Appwrite vs Supabase (2026): Which Open-Source BaaS Should You Pick?
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst· Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on hands-on project deployment
30-Second Answer
Choose Supabaseif you're building web apps and want full PostgreSQL power, real-time subscriptions with Row Level Security, and a massive Next.js/SvelteKit ecosystem. Choose Appwriteif you want the simplest self-hosting setup (one Docker Compose command), need mobile SDKs for 10+ platforms, or prefer a document-oriented data model. Supabase wins 7-5 overall, but Appwrite's self-hosting and mobile SDK breadth are genuine advantages.
Our Verdict
Supabase
- PostgreSQL with full SQL query power
- Realtime subscriptions with Row Level Security
- Large community + Vercel/Next.js integration
- Complex self-hosting (multiple services)
- Free projects sleep after inactivity
- Fewer mobile SDKs than Appwrite
Deep dive: Supabase full analysis
Features Overview
Supabase is the leading open-source Firebase alternative, built on PostgreSQL. It provides auth, database, storage, real-time subscriptions, and edge functions out of the box. The Row Level Security model lets you define access policies directly in SQL — powerful for multi-tenant apps. With 70,000+ GitHub stars and native Vercel integration, it's the default BaaS for Next.js projects.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500MB DB, 1GB storage, 2 projects |
| Pro | $25/mo | 8GB DB, 100GB storage, daily backups |
| Team | $599/mo | Unlimited, SOC 2, priority support |
Who Should Choose Supabase?
- Web developers building Next.js, SvelteKit, or Nuxt apps
- Teams needing full SQL power and relational data modeling
- Projects requiring real-time subscriptions (chat, dashboards)
- Companies wanting a large open-source ecosystem
Appwrite
- Simple Docker Compose self-hosting
- SDKs for 10+ platforms (iOS, Android, Flutter)
- Built-in messaging and push notifications
- NoSQL only (no relational queries)
- Smaller community than Supabase
- Less mature real-time capabilities
Deep dive: Appwrite full analysis
Features Overview
Appwrite differentiates itself with the easiest self-hosting experience in the BaaS space — a single Docker Compose command gets you running. It provides auth, database (document-based), storage, functions, and built-in messaging/push notifications. The SDK breadth is unmatched with support for iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native, and 10+ other platforms, making it ideal for mobile-first projects.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 75K MAU, 2GB storage, 10GB bandwidth |
| Pro | $15/mo | 200K MAU, 150GB storage, 2TB bandwidth |
| Scale | $599/mo | Unlimited, SOC 2, custom domains |
Who Should Choose Appwrite?
- Teams wanting simple, one-command self-hosting
- Mobile developers needing iOS/Android/Flutter SDKs
- Projects preferring a document-oriented data model
- Apps needing built-in push notifications
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Supabase | Appwrite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database | PostgreSQL (full relational) | Document DB (NoSQL) | ✔ Supabase |
| Realtime | WebSocket with RLS | SSE (Server-Sent Events) | ✔ Supabase |
| SQL Support | Full SQL queries | No SQL (document queries) | ✔ Supabase |
| Community Size | Very large (70K+ stars) | Large, growing (40K+ stars) | ✔ Supabase |
| Framework Integration | Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt native | Good but less integrated | ✔ Supabase |
| Auth | GoTrue-based auth + social logins | Built-in auth + OAuth | ✔ Supabase |
| File Storage | S3-compatible with CDN | Built-in storage | ✔ Supabase |
| Push Notifications | Not built-in | Built-in messaging + push | ✔ Appwrite |
| Self-hosting | Complex (multi-service) | Simple (Docker Compose) | ✔ Appwrite |
| Mobile SDKs | 3 (JS, Flutter, Swift) | 10+ platforms | ✔ Appwrite |
| Free Tier | 500MB DB, 1GB storage | 2GB storage, 10GB BW, 75K MAU | ✔ Appwrite |
| Starting Price | $25/mo (Pro) | $15/mo (Pro) | ✔ Appwrite |
● Appwrite wins 5 · ● Supabase wins 7· Based on 6,200+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Supabase if:
You're building web apps and want full SQL power, real-time subscriptions with Row Level Security, and a large ecosystem of Next.js/SvelteKit integrations. Supabase is the default BaaS for modern web development.
→ Choose Appwrite if:
You want the simplest self-hosting setup, need mobile SDKs for iOS/Android/Flutter, or prefer a document-oriented data model with built-in push notifications. Appwrite's one-command deployment is unmatched.
→ Consider neither if:
You need a fully managed, zero-ops solution — Firebase is still the easiest option. For real-time first architectures, Convex is worth exploring as a newer alternative.
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Supabase vs Appwrite. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
Frequently Asked Questions
Editor's Take
Real talk: if you're building a web app with Next.js, just use Supabase. The PostgreSQL + RLS combo is incredibly powerful, and the ecosystem integration is unmatched. But if you're building a mobile app and want to self-host your backend, Appwrite's Docker Compose setup and 10+ platform SDKs make it the clear choice. Don't let anyone tell you one is universally better — they serve different sweet spots.
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Our Methodology
We deployed identical projects on both platforms — a real-time chat app and a CRUD dashboard — testing auth flows, database performance, real-time latency, and deployment experience. We analyzed 6,200+ reviews from G2, GitHub discussions, Reddit, and Discord communities. Pricing verified April 2026.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Data sources: Official pricing pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
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What Real Users Say
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Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.