“Supabase: The Open-Source Firebase Alternative with the Power of PostgreSQL.”
Supabase
The Open-Source Firebase Alternative
An interactive guide to the Backend-as-a-Service platform built on PostgreSQL, giving you full ownership of your data without the vendor lock-in.
Core Features at a Glance
Supabase bundles powerful open-source tools into a cohesive experience, providing everything you need to build a scalable backend.
Database
PostgreSQL
Auth
RBAC & JWT
APIs
REST & GraphQL
Real-Time
Subscriptions
Storage
Secure File Mgmt
Edge Functions
Serverless Logic
Common Use Cases
Supabase's versatile feature set makes it suitable for a wide array of applications, from simple web apps to complex SaaS platforms. The chart below shows an equal distribution, highlighting its flexibility across different domains.
Getting Started: Your 6-Step Launchpad
Launching a project with Supabase is designed to be a straightforward process, enabling you to go from idea to a live application in minimal time.
Create Account
Sign up at the Supabase website.
Start a New Project
Instantly provision a PostgreSQL database.
Configure Authentication
Enable social or email logins.
Use the Supabase Client
Connect your frontend with the JS SDK.
Deploy Edge Functions
Add custom, serverless backend logic.
Go Live
Deploy your full-stack application.
Supabase vs. Firebase
The Ultimate Backend Showdown
Choosing a Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a critical decision. This guide breaks down two leading platforms to help you decide which is right for your next project.
The Core Difference: Database Philosophy
The most fundamental distinction lies in their database architecture. Supabase is built on a relational SQL database, while Firebase uses a flexible NoSQL model.
🗂️ Supabase: Relational SQL
(PostgreSQL)
- ✓Structured Data: Enforces data integrity with tables, foreign keys, and schemas. Ideal for complex, related data.
- ✓Powerful Queries: Leverages the full power of SQL for complex joins, subqueries, and transactions.
- ✓ACID Compliance: Guarantees reliability and consistency for critical operations.
📄 Firebase: NoSQL
(Firestore)
- ✓Flexible Schema: Document-based JSON structure allows for rapid prototyping and evolving data models.
- ✓Scalability: Built for horizontal scaling and handling massive amounts of unstructured data with ease.
- ✓Realtime Sync: Optimized for synchronizing data across clients in real-time, perfect for collaborative apps.
Feature Capabilities at a Glance
While both platforms offer a similar set of core services, their strengths vary. This chart compares their capabilities across key development areas.
The Open Source Advantage
Supabase's commitment to open source provides a level of flexibility and control not possible with proprietary platforms like Firebase.
Inspect the code, contribute to the community, and avoid vendor lock-in completely.
You Control Your Infrastructure
Fully managed platform
Run on your own servers
Which Backend is Right for You?
Follow this simple decision path to determine which platform best fits your project's requirements.
