus auth for an indie app | Freemium |
| 02 | Neon | 8.0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | Serverless Postgres, including a database per preview | Freemium |
| 03 | Convex | 7.9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | A TypeScript backend with realtime built in | Check site |
| 04 | Firebase | 7.4 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | A document backend with Google's SDKs | Freemium |
| 05 | Upstash | 7.4 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | Redis and queues next to a serverless app | Freemium |
| 06 | Wix Headless | 7.2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | A store, booking calendar, or CMS behind a custom frontend | Freemium |
Which to pick if…
If the job is “Postgres plus auth for an indie app”
Pick Supabase (8.5). Postgres, which you can leave with. Trade-off: Row-level security is easy to get wrong.
If the job is “Serverless Postgres, including a database per preview”
Pick Neon (8.0). It is Postgres. Trade-off: You still need auth, storage, and an API yourself.
If the job is “A TypeScript backend with realtime built in”
Pick Convex (7.9). Types run from the database functions to the client. Trade-off: It is not Postgres, so the exit is a rewrite of the data layer.
If the job is “A document backend with Google's SDKs”
Pick Firebase (7.4). Client SDKs cover auth and data without a custom API. Trade-off: Firestore is not SQL, and exporting your mental model later is the tax.
If the job is “Redis and queues next to a serverless app”
Pick Upstash (7.4). Fits serverless and edge runtimes. Trade-off: Not a replacement for Postgres or a document store.
If the job is “A store, booking calendar, or CMS behind a custom frontend”
Pick Wix Headless (7.2). Stores, bookings, events, a CMS, and payments share one dashboard. Trade-off: Moving the data to Postgres later means rewriting the data layer.
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How we rank
Weighted: Ease 22%, Power 33%, Price (indie value) 15%, Vibe-coder fit 30%. These are editorial estimates, not benchmarks. Method.
Initial editorial estimate. Not a measured benchmark. Weights sum to 100%.
FAQ
- Which tool leads the Databases and backend ranking?
- Supabase leads with an editorial score of 8.5. Best for: Postgres plus auth for an indie app.
- Who should pick Supabase?
- Pick Supabase for this job: Postgres plus auth for an indie app. Postgres, which you can leave with. Row-level security is easy to get wrong.
- When should I pick Neon instead?
- Neon is #2 with an editorial score of 8.0. Best for: Serverless Postgres, including a database per preview. It is Postgres.
- Which listing in Databases and backend has the best price-value score?
- Neon (8) and Upstash (8) have the highest price score in Databases and backend. Price means value for an indie budget, not the sticker. Neon: Free tier and usage-based paid plans. Current prices: check site. Upstash: Free tier and per-request paid usage. Current prices: check site.
- Do affiliate links change this ranking?
- Affiliate links may be used to monetize, but they never affect scores or rankings, and rankings are never sponsored.
Initial editorial estimate. Not a measured benchmark. Prices: check each vendor’s site. How scores work.
Some links may earn us a commission. It never changes scores or order.
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