3 Free & Open-Source Firebase Alternatives
Firebase's free tier is generous to start, but usage-based pricing on reads, writes, and bandwidth can spike unpredictably once an app has real traffic. These alternatives are open-source, so self-hosting turns that variable bill into a fixed server cost.
The best Firebase alternatives
Supabase
Our top pickOpen sourceSelf-hostedAn open-source Firebase alternative built on Postgres.
Supabase covers the same ground as Firebase — database, auth, storage, real-time subscriptions — but on Postgres instead of a proprietary NoSQL store, which matters if you want standard SQL and the ability to query your data directly.
- Postgres database with auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs
- Built-in authentication and row-level security
- Real-time subscriptions and file storage
- Self-hosted or Supabase's own generous free cloud tier
Appwrite
Open sourceSelf-hostedA self-hosted backend with a strong focus on developer experience.
Appwrite offers the same core backend primitives as Firebase — auth, database, storage, functions — with SDKs across most major languages and frameworks, aimed at teams that want to self-host from day one.
- Authentication with multiple providers built in
- Database, storage, and serverless functions
- SDKs for most major languages and frameworks
- Self-hosted via Docker, or Appwrite's cloud plan
PocketBase
Open sourceSelf-hostedAn entire backend in a single executable file.
PocketBase is the lightest option here — one binary that bundles a SQLite database, auth, file storage, and an admin UI, ideal for smaller apps and side projects that don't need Supabase or Appwrite's larger footprint.
- Single executable — no separate services to run
- Built-in SQLite database with realtime subscriptions
- Authentication and file storage out of the box
- Self-hosted, extremely lightweight
Licensing and pricing models change over time — confirm current terms on each project's own site before making a procurement or compliance decision.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best free alternative to Firebase?
Supabase is the closest match for most teams — same core feature set, built on Postgres. PocketBase is the better pick for a small app or prototype that wants the absolute simplest self-hosted setup.
Do I lose Firebase's real-time features with these alternatives?
No — Supabase, Appwrite, and PocketBase all support real-time data subscriptions, covering the most common reason teams reach for Firebase's real-time database.
Is Postgres (Supabase) harder to work with than Firebase's NoSQL store?
Different, not harder — SQL has a learning curve if you've only used NoSQL, but it also gives you relational queries and data integrity Firebase's store doesn't offer natively.
More free alternatives
Not sure which way to go?
A free Growth Audit can help you weigh self-hosting against the tool you already pay for.