Supabase

Supabase is the leading open-source alternative to Firebase, built entirely on the power of PostgreSQL. It provides a complete backend suite that allows developers and Vibe Builders to manage data, users, and files without proprietary database constraints.

What Supabase does:

• •Managed PostgreSQL get a full relational database with native support for complex queries and transactions.
• •Instant APIs Supabase automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs based on your database schema.
• •Built-in Authentication handle user sign-ups, logins, and social providers with secure, pre-built auth flows.
• •Real-time Subscriptions listen to database changes in real-time to build reactive, collaborative applications.
• •Vector Embeddings use native pgvector support to store and query vector data for AI and RAG workflows.
• •Database Branching create isolated environments for testing schema changes before merging to production, acting as the Git of data.
• •Edge Functions deploy server-side TypeScript code globally to execute logic close to your users.
• •MCP Support integrate with the Model Context Protocol to allow AI agents to interact directly with your database schema.

Limitations:

• •Free projects pause after one week of inactivity — If your app goes unused for 7 days, Supabase automatically pauses the project. For low-traffic apps or side projects, users will experience a slow cold start the next time someone visits after a quiet period.
• •Free tier has hard data limits — The free plan gives 500MB of database storage and 1GB file storage, capped at 2 active projects total. A single product with images or file uploads can fill this quickly.
• •Scaling costs jump sharply — The Pro plan starts at $25/month but bandwidth overages are charged at $0.09/GB. Media-heavy apps with growing audiences will see costs escalate quickly, with steep jumps to higher compute tiers.
• •Edge Functions are not a full backend — Supabase Edge Functions have a 2-second CPU time limit per request and a 20MB maximum size after bundling. They are designed for lightweight glue logic only. Complex business logic needs to run elsewhere.
• •Regional access can be disrupted — In early 2026, Supabase was DNS-blocked by ISPs in India, breaking apps for all Indian users. The single *.supabase.co domain structure means infrastructure decisions can create regional access problems outside your control.

Pricing:

• •Free $0/month, 50,000 MAU, 500MB database, 1GB file storage. Ideal for hobby projects and prototyping.
• •Pro Starts at $25/month, 100,000 MAU, 8GB database, usage-based scaling. For growing applications.
• •Team Starts at $599/month, includes SSO, SOC2 compliance, and priority support. For organizations needing governance.
• •Enterprise Custom pricing, dedicated support, custom SLAs, BYOC option. For specific requirements.