SQLite vs Firebase for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

SQLite Overview

SQLite is the database that requires nothing. No installation. No server process. No configuration files. No user accounts. Your database is a single file on your filesystem. Import the library, open the file, and you have a full relational database with SQL support, transactions, indexes, views, and triggers.

For solo developers, this simplicity translates directly into shipping speed. I can go from zero to a working database in under a minute. There's no "setting up the database" step. There's no "configuring connection strings." There's no Docker container to spin up. You just create the file and start writing queries.

SQLite handles more traffic than most developers realize. With WAL (Write-Ahead Logging) mode enabled, it supports concurrent reads efficiently and handles thousands of requests per second on a single server. For the vast majority of solo developer projects, SQLite's performance ceiling is higher than you'll ever need.

Firebase Overview

Firebase is Google's app development platform that bundles Firestore (NoSQL database), authentication, file storage, hosting, cloud functions, and analytics into one service. The real-time sync between clients and Firestore is automatic. Change a document, and every connected client receives the update instantly. No WebSocket code to write, no pub/sub to configure.

The Spark free tier is generous for getting started. 1GB Firestore storage, 50,000 reads per day, 20,000 writes per day, and free authentication for most providers. For prototypes and early-stage products, you can build and test without spending anything.

Firebase's strength is the complete package. Sign up users, store their data, upload files, deploy your frontend, and run server functions, all within one platform. The SDKs for web, iOS, and Android are polished and well-documented. If you're building a mobile app, Firebase reduces the backend from a project into a configuration step.

Key Differences

Architecture philosophy. SQLite is an embedded database library. It runs inside your application process with no network layer. Firebase is a cloud platform with multiple managed services. SQLite is the most minimal option possible. Firebase is the most comprehensive option possible. They sit at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Data model. SQLite uses relational tables with SQL. Joins, foreign keys, constraints, and aggregate functions work as expected. Firestore uses a document-collection model. No joins, limited querying, and data denormalization is the norm. If your data is relational (users have orders, orders have items), SQLite models it naturally. Firestore requires restructuring your data to avoid joins.

Real-time capabilities. Firebase's Firestore provides real-time sync between clients and database automatically. SQLite has no built-in real-time feature. If your application needs live updates (chat, collaborative editing, dashboards), Firebase provides this out of the box. With SQLite, you'd need to build a real-time layer yourself using WebSockets or server-sent events.

Offline support. Both work offline, but differently. SQLite works offline because it's a local file. Firebase's SDKs cache data locally and sync when connectivity returns. For mobile apps that need offline-first functionality, both are viable. Firebase's approach is more sophisticated for multi-device sync. SQLite's approach is simpler for single-device scenarios.

Vendor lock-in. Firebase ties you to Google Cloud. Migrating Firestore data to another database requires rewriting your data layer, queries, and real-time logic. SQLite is public domain with zero vendor lock-in. Your database file is portable to any platform, any framework, any hosting provider.

Cost predictability. SQLite costs nothing, ever. Firebase's free tier is generous, but the Blaze pay-as-you-go plan can surprise you. Heavy read traffic, large file storage, or unexpected viral moments can generate significant bills. Solo developers on tight budgets should be cautious with Firebase's variable pricing.

Backend services. Firebase includes authentication, storage, hosting, and cloud functions. SQLite includes only database functionality. With Firebase, you can build a complete application without writing backend code. With SQLite, you need a backend framework (Django, Express, Rails) or you build everything from scratch.

When to Choose SQLite

• You're building a server-side application with a backend framework
• Zero configuration and zero cost matter
• Relational data modeling with SQL is important
• Desktop applications, CLI tools, or local-first apps need an embedded database
• You want no vendor lock-in and complete data portability
• Your traffic fits a single-server deployment

When to Choose Firebase

• You need real-time sync between multiple clients
• Authentication, storage, and hosting are needed alongside the database
• You're building a mobile app and want native iOS/Android SDKs
• Multi-device offline sync is a core requirement
• You want to ship a complete product without writing backend code
• Real-time updates (chat, collaboration) are central to your application

The Verdict

This choice comes down to what you're building and how much infrastructure you want to manage.

SQLite wins for server-side applications. If you're running Django, Express, Rails, or any backend framework, SQLite gives you a fast, reliable, zero-cost database with full SQL support. Your framework handles auth, routing, and business logic. SQLite handles data. No cloud service needed, no monthly bill, no vendor lock-in.

Firebase wins for client-first applications. If you're building a mobile app or a real-time web app and want to avoid writing backend code, Firebase bundles everything you need. Real-time sync, authentication, storage, and hosting in one platform. The tradeoff is vendor lock-in and less predictable pricing.

My recommendation for solo developers: if you have backend development skills, use SQLite (or PostgreSQL for heavier workloads). You'll have more control, lower costs, and zero vendor lock-in. If you're primarily a frontend or mobile developer and backend work slows you down, Firebase gets you to a working product faster. Just be aware that you're building on Google's platform, and migrating away later is a significant undertaking.