Supabase: Open Source Alternative to Firebase
Open-source Firebase alternative — Postgres, auth, storage, real-time.
Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative with 103k+ GitHub stars — a backend-as-a-service providing Postgres database, auth, storage, and edge functions.
Compare Supabase with PlanetScale and Neon before you choose your stack.
Key features
Database & APIs
- Full Postgres with Row Level Security
- Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs
- Real-time subscriptions via WebSockets
- Database branching for preview environments
Auth & storage
- Email/password, OAuth, and SSO providers
- File storage with automatic image transformations
- CDN-backed asset delivery
- Access control via RLS policies
AI & edge
- pgvector for embeddings and similarity search
- Edge functions in Deno runtime
- Cron jobs and scheduled functions
- Vector search with built-in embeddings
Supabase vs Firebase
| Supabase | Firebase | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 (open source) | Proprietary |
| Models | Bring your own keys / local models | Vendor-locked models |
| Deployment | Self-hosted or cloud | SaaS only |
| Privacy | Data stays on your infrastructure | Processed by vendor |
| Cost | Free software + API usage | Subscription pricing |
Choose Supabase if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.
Choose Firebase if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.
Browse more open-source alternatives to Firebase, or explore other tools in Developer Tools.
At a glance
| License | Apache 2.0 |
| Stack | TypeScript, Elixir, Postgres |
| Self-hosted | Yes |
| Cloud | supabase.com |
| Database | PostgreSQL |
Self-hosting
git clone https://github.com/supabase/supabase.git
cd supabase/docker
cp .env.example .env
docker compose up -d
Includes Kong, GoTrue, PostgREST, Realtime, Storage, and Studio.
FAQ
Is Supabase a free alternative to Firebase?
Yes. Supabase is open source under Apache-2.0. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.
How does Supabase compare to Firebase?
Supabase gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. Firebase is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.
Can I self-host Supabase?
Yes. Supabase supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over Firebase. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.
Is Supabase suitable for production?
Supabase is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a Developer Tools alternative to Firebase. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.
What are alternatives to Supabase and Firebase?
Browse alternatives to Firebase for more open-source options, including tools compared to PlanetScale. Explore the full Developer Tools category for related projects.
Screenshots
