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Supabase vs Firebase

Supabase and Firebase are the two most popular Backend-as-a-Service platforms, but they represent fundamentally different philosophies. Firebase is Google's proprietary platform built around a NoSQL document database, while Supabase is an open-source alternative built on PostgreSQL. This choice affects your data model, vendor independence, pricing trajectory, and how much control you retain over your backend infrastructure.

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Quick Overview

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Supabase

Supabase is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service built on PostgreSQL. It provides a full Postgres database, authentication, instant APIs (REST and GraphQL), real-time subscriptions, edge functions, and file storage. Because it is built on standard PostgreSQL, your data and skills are portable — you can self-host or migrate to any Postgres provider without rewriting queries.

Key Strengths

  • Full PostgreSQL with SQL, joins, views, and stored procedures
  • Open-source — self-host or use managed cloud
  • Row Level Security for fine-grained access control
  • Real-time subscriptions via Postgres CDC
  • No vendor lock-in — standard SQL and open protocols
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Firebase

Firebase is Google's comprehensive app development platform offering Firestore (NoSQL document database), Authentication, Cloud Functions, Hosting, Cloud Messaging, and Analytics. Its tight integration with Google Cloud and extensive client SDKs make it exceptionally fast to prototype and ship, especially for mobile applications with offline-first requirements.

Key Strengths

  • Mature platform with 10+ years of production use at massive scale
  • Excellent offline support and client-side caching
  • Deep Google Cloud integration (BigQuery, Cloud Run, Vertex AI)
  • Rich client SDKs for iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, and Unity
  • Generous free tier for getting started

Detailed Comparison

Side-by-side analysis of key technical categories to help you make an informed decision.

CategorySupabaseFirebase
DatabasePostgreSQL — full relational database with SQL, joins, indexes, views, triggers, and extensions like PostGIS.Firestore — NoSQL document database with collections, subcollections, and limited querying capabilities.
AuthBuilt-in auth with email, OAuth, magic links, and phone. Row Level Security for authorization.Firebase Auth with email, OAuth, phone, anonymous auth. Security rules for Firestore and Storage.
Real-timePostgres CDC-based real-time via websockets. Subscribe to table or row-level changes.Native real-time listeners on Firestore documents and collections. Built into every client SDK.
FunctionsEdge Functions (Deno-based) deployed globally. Also supports database functions and triggers in SQL.Cloud Functions (Node.js, Python) running on Google Cloud. Tight integration with all Firebase services.
PricingUsage-based with generous free tier. Predictable pricing based on database size, bandwidth, and functions.Pay-as-you-go with per-read/write pricing on Firestore. Costs can spike unexpectedly at scale.
Vendor Lock-inLow — standard PostgreSQL. Export data with pg_dump, migrate to any Postgres host, or self-host entirely.High — proprietary Firestore data model. Migration requires rewriting queries and data access patterns.
ScalabilityScales well with Postgres optimizations. Connection pooling via Supavisor. Can scale reads with read replicas.Scales automatically and massively. Google infrastructure handles millions of concurrent connections effortlessly.
Developer ExperienceDashboard with SQL editor, auto-generated REST/GraphQL APIs, TypeScript types generation, local dev with CLI.Excellent emulator suite for local dev. Firebase console with real-time data explorer and analytics dashboards.

When to Use Each Technology

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Choose Supabase When

  • Projects that need relational data with complex queries and joins
  • Teams that want full control and the option to self-host
  • Applications where avoiding vendor lock-in is a priority
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Choose Firebase When

  • Mobile-first apps that need robust offline support
  • Rapid prototyping and MVPs where speed-to-market is critical
  • Teams already invested in the Google Cloud ecosystem

Our Verdict

Choose Supabase if you value SQL, relational data modeling, open-source principles, and want to avoid vendor lock-in. It is the better choice for applications with complex data relationships, teams with SQL expertise, and projects where long-term portability matters. Choose Firebase if you need battle-tested offline support for mobile apps, want the fastest path from idea to production, or are already deep in the Google Cloud ecosystem. For most new web applications in 2026, we lean toward Supabase — the combination of PostgreSQL's power with modern DX is hard to beat, and the open-source foundation gives you options that proprietary platforms cannot match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate from Firebase to Supabase?

Yes. Supabase provides official migration guides and tools. The main challenge is converting Firestore's document model to relational tables. Simple collections map well, but deeply nested subcollections require schema redesign. Auth users can be migrated with their password hashes. The effort depends on your data complexity — simple apps migrate in a day, complex apps may take weeks.

Is Supabase production-ready?

Yes. Supabase has been generally available since 2023 and powers thousands of production applications. It is backed by $116M+ in funding and built on PostgreSQL, one of the most battle-tested databases in existence. Enterprise features like SOC2 compliance, SLAs, and dedicated support are available on higher tiers.

Which is cheaper at scale?

Supabase is generally more predictable and cost-effective at scale because it charges based on database size and compute, not per-operation. Firebase's Firestore pricing model (per-read/write) can lead to surprisingly high bills as traffic grows, especially for read-heavy applications. Always model your expected usage patterns against both pricing calculators before committing.

Which has better real-time support?

Firebase has more mature real-time capabilities with built-in offline sync and conflict resolution in every client SDK. Supabase's real-time is newer but powerful for server-to-client data sync via Postgres Change Data Capture. If offline-first is a hard requirement, Firebase still has the edge. For server-push real-time updates, both work well.

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