whichdb
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Firebase vs Nhost

Firebase: Google's app platform: Firestore, Realtime Database and Data Connect, plus auth, functions and hosting. Nhost: Open-source backend platform on Postgres with Hasura GraphQL, auth, storage and functions.

key differences

  • Firebase is primarily a document database; Nhost is relational.
  • Licensing: Firebase is proprietary (Proprietary service (client SDKs Apache-2.0)); Nhost is open source (permissive) (MIT License).
  • Firebase is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Nhost (≤ 10 TB).
  • Horizontal scaling is native in Firebase and none in Nhost.
  • Only Firebase has ttl / expiry, encryption at rest, offline sync.
  • Only Nhost has full-text search, stored procedures.
  • Firebase has a serverless option; Nhost does not.

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

choose nhost for

  • +GraphQL-first web and mobile backends
  • +Firebase replacement on Postgres
  • +SaaS MVPs needing auth and storage quickly

best at · OLTP, Content, Vector search

FirebaseGoogle's app platform: Firestore, Realtime Database and Data Connect, plus auth, functions and hosting.
NhostOpen-source backend platform on Postgres with Hasura GraphQL, auth, storage and functions.
overview
Primary model
Document
Relational
Also supports
Relational, Vector
Vector
Type
Backend platform
Backend platform
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Google
Nhost AB
First release
2012
2020
Latest version
–
–
License
ProprietaryProprietary service (client SDKs Apache-2.0)
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
65.4
13.8
Rank
#11
#244
GitHub stars
5.2K
9.4K
Stack Overflow questions
143.1K
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
Native
None
Multi-region
Active active
None
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Schemaless
Strict
Architecture
Serverless, Distributed
Client server
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
Firestore query API, GraphQL (Data Connect), Security Rules language
GraphQL, SQL
Client languages
JavaScript, Swift, Kotlin, Java, Dart, C++, Python, Go
JavaScript, Dart, Swift, Kotlin
Best for
Mobile/offline, OLTP, Content, Vector search
OLTP, Content, Vector search
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

Firebase vs Nhost: FAQ

What is the difference between Firebase and Nhost?

Firebase: Google's app platform: Firestore, Realtime Database and Data Connect, plus auth, functions and hosting. Nhost: Open-source backend platform on Postgres with Hasura GraphQL, auth, storage and functions. Firebase is primarily a document database; Nhost is relational. Licensing: Firebase is proprietary (Proprietary service (client SDKs Apache-2.0)); Nhost is open source (permissive) (MIT License). Firebase is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Nhost (≤ 10 TB).

When should I choose Firebase over Nhost?

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. Choose Nhost for GraphQL-first web and mobile backends; firebase replacement on Postgres; and SaaS MVPs needing auth and storage quickly.

Is Firebase or Nhost more popular?

Firebase ranks #11 on the WhichDB Score (65.4/100) and Nhost ranks #244 (13.8/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Firebase and Nhost open source?

No. Firebase is proprietary, closed-source software. Yes. Nhost is open source. License: MIT License.