MySQL vs Supabase for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

MySQL Overview

MySQL is the relational database that built the web. It powers WordPress, countless PHP applications, and traditional web stacks. You get tables, SQL queries, foreign keys, and a massive ecosystem of tools and hosting support. Every shared hosting provider, every cloud platform, and every framework supports MySQL.

For a solo developer in the PHP/WordPress ecosystem, MySQL is the natural choice. The LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) has been powering websites for over two decades. The documentation is extensive, the community is enormous, and problems have well-known solutions.

MySQL is straightforward to set up and use. The learning curve is gentle, and you can go from zero to a working database in minutes. For standard CRUD operations, it handles everything you need.

Supabase Overview

Supabase is not just a database. It is a complete backend platform built on PostgreSQL. You get a managed Postgres database, authentication (email, OAuth, magic links), file storage, edge functions, real-time subscriptions, and an auto-generated REST API. It replaces half a dozen separate services with one platform.

The free tier is generous: two projects, 500 MB database storage, 1 GB file storage, 50,000 monthly active users for auth, and enough compute for a real application. The Pro plan at $25/mo scales for production workloads.

Because Supabase uses PostgreSQL underneath, you get all of Postgres's features: JSONB, full-text search, row-level security, array types, and the extension ecosystem. Your data is in a standard Postgres database that you can connect to with any Postgres client.

Key Differences

Supabase is a platform, MySQL is just a database. This is the fundamental difference. MySQL stores your data. Supabase stores your data AND handles authentication, file uploads, real-time subscriptions, serverless functions, and auto-generated APIs. Choosing MySQL means you build or integrate these features separately.

PostgreSQL is more capable than MySQL. Supabase runs PostgreSQL, which has features MySQL lacks: JSONB with full indexing, native array types, materialized views, row-level security, and a richer extension ecosystem. From a pure database perspective, Postgres under Supabase gives you more tools than MySQL.

Development speed is dramatically different. With MySQL, building a basic authenticated CRUD app requires: setting up a database, writing API endpoints, implementing authentication, configuring file storage, and building real-time features from scratch. With Supabase, you sign up, create a project, and all of these exist immediately. For a solo developer, this difference is measured in days or weeks.

Cost for the full stack matters. MySQL is free, but authentication, file storage, and real-time features are not. By the time you add Auth0 or Clerk for auth, S3 or Cloudflare R2 for storage, and Pusher or Ably for real-time, you are paying more than Supabase's $25/mo Pro plan and managing multiple services.

Vendor lock-in is lower than you think with Supabase. Your data lives in standard PostgreSQL. You can connect with any Postgres client, export your data with pg_dump, and migrate to any other Postgres host. The platform features (auth, storage, functions) use Supabase-specific APIs, but the database itself is portable.

MySQL has deeper hosting support for legacy environments. Shared hosting, cPanel, managed WordPress, old-school VPS setups. MySQL is available everywhere. Supabase is a cloud service that requires an internet connection. If you need a database on a $3/mo shared host, MySQL is your only option.

When to Choose MySQL

• You are building a WordPress site or PHP application
• You are deploying to shared hosting or legacy infrastructure
• You already have a backend framework handling auth and APIs (Laravel, Django)
• You need the widest possible hosting compatibility
• You are working with an existing MySQL codebase

When to Choose Supabase

• You want a complete backend without building auth, storage, and APIs yourself
• You are building a frontend-first application (React, Next.js, SvelteKit)
• You want a generous free tier for side projects
• You need real-time features without WebSocket infrastructure
• You want to ship an MVP as fast as possible

The Verdict

Supabase wins this comparison convincingly. The 10/10 vs 7/10 gap reflects the reality that Supabase gives you a better database (PostgreSQL vs MySQL) plus an entire backend platform on top. For a solo developer building a new project, getting auth, storage, real-time, and a REST API out of the box is a massive time saver.

MySQL still makes sense for WordPress sites, PHP applications, and legacy projects where MySQL is already established. But for new projects, especially frontend-heavy applications where you need a backend without building one from scratch, Supabase is the tool that helps you ship faster. The free tier lets you validate your idea before spending a dollar, and the PostgreSQL foundation means you are not locked into a proprietary system.