ElectricSQL vs PowerSync
ElectricSQL: Read-path sync engine that streams partial replicas of Postgres to clients over plain HTTP. PowerSync: Sync engine that keeps on-device SQLite in sync with Postgres, MongoDB, MySQL or SQL Server.
key differences
- Licensing: ElectricSQL is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); PowerSync is source-available (FSL-1.1-ALv2 (service); Apache-2.0 client SDKs).
- Horizontal scaling is manual in ElectricSQL and native in PowerSync.
- Transactions: ElectricSQL offers limited ACID; PowerSync offers full.
- Only ElectricSQL has change data capture.
- Only PowerSync has transactions, joins, secondary indexes, json, encryption at rest.
- PowerSync can run embedded in your application process.
choose electricsql for
- +Real-time dashboards fed from Postgres
- +Local-first web apps with a Postgres backend
- +Streaming per-user data subsets to many clients
best at · Local-first, Mobile/offline, Real-time analytics
choose powersync for
- +Offline-first field-service and inspection apps
- +Migrating off Realm/Atlas Device Sync
- +Flutter and React Native apps on a Postgres or MongoDB backend
- +Local-first web apps with SQLite in the browser
best at · Mobile/offline, Local-first, Embedded
ElectricSQL vs PowerSync: FAQ
What is the difference between ElectricSQL and PowerSync?
ElectricSQL: Read-path sync engine that streams partial replicas of Postgres to clients over plain HTTP. PowerSync: Sync engine that keeps on-device SQLite in sync with Postgres, MongoDB, MySQL or SQL Server. Licensing: ElectricSQL is open source (permissive) (Apache License 2.0); PowerSync is source-available (FSL-1.1-ALv2 (service); Apache-2.0 client SDKs). Horizontal scaling is manual in ElectricSQL and native in PowerSync. Transactions: ElectricSQL offers limited ACID; PowerSync offers full.
When should I choose ElectricSQL over PowerSync?
Choose ElectricSQL for real-time dashboards fed from Postgres, local-first web apps with a Postgres backend and streaming per-user data subsets to many clients. Choose PowerSync for offline-first field-service and inspection apps; migrating off Realm/Atlas Device Sync; and flutter and React Native apps on a Postgres or MongoDB backend.
Is ElectricSQL or PowerSync more popular?
ElectricSQL ranks #85 on the WhichDB Score (30.4/100) and PowerSync ranks #129 (23.3/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are ElectricSQL and PowerSync open source?
Yes. ElectricSQL is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Not in the OSI sense. PowerSync is source-available: you can read the code, but the license restricts some uses, typically offering it as a competing managed service. License: FSL-1.1-ALv2 (service); Apache-2.0 client SDKs.