PostgreSQL vs Firebase for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

PostgreSQL Overview

PostgreSQL is the most advanced open-source relational database. It stores data in structured tables with strict types, supports JSONB for flexible documents, includes full-text search, and has an extension ecosystem that covers almost any use case. You get ACID compliance, which means your data is always consistent.

I use Postgres as the backbone of every serious project. It handles complex relationships, aggregations, joins, and reporting queries that would be painful or impossible in a document database. With managed options like Supabase, Neon, and Railway, you do not need to be a DBA to run Postgres in production.

The power comes with responsibility. You design schemas, write migrations, manage indexes, and think about query performance. For a solo developer, this upfront investment pays off when your application grows and you need to answer complex questions about your data.

Firebase Overview

Firebase is Google's app development platform. At its core is Firestore, a NoSQL document database with real-time sync built in. But Firebase is much more than a database. You get authentication, cloud functions, file storage, hosting, analytics, and push notifications all in one platform.

The appeal for solo developers is undeniable. You can have a full backend running in an afternoon without writing a single API endpoint. Real-time sync means your UI updates instantly when data changes. Authentication supports Google, Apple, email, phone, and anonymous login out of the box. For mobile apps especially, Firebase is hard to beat.

The free Spark tier is generous for getting started. You can build and test a real application without spending anything. The Blaze pay-as-you-go plan only charges for what you use, which keeps costs low for small projects.

Key Differences

SQL vs. NoSQL is the fundamental divide. PostgreSQL uses tables, rows, columns, and SQL. You model your data as relationships between entities. Firebase uses documents and collections with no joins or foreign keys. You denormalize everything and structure data around how your UI reads it. These are fundamentally different ways of thinking about data.

Complex queries are Postgres territory. Need to join five tables, aggregate monthly revenue, filter by date range, and group by category? Postgres does this in one SQL query. In Firestore, you would need to restructure your data, create composite indexes, or pull data to the client and process it there. For analytics, reporting, or any data-heavy feature, Postgres wins convincingly.

Real-time is Firebase territory. Firestore real-time listeners update your UI instantly when data changes anywhere. Building this with Postgres requires WebSockets, a pub/sub layer, and custom code. If your application needs live updates (chat, collaborative editing, live dashboards), Firebase gives you this for free.

Pricing predictability is a real concern. Postgres on a VPS costs a flat monthly fee. Firebase charges per read, write, and data stored. A viral moment or a poorly designed query loop can create surprise bills. I have seen solo developers get burned by unexpected Firebase costs when their app went viral overnight.

Vendor lock-in is severe with Firebase. Your data is in Google's proprietary format. Migrating from Firestore to anything else means rewriting your data layer from scratch. PostgreSQL is an open standard. You can move your data between providers in minutes. This matters more than most people think when they are starting out.

Mobile vs. web focus. Firebase was built for mobile apps and it shows. The SDKs for iOS, Android, and Flutter are excellent. PostgreSQL does not have native mobile SDKs because it is a server-side database that you access through an API layer.

When to Choose PostgreSQL

• You need complex queries, joins, and aggregations
• You want to avoid vendor lock-in
• You are building a web application with a backend framework
• Data consistency and integrity are critical
• You need reporting or analytics features

When to Choose Firebase

• You are building a mobile app (iOS, Android, Flutter)
• You need real-time sync without building WebSocket infrastructure
• You want authentication and hosting bundled with your database
• You are prototyping fast and want to validate an idea quickly
• Your data model is simple and document-oriented

The Verdict

PostgreSQL is the better long-term choice for most solo developers. The relational model handles complexity that grows with your application, there is zero vendor lock-in, and the ecosystem of managed providers keeps costs predictable. The 9/10 rating reflects its versatility.

Firebase earns its 8/10 for specific use cases, especially mobile apps and real-time features. If you are building a chat app, a collaborative tool, or a mobile-first product, Firebase gets you there faster. But for web applications, SaaS products, and anything that needs reporting or complex data relationships, PostgreSQL is the foundation you want. Start with Postgres and add real-time later if you need it, rather than starting with Firebase and hitting its query limitations six months in.