Comparison
Supabase vs Firebase
Open-source Postgres backend vs Google's managed app platform.
Overview
Both let you ship a full app without a backend team, but the data model, lock-in and pricing differ sharply.
Differences
| Dimension | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Database | Postgres — relational, SQL, full schema control | Firestore — document store, NoSQL, schemaless |
| Auth | Built-in, JWT-based, RLS-friendly | Mature, deep Google ecosystem integration |
| Realtime | Postgres logical replication, channels | First-class realtime listeners |
| Hosting | BYO frontend host (Vercel, Cloudflare, Lovable) | Firebase Hosting + Cloud Functions integrated |
| Lock-in | Low — standard Postgres you can self-host | Higher — Google-specific APIs and pricing |
Use Cases
- →Pick Supabase when you want SQL, portability and AI-friendly schemas.
- →Pick Firebase for mobile-heavy apps deep in the Google ecosystem.
Recommendation
For AI-native apps that need vector search (pgvector), RLS and SQL joins, Supabase is the safer long-term bet.
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