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Supabase vs Firebase
Rankings as of
Last updated
Short answer: pick Supabase for this job: Postgres plus auth for an indie app. Pick Firebase for this job: A document backend with Google's SDKs. Supabase scores 8.5 and is #1 in Databases and backend. Firebase scores 7.4 and is #4 in Databases and backend.
| Compared on | Supabase | Firebase |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Postgres, auth, storage, and realtime in one project. | Google's backend platform: Auth, Firestore, storage, and hosting. |
| StackPick job | Databases and backend, #1 | Databases and backend, #4 |
| Best for | Postgres plus auth for an indie app | A document backend with Google's SDKs |
| Score | 8.5 | 7.4 |
| Ease / Power / Price / Fit | 8 / 9 / 7 / 9 | 8 / 8 / 6 / 7 |
| Pricing | FreemiumFree project tier and paid plans. Current limits: check site. | FreemiumSpark free tier and pay-as-you-go Blaze. Current quotas and prices: check site. |
| Visit | Visit | Visit |
Where Supabase fits
Supabase is an open-source backend platform built on Postgres, with auth, file storage, realtime, and auto-generated APIs. It is the default database in this directory for an indie app. There is a free project tier. Limits and paid plans: check site.
Best use cases
- A SaaS that needs tables and row-level security
- Auth and files next to the database
- A backend an AI app builder can attach to
Listed strengths
- Postgres, which you can leave with
- Auth, storage, and APIs are included so you skip three other vendors at the start
- A free tier is enough to build the first version
Trade-off: Row-level security is easy to get wrong Project limits and compute pricing: check site
Where Firebase fits
Firebase is Google's backend platform. Common pieces are Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Storage, and Hosting, with a generous-looking free tier that is still Google Cloud underneath. Use it when you want a document database and mobile-friendly SDKs. Use Supabase when you want Postgres.
Best use cases
- Mobile and web apps that need auth and a document store
- Apps already heading toward Google Cloud
- Realtime clients without running a server
Listed strengths
- Client SDKs cover auth and data without a custom API
- A free Spark plan has long been part of the offer
- Fits Firebase Studio and the rest of Google's builder tools
Trade-off: Firestore is not SQL, and exporting your mental model later is the tax Billing surprises live in the Blaze plan. Current prices: check site
Where the score comes from
Both score 8 for Ease. The 1.1 gap comes from power (9 vs 8) and price (7 vs 6) and vibe-coder fit (9 vs 7). How scores work.
What changed recently
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Alternatives
FAQ
- Should I pick Supabase or Firebase?
- Pick Supabase for this job: Postgres plus auth for an indie app. Pick Firebase for this job: A document backend with Google's SDKs. Supabase scores 8.5 and is #1 in Databases and backend. Firebase scores 7.4 and is #4 in Databases and backend.
- What do Supabase and Firebase cost?
- Supabase: Free project tier and paid plans. Current limits: check site. Firebase: Spark free tier and pay-as-you-go Blaze. Current quotas and prices: check site.
- Are these scores benchmarks?
- Initial editorial estimate. Not a measured benchmark. Price means value for an indie budget, not the sticker price.
- Do affiliate links change Supabase or Firebase’s rank?
- 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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