When it comes to building modern apps, Firebase has long been the go-to choice. Backed by Google, it offers a full suite of backend tools—authentication, real-time databases, file storage, serverless functions, and SDKs for iOS, Android, and the web.
Enter Supabase, a fast-rising open-source alternative that promises similar functionality without the vendor lock-in. But can it truly rival Firebase? Let’s break it down.
Feature Parity: Where They Stand
- Firebase: Mature ecosystem with authentication, Firestore, Realtime Database, hosting, ML tools, push notifications, analytics, and more.
- Supabase: Currently offers PostgreSQL database, user authentication, file storage, and real-time features. Functions are in progress.
Verdict: Firebase offers far more tools, but Supabase covers the essentials and is evolving quickly.
Authentication: Developer Experience
- Firebase: Supports email/password, OAuth providers, phone authentication, and anonymous logins.
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- Supabase: Supports email/password, OAuth, and even passwordless “magic link” authentication. Missing phone auth, but has a clever touch—automatic user records in the database.
👉 Developer win: Supabase makes writing security rules in SQL easier to manage compared to Firebase’s expression language.
Databases: NoSQL vs SQL
- Firebase Firestore: A NoSQL document database, great for scalability but struggles with complex queries and full-text search. Often requires third-party integrations like Algolia.
- Supabase: Built on PostgreSQL, offering relational power, schema migrations, and SQL flexibility. The dashboard makes managing tables and queries more intuitive for beginners.
👉 Verdict: If you need relational data or complex queries, Supabase wins. If you prioritize scalability and offline-first apps, Firebase shines.
Real-Time Capabilities
- Firebase: Best-in-class real-time SDKs with offline support, optimistic UI updates, and smooth developer experience.
- Supabase: Real-time is possible but requires manual setup in the database replication tab. Security policies for real-time are still evolving.
👉 Verdict: Firebase is unmatched in real-time performance.
Pricing: A Big Differentiator
- Firebase: Free tier for experimentation, then pay-as-you-go. Costs add up fast with reads/writes on Firestore.
- Supabase: $25/month plan includes 8GB database and 100k users, with unlimited API calls—much cheaper for high-traffic apps.
👉 Caveat: Supabase’s aggressive pricing raises sustainability questions, while Google can afford to run Firebase at a loss indefinitely.
Vendor Lock-In vs Flexibility
- Firebase: Full integration with Google Cloud, but you’re locked into their ecosystem.
- Supabase: 100% open source. You can self-host with Docker or move to another cloud provider anytime.
👉 For developers worried about long-term control, Supabase is safer.
Final Verdict: Is Supabase a True Alternative?
Supabase isn’t a complete Firebase replacement—at least not yet. It lacks hosting, push notifications, analytics, and robust mobile SDKs. However, its SQL database, open-source foundation, and flexible pricing make it extremely attractive for developers who value freedom over ecosystem lock-in.
If you’re building a mobile-first game or real-time-heavy app, Firebase still leads. But if you want a scalable SQL database with the option to self-host, Supabase is a strong contender—and one to watch as it continues to mature.
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