Convex vs SQLite for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Convex Overview

Convex is a full backend platform that includes a document database, server-side functions, file storage, scheduling, and automatic realtime subscriptions. You define your schema in TypeScript, write query and mutation functions, and call them from your React frontend. Data changes propagate to all connected clients automatically.

For solo developers, Convex eliminates the need to build a backend. No API server, no database hosting, no WebSocket infrastructure. You write functions, call them from your UI, and the platform handles everything else. The TypeScript types flow from your schema through your functions into your components, so the entire stack is type-safe.

The free tier provides 1 million function calls, 1 GB database storage, and 1 GB file storage. More than enough to build and launch a real product.

SQLite Overview

SQLite is the most widely deployed database in the world. It runs as an embedded library inside your application, stores data in a single file, and requires zero configuration. There is no separate server process. You link the library, open a file, and start writing SQL.

For solo developers, SQLite is simplicity itself. No connection strings, no passwords, no hosted infrastructure to manage. Your database is a file on disk. Back it up by copying the file. Deploy it by shipping it with your application. Test it by using a fresh file. SQLite handles up to a terabyte of data and serves reads faster than most client-server databases because there is no network overhead.

SQLite has experienced a renaissance in web development. Projects like Turso, LiteFS, and Litestream have solved the deployment challenges that used to limit SQLite to desktop and mobile apps. You can now use SQLite for web applications with replication, backups, and multi-region distribution.

Head-to-Head Comparison

When to Pick Convex

Pick Convex when you are building a web application that needs realtime features and you want to skip all backend infrastructure. If your app involves collaboration, live updates, or any scenario where multiple users see the same data change in real time, Convex handles this automatically without any additional code.

It is the right choice when you are a React or Next.js developer and you want the fastest path from idea to deployed product. The Convex React hooks integrate so cleanly that calling your backend feels like accessing local state. No fetch calls, no loading state management for subscriptions, no manual refetching.

Choose Convex when your project justifies a managed platform. If you are building something you plan to grow into a real product with real users, having your backend managed by Convex means you can focus on features instead of infrastructure.

When to Pick SQLite

Pick SQLite when simplicity is the priority. If your project is a personal tool, a content site, a small SaaS with single-region deployment, or anything where you want to minimize moving parts, SQLite is the most reliable database on the planet. Literally. It runs on Mars rovers.

It is the right choice when budget is a concern. SQLite is free. Not "free tier" free. Public domain, will-never-cost-you-anything free. You can run your database on the same $5 server that runs your application. No separate database hosting bill.

Choose SQLite when your application is read-heavy. SQLite reads are incredibly fast because there is no network hop between your application and the database. The data is right there in the process. For content sites, analytics dashboards, and read-heavy APIs, this performance advantage is significant.

SQLite also makes sense for local-first applications. Desktop apps, mobile apps, and CLI tools that need to store structured data locally. SQLite was designed for this use case and it excels at it.

The Verdict

Convex and SQLite sit at opposite ends of the backend complexity spectrum. Convex gives you a fully managed reactive backend. SQLite gives you a single file.

For solo developers building reactive web applications with React, Convex is hard to beat for speed of development. You trade control and flexibility for a dramatically faster development experience. The managed nature means less to maintain, and the automatic realtime features would take days or weeks to build yourself.

For solo developers who value simplicity, cost savings, and full control over their stack, SQLite is the foundation you can build anything on. Pair it with an ORM like Drizzle, deploy it with Turso or Litestream for replication, and you have a production database that costs nothing and runs anywhere.

My suggestion: if your application needs realtime collaboration features, start with Convex. If it does not, start with SQLite. You will ship either way, and you can always reassess as your product evolves.