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Harper (formerly HarperDB) vs PocketBase

Harper (formerly HarperDB): Node.js runtime that fuses database, cache, app logic and MQTT/WebSocket messaging in one process. PocketBase: Open-source backend in one Go binary: SQLite database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI.

key differences

  • Harper (formerly HarperDB) is primarily a document database; PocketBase is relational.
  • Harper (formerly HarperDB) is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than PocketBase (≤ 100 GB).
  • Horizontal scaling is addon in Harper (formerly HarperDB) and none in PocketBase.
  • Transactions: Harper (formerly HarperDB) offers limited ACID; PocketBase offers full.
  • Only Harper (formerly HarperDB) has vector search, ttl / expiry, in-memory.
  • Only PocketBase has geospatial, triggers, online schema changes.
  • PocketBase can run embedded in your application process.

choose harperdb for

  • +Edge caching and API acceleration in front of slower origins
  • +Real-time apps needing MQTT or WebSocket fan-out
  • +Geo-distributed application backends
  • +Vector lookups next to application logic

best at · Cache, Edge, Pub/Sub

choose pocketbase for

  • +MVPs and indie SaaS backends
  • +Internal tools and admin panels
  • +Mobile app backends with auth and file uploads
  • +Self-hosted alternatives to Firebase for small apps

best at · OLTP, Content, Pub/Sub

Harper (formerly HarperDB)Node.js runtime that fuses database, cache, app logic and MQTT/WebSocket messaging in one process.
PocketBaseOpen-source backend in one Go binary: SQLite database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI.
overview
Primary model
Document
Relational
Also supports
Key-Value, Vector
Document
Type
Backend platform
Backend platform
Status
Active
Active
Developer
HarperDB, Inc.
Gani Georgiev
First release
2017
2022
Latest version
5.3.4 (Oct 24, 2026)
0.41.0 (Oct 2026)
License
Open source (permissive)Apache License 2.0 (core); Elastic License 2.0 (Harper Pro)
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
9.1
32.0
Rank
#317
#74
GitHub stars
90
61.6K
Stack Overflow questions
–
68
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
Addon
None
Multi-region
Active active
None
ACID
Limited
Full
Consistency
Eventual, Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Distributed, In memory
Single node, Embedded, Client server
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
✓
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
—
✓
Edge
✓
—
Clouds
–
–
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
REST query parameters, GraphQL, SQL (limited)
PocketBase filter syntax, SQL (via hooks)
Client languages
JavaScript
JavaScript, Dart
Best for
Cache, Edge, Pub/Sub, OLTP
OLTP, Content, Pub/Sub, Embedded
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

Harper (formerly HarperDB) vs PocketBase: FAQ

What is the difference between Harper (formerly HarperDB) and PocketBase?

Harper (formerly HarperDB): Node.js runtime that fuses database, cache, app logic and MQTT/WebSocket messaging in one process. PocketBase: Open-source backend in one Go binary: SQLite database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI. Harper (formerly HarperDB) is primarily a document database; PocketBase is relational. Harper (formerly HarperDB) is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than PocketBase (≤ 100 GB). Horizontal scaling is addon in Harper (formerly HarperDB) and none in PocketBase.

When should I choose Harper (formerly HarperDB) over PocketBase?

Choose Harper (formerly HarperDB) for edge caching and API acceleration in front of slower origins; real-time apps needing MQTT or WebSocket fan-out; and geo-distributed application backends. Choose PocketBase for MVPs and indie SaaS backends; internal tools and admin panels; and mobile app backends with auth and file uploads.

Is Harper (formerly HarperDB) or PocketBase more popular?

PocketBase ranks #74 on the WhichDB Score (32.0/100) and Harper (formerly HarperDB) ranks #317 (9.1/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Harper (formerly HarperDB) and PocketBase open source?

Yes. Harper (formerly HarperDB) is open source. License: Apache License 2.0 (core); Elastic License 2.0 (Harper Pro). Yes. PocketBase is open source. License: MIT License.