whichdb
vs

Appwrite vs Firebase

Appwrite: Open-source backend platform with databases, auth, storage, functions and realtime, self-hosted or cloud. Firebase: Google's app platform: Firestore, Realtime Database and Data Connect, plus auth, functions and hosting.

key differences

  • Appwrite is primarily a relational database; Firebase is document.
  • Licensing: Appwrite is open source (permissive) (BSD 3-Clause License); Firebase is proprietary (Proprietary service (client SDKs Apache-2.0)).
  • Firebase is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Appwrite (≤ 10 TB).
  • Horizontal scaling is manual in Appwrite and native in Firebase.
  • Transactions: Appwrite offers limited ACID; Firebase offers full.
  • Only Appwrite has full-text search.
  • Only Firebase has transactions, joins, ttl / expiry, encryption at rest, offline sync.
  • Firebase has a serverless option; Appwrite does not.

choose appwrite for

  • +Self-hosted backend for mobile and web apps
  • +Firebase replacement with data sovereignty requirements
  • +Internal tools needing auth, storage and functions quickly

best at · OLTP, Content, Vector search

choose firebase for

  • +Mobile apps needing realtime sync and offline support
  • +MVPs and startups that want auth and database in one
  • +Chat, presence and collaborative features
  • +Push notifications and remote config alongside app data

best at · Mobile/offline, OLTP, Content

AppwriteOpen-source backend platform with databases, auth, storage, functions and realtime, self-hosted or cloud.
FirebaseGoogle's app platform: Firestore, Realtime Database and Data Connect, plus auth, functions and hosting.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Document
Also supports
Document, Vector
Relational, Vector
Type
Backend platform
Backend platform
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Appwrite
Google
First release
2019
2012
Latest version
2.6.2 (Oct 24, 2026)
–
License
Open source (permissive)BSD 3-Clause License
ProprietaryProprietary service (client SDKs Apache-2.0)
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
27.2
65.4
Rank
#106
#11
GitHub stars
57.8K
5.2K
Stack Overflow questions
216
143.1K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Horizontal scaling
Manual
Native
Multi-region
None
Active active
ACID
Limited
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Schemaless
Architecture
Client server
Serverless, Distributed
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
—
Vendor-managed cloud
✓
✓
Serverless
—
✓
Embedded
—
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
Google Cloud
capabilities
Transactions
—
✓
Joins
—
✓
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
✓
—
Vector search
✓
✓
Geospatial
—
—
JSON
✓
✓
Change data capture
—
—
Triggers
✓
✓
Stored procedures
—
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
—
✓
Pub/Sub
✓
✓
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
—
—
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
—
—
Encryption at rest
—
✓
Role-based access
✓
✓
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
—
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
✓
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
Appwrite Query API, GraphQL
Firestore query API, GraphQL (Data Connect), Security Rules language
Client languages
JavaScript, Dart, Swift, Kotlin, Python, PHP, Ruby, Go
JavaScript, Swift, Kotlin, Java, Dart, C++, Python, Go
Best for
OLTP, Content, Vector search
Mobile/offline, OLTP, Content, Vector search
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

Appwrite vs Firebase: FAQ

What is the difference between Appwrite and Firebase?

Appwrite: Open-source backend platform with databases, auth, storage, functions and realtime, self-hosted or cloud. Firebase: Google's app platform: Firestore, Realtime Database and Data Connect, plus auth, functions and hosting. Appwrite is primarily a relational database; Firebase is document. Licensing: Appwrite is open source (permissive) (BSD 3-Clause License); Firebase is proprietary (Proprietary service (client SDKs Apache-2.0)). Firebase is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Appwrite (≤ 10 TB).

When should I choose Appwrite over Firebase?

Choose Appwrite for self-hosted backend for mobile and web apps; firebase replacement with data sovereignty requirements; and internal tools needing auth, storage and functions quickly. Choose Firebase for mobile apps needing realtime sync and offline support; MVPs and startups that want auth and database in one; and chat, presence and collaborative features.

Is Appwrite or Firebase more popular?

Firebase ranks #11 on the WhichDB Score (65.4/100) and Appwrite ranks #106 (27.2/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Appwrite and Firebase open source?

Yes. Appwrite is open source. License: BSD 3-Clause License. No. Firebase is proprietary, closed-source software.