Supabase vs Firebase: Complete Comparison 2025
Choosing between Supabase and Firebase? We compare features, pricing, databases, performance, and developer experience to help you make the right decision for your project.
Quick Verdict
Choose Firebase if: You're building mobile apps (iOS/Android), need Google Cloud integration, prefer NoSQL databases, or want the most mature ecosystem with extensive documentation.
Choose Supabase if: You need PostgreSQL's power, want to avoid vendor lock-in (open-source), prefer SQL over NoSQL, need better pricing transparency, or may want to self-host in the future.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SupabasePostgreSQL | FirebaseNoSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Database Type | PostgreSQL (Relational SQL) | Firestore (NoSQL Document) |
| Open Source | ✅ Yes (MIT License) | ❌ No (Proprietary) |
| Self-Hosting | ✅ Full support | ❌ Not possible |
| Real-time | ✅ PostgreSQL Subscriptions | ✅ Native (Excellent) |
| Authentication | ✅ GoTrue (JWT, OAuth, Magic Links) | ✅ Firebase Auth (15+ providers) |
| Storage | ✅ S3-compatible Storage | ✅ Cloud Storage for Firebase |
| Functions | ✅ Edge Functions (Deno) | ✅ Cloud Functions (Node.js) |
| GraphQL | ✅ Via pg_graphql | ❌ Not native |
| REST API | ✅ Auto-generated | ✅ REST API |
| Free Tier | 500MB DB, 1GB Storage, 2GB Transfer | 1GB Storage, 10GB Transfer, 50K reads |
| Starting Price | $25/month (Pro) | Usage-based (Spark = Free) |
| Pricing Model | Predictable tiers | Pay-as-you-go (can surprise) |
| Company | Supabase (Y Combinator) | |
| Founded | 2020 (Newer) | 2011 (More mature) |
Deep Dive: Key Differences
1. Database: PostgreSQL vs NoSQL
Supabase (PostgreSQL)
Full-featured relational database with SQL queries, JOINs, constraints, and ACID transactions.
✅ Best for:
- Complex queries with relationships
- Data integrity and constraints
- Transactional operations
- Traditional web apps
Firebase (Firestore)
Flexible document database with nested collections, real-time sync, and automatic scaling.
✅ Best for:
- Rapid prototyping
- Flexible schema requirements
- Real-time mobile apps
- Nested data structures
2. Pricing Comparison
Supabase PricingPredictable
- Free: $0/month - 500MB database, 1GB storage, 2GB bandwidth
- Pro: $25/month - 8GB database, 100GB storage, 50GB bandwidth
- Team: $599/month - More resources + collaboration features
💡 Clear limits make costs predictable. Great for budgeting.
Firebase PricingPay-as-you-go
- Spark (Free): $0/month - 1GB storage, 10GB/month transfer, 50K reads/day
- Blaze: Pay per use - $0.18/GB storage, $0.12/GB transfer, $0.06/100K reads
- No tier limit: Can scale infinitely but costs can surprise you
⚠️ Great for low traffic, but costs can spike unexpectedly at scale.
3. Vendor Lock-in & Data Ownership
✅ Supabase: No Lock-in
- ✅ 100% open-source (MIT license)
- ✅ Self-host anywhere (AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean)
- ✅ Standard PostgreSQL - export data anytime
- ✅ No proprietary APIs to learn
- ✅ Community-driven development
You own your data. Can leave anytime.
⚠️ Firebase: Vendor Lock-in
- ❌ Proprietary, closed-source platform
- ❌ Cannot self-host
- ❌ Tied to Google Cloud Platform
- ❌ Migration is complex and expensive
- ❌ Firestore data structure hard to export
Difficult to migrate away once you're in.
4. Developer Experience
SDKs & Client Libraries
Firebase: Excellent SDKs for iOS, Android, Web, Unity, C++, Flutter. More mature mobile support.
Supabase: Great JavaScript/TypeScript SDK. Growing Flutter, Swift, and Kotlin SDKs.
Documentation
Firebase: Extensive docs, 10+ years of community content, Stack Overflow answers.
Supabase: Excellent docs, growing fast. Smaller community but very active Discord.
Admin Dashboard
Firebase: Mature console with analytics, crash reporting, A/B testing.
Supabase: Beautiful, modern dashboard. SQL editor, table editor, API docs.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Supabase if you:
- ✓Need PostgreSQL (relational data, complex queries, JOINs)
- ✓Want to avoid vendor lock-in (open-source, self-hostable)
- ✓Prefer SQL over NoSQL for querying
- ✓Need predictable pricing (fixed tiers)
- ✓Building web applications (React, Next.js, Vue)
- ✓May need to self-host in the future
- ✓Want GraphQL support out of the box
Choose Firebase if you:
- ✓Building mobile apps (iOS, Android, Flutter)
- ✓Need NoSQL flexibility (nested documents, schema-less)
- ✓Already use Google Cloud Platform
- ✓Want the most mature ecosystem (10+ years)
- ✓Need analytics, crash reporting, A/B testing
- ✓Doing rapid prototyping (fastest to start)
- ✓Have very low traffic (free tier is generous)
Can You Migrate from Firebase to Supabase?
Yes! Many developers have successfully migrated from Firebase to Supabase. The process involves:
1. Data Migration
Export Firestore data to JSON, transform to relational schema, import to PostgreSQL. Tools exist to help.
2. Authentication
Both use similar auth patterns. User migration is straightforward with Supabase's import tools.
3. Storage
Copy files from Firebase Storage to Supabase Storage. Both are S3-compatible.
4. Functions
Rewrite Cloud Functions as Supabase Edge Functions (Deno instead of Node.js).
💡 Tip: Supabase has migration guides and the community is helpful. Budget 2-4 weeks for a medium-sized app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Supabase really a Firebase alternative?
Yes! Supabase was built specifically as an open-source Firebase alternative. It provides similar features (database, auth, storage, real-time, functions) but uses PostgreSQL instead of NoSQL and is fully open-source. It's the most popular Firebase alternative with 50K+ GitHub stars.
Which is faster: Supabase or Firebase?
Both are very fast. Firebase has lower latency for simple document reads (~10-50ms). Supabase with PostgreSQL can be faster for complex queries with JOINs. Real-time performance is comparable. For most apps, the difference is negligible. Choose based on database type, not speed.
Is Supabase more expensive than Firebase?
It depends on usage. Supabase's $25/month Pro tier is predictable and generous for most apps. Firebase's pay-as-you-go can be cheaper for very low traffic, but costs can spike unexpectedly with growth. For mid to high traffic, Supabase is often cheaper and more predictable.
Can I use both Firebase and Supabase together?
Yes, though not common. Some developers use Firebase for mobile apps (push notifications, analytics) and Supabase for the backend (PostgreSQL database, API). However, this adds complexity. Usually better to pick one.
Which has better mobile SDK support?
Firebase has more mature mobile SDKs (iOS, Android, Flutter) with 10+ years of development. Supabase's mobile SDKs (Flutter, Swift, Kotlin) are newer but improving rapidly. For pure mobile apps, Firebase still has an edge. For web or hybrid apps, Supabase is excellent.
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