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PocketBase vs Supabase

PocketBase: Open-source backend in one Go binary: SQLite database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI. Supabase: Open-source Postgres backend platform: database, auth, storage, realtime and edge functions in one project.

key differences

  • Supabase is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than PocketBase (≤ 100 GB).
  • Only PocketBase has online schema changes.
  • Only Supabase has full-text search, vector search, change data capture, stored procedures, materialized views.
  • PocketBase can run embedded in your application process.

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

choose supabase for

  • +MVPs and startups needing a complete backend quickly
  • +AI-generated apps from Lovable, Bolt and similar builders
  • +Mobile and web apps with auth and file uploads
  • +Realtime collaborative features via Postgres changes

best at · OLTP, Vector search, RAG

PocketBaseOpen-source backend in one Go binary: SQLite database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI.
SupabaseOpen-source Postgres backend platform: database, auth, storage, realtime and edge functions in one project.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Document
Document, Vector, Spatial
Type
Backend platform
Backend platform
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Gani Georgiev
Supabase, Inc.
First release
2022
2020
Latest version
0.41.0 (Oct 2026)
v1.26.08 (self-hosted) (Aug 7, 2026)
License
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Open source (permissive)Apache License 2.0
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
32.0
54.3
Rank
#74
#23
GitHub stars
61.6K
114.1K
Stack Overflow questions
68
2.1K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
Read replicas
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Single node, Embedded, Client server
Primary replica, Client server
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
✓
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
✓
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
AWS, Vercel
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
PocketBase filter syntax, SQL (via hooks)
SQL, PL/pgSQL, GraphQL
Client languages
JavaScript, Dart
JavaScript, Python, Dart, Swift, Kotlin, C#, Go, Rust
Best for
OLTP, Content, Pub/Sub, Embedded
OLTP, Vector search, RAG, Content
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

PocketBase vs Supabase: FAQ

What is the difference between PocketBase and Supabase?

PocketBase: Open-source backend in one Go binary: SQLite database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI. Supabase: Open-source Postgres backend platform: database, auth, storage, realtime and edge functions in one project. Supabase is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than PocketBase (≤ 100 GB). Only PocketBase has online schema changes. Only Supabase has full-text search, vector search, change data capture, stored procedures, materialized views.

When should I choose PocketBase over Supabase?

Choose PocketBase for MVPs and indie SaaS backends; internal tools and admin panels; and mobile app backends with auth and file uploads. Choose Supabase for MVPs and startups needing a complete backend quickly; AI-generated apps from Lovable, Bolt and similar builders; and mobile and web apps with auth and file uploads.

Is PocketBase or Supabase more popular?

Supabase ranks #23 on the WhichDB Score (54.3/100) and PocketBase ranks #74 (32.0/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are PocketBase and Supabase open source?

Yes. PocketBase is open source. License: MIT License. Yes. Supabase is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.