Supabase vs Firebase for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Supabase Overview

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL. It gives you a real relational database, auth, file storage, edge functions, real-time subscriptions, and auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs. All from a single dashboard with a generous free tier.

I'm biased toward Supabase because it gives you a real database. Not a document store, not a proprietary query language. Actual PostgreSQL with SQL, joins, foreign keys, and the entire extension ecosystem. You can write complex queries, use PostGIS for geospatial data, or add full-text search. If you outgrow Supabase, you can export your database and run it anywhere. Try doing that with Firestore.

The auth system supports 50,000 monthly active users for free. The storage handles file uploads with transformations. Row-level security lets you define access rules at the database level. For a solo developer, Supabase replaces what would normally be three or four separate services.

Firebase Overview

Firebase is Google's app development platform. It's been around since 2014 and has the maturity to prove it. Firestore (the NoSQL database) syncs data in real-time across clients. Authentication supports every provider you can think of. Cloud Functions handle serverless backend logic. And the free tier is genuinely generous.

Firebase's real strength is speed of development. You can go from zero to a working app with auth, database, and hosting in under an hour. The SDKs are excellent, especially for mobile (iOS, Android, Flutter). Real-time sync is built into the DNA of Firestore, so building collaborative or chat features is remarkably simple.

I've used Firebase for a couple of smaller projects and the onboarding is the best in the industry. The console is clean, the documentation is thorough, and the integration with other Google services (Analytics, Cloud Messaging, Remote Config) is seamless.

Key Differences

SQL vs NoSQL is the fundamental divide. Supabase gives you PostgreSQL with relational data, joins, and proper constraints. Firebase gives you Firestore, a document/collection model with no joins. If your data has relationships (users have posts, posts have comments, comments have authors), PostgreSQL handles this naturally. Firestore requires denormalization and data duplication, which adds complexity as your app grows.

Pricing predictability. Supabase charges a flat $25/month for Pro. You know exactly what you'll pay. Firebase charges per read, write, and storage operation. I've heard multiple stories of developers waking up to unexpected Firebase bills because a poorly optimized query triggered millions of reads. For a solo developer watching every dollar, Supabase's predictable pricing is safer.

Vendor lock-in. Supabase is open source. You can self-host it, export your PostgreSQL database, and move to any other Postgres host. Firebase is proprietary Google infrastructure. If you want to leave, you're rewriting your data layer. This matters when you're building a product you plan to maintain for years.

Real-time capabilities. Firebase has the edge here. Real-time sync is Firestore's core feature and it works flawlessly. Supabase has real-time subscriptions via Postgres changes, but it's not as seamless or battle-tested as Firebase's real-time engine.

Mobile development. Firebase has better mobile SDKs with offline support, push notifications, and analytics. Supabase has Flutter and mobile SDKs, but Firebase's mobile story is more mature after years of development.

When to Choose Supabase

• You want a real relational database you can query with SQL
• You need predictable pricing without per-operation costs
• You value the ability to self-host or migrate away later
• You're building a web application with complex data relationships
• You want auth, storage, and database from one open-source platform

When to Choose Firebase

• You're building a mobile app (iOS, Android, or Flutter)
• Real-time data sync is a core feature of your app
• You want the fastest possible setup and onboarding experience
• You're already in the Google Cloud ecosystem
• You need push notifications and mobile analytics built in

The Verdict

For solo web developers, Supabase is the better choice. The 10/10 rating isn't hype. A real PostgreSQL database with auth, storage, and APIs on a generous free tier is the best deal in developer tools right now. You get a proper database that scales, predictable pricing, and no vendor lock-in.

Firebase wins for mobile-first projects where real-time sync and push notifications are essential. If you're building an iOS or Android app, Firebase's mobile SDKs and offline support are still ahead. But for web applications, SaaS products, and most of what solo developers build, Supabase is the move. I'd rather have PostgreSQL and sleep well knowing I can leave whenever I want.