Appwrite vs Supabase (2026): Open-Source BaaS Compared
By ToolVS Editorial · Updated April 10, 2026 · 9 min read
Supabase
Best for Web Apps & SQL Power
- PostgreSQL with full SQL query power
- Realtime with Row Level Security
- Large community + ecosystem
- Vercel and Next.js native integration
- Complex self-hosting setup
- Free projects sleep after inactivity
Pricing: Free → Pro $25/mo → Team $599/mo
Start Free with Supabase →Appwrite
Best for Self-Hosting & Mobile
- Simple Docker Compose self-hosting
- SDKs for 10+ platforms (iOS, Android, Flutter)
- Built-in messaging/push notifications
- Easy permissions model
- NoSQL only (no relational queries)
- Smaller community than Supabase
Pricing: Free → Pro $15/mo → Scale $599/mo
Try Appwrite Free →Score Breakdown
Full Comparison Table
| Category | Supabase | Appwrite |
|---|---|---|
| Database | PostgreSQL (relational) | Document DB (NoSQL) |
| Auth | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| File Storage | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Realtime | ✅ Yes (WebSocket) | ✅ Yes (SSE) |
| Push Notifications | ❌ No | ✅ Built-in |
| Self-hosting | Complex (multi-service) | Simple (Docker Compose) |
| Mobile SDKs | 3 (JS, Flutter, Swift) | 10+ platforms |
| Open Source | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Community Size | Very large | Large, growing |
| Free Tier | 500MB DB, 1GB storage | 2GB storage, 10GB BW |
| SQL Support | ✅ Full SQL | ❌ No SQL |
| Starting Price | Free / $25/mo | Free / $15/mo |
Regret Index
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Supabase if: You're building web apps and want full SQL power, real-time subscriptions with Row Level Security, and a large ecosystem of Next.js/SvelteKit integrations.
Choose Appwrite if: You want the simplest self-hosting setup, need mobile SDKs for iOS/Android/Flutter, or prefer a document-oriented data model with built-in push notifications.
FAQs
What is the difference between Appwrite and Supabase?
Appwrite uses a NoSQL document database and is easier to self-host with Docker Compose. Supabase uses PostgreSQL with a richer SQL ecosystem and better real-time capabilities.
Is Appwrite free?
Appwrite Cloud has a free Starter plan with 75K monthly active users, 2GB storage, and 10GB bandwidth. It's also free to self-host.
Which is easier to self-host: Appwrite or Supabase?
Appwrite is easier to self-host — it's a single Docker Compose command. Supabase self-hosting requires managing multiple services which is more complex.
Get our free SaaS Buyer's Guide (PDF)
Save hours of research. We cover pricing traps, hidden fees, and how to negotiate better deals.
Join 0 SaaS buyers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Last updated: April 10, 2026