Appwrite vs Pocketbase
Updated . Stats refresh daily.
Short answer: Choose based on scale needs and deployment complexity preference.
At a glance
| Attribute | Appwrite | Pocketbase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open Source |
| Main job | Open Source BaaS | All-in-one Backend |
| GitHub stars | 57,482 | 61,162 |
| npm downloads a week | 50.5k | 258k |
| Latest release | 2.3.0, 3 days ago | v0.40.4, 2 weeks ago |
| Founded | 2019 | 2022 |
| Deployment | Docker Compose (10+ containers) | Single executable |
| Database | MariaDB | SQLite |
| File Size | ~500MB+ (all containers) | ~15MB (single binary) |
| Authentication | Built-in + OAuth | Built-in + OAuth |
| File Storage | Built-in (local or S3) | Built-in (local or S3) |
| Functions | Appwrite Functions | JS/Go hooks |
| Realtime | Realtime API | SSE (Server-Sent Events) |
| Admin UI | Built-in console | Built-in admin panel |
| Horizontal Scaling | Yes (multiple nodes) | No (SQLite limitation) |
| SDKs | 30+ official SDKs | JavaScript, Go, Dart |
Key differences
Architecture & Deployment
Appwrite is a multi-service platform deployed via Docker Compose (10+ containers). Pocketbase is a single Go binary (~15MB). Appwrite is production-grade but complex; Pocketbase is incredibly simple but with limitations.
Database Technology
Appwrite uses MariaDB for documents with server-side SDKs. Pocketbase uses SQLite with direct SQL access possible. Appwrite scales horizontally; Pocketbase is limited by SQLite's constraints.
Ecosystem & Maturity
Appwrite has 30+ SDKs, larger community, and enterprise focus. Pocketbase is newer with a smaller but rapidly growing community focused on simplicity.
Pricing
Appwrite
Free and open source (BSD-3). You pay for hosting: $20-50/mo for basic VPS, more for production. Appwrite Cloud (managed): Starting ~$15/mo.
Pocketbase
Free and open source (MIT). You pay for hosting: $5-10/mo for VPS or ~$5/mo on Fly.io. Cheapest self-hosted option.
Prices change often. Check each vendor's pricing page before you commit.
Strengths and weaknesses
Appwrite
Strengths
- Production-ready with enterprise features
- 30+ SDKs for all platforms
- Horizontal scaling support
- Larger community and ecosystem
Weaknesses
- More complex setup (Docker Compose)
- Higher hosting costs ($20-50/mo+)
- Heavier resource requirements
- Longer learning curve
Pocketbase
Strengths
- Incredibly simple (single binary)
- Minimal hosting costs ($5/mo)
- Fast setup (minutes)
- Built-in admin UI
Weaknesses
- Limited to SQLite scale (millions, not billions)
- No horizontal scaling
- Smaller SDK ecosystem
- Newer project (less battle-tested)
Which should you choose?
Choose Appwrite if
- You need production-grade features and scaling.
- You're building for enterprise or large teams.
- Horizontal scaling is anticipated.
- You value extensive SDK support (30+ platforms).
Choose Pocketbase if
- You want extreme simplicity (single file).
- You're building MVPs, side projects, or small apps.
- Minimal hosting costs ($5/mo) are important.
- SQLite's scale (millions of rows) is sufficient.
Questions
Can Pocketbase scale to production?
Yes, for small-to-medium apps. SQLite can handle millions of rows and moderate concurrent users. For massive scale or high write concurrency, Appwrite (MariaDB) is better.
Which is easier to deploy?
Pocketbase by far. Download binary, run './pocketbase serve', done. Appwrite requires Docker, Docker Compose, and managing multiple containers.
Which has better documentation?
Appwrite has more comprehensive documentation due to maturity. Pocketbase's docs are concise but clear. Both are well-documented.
Can I migrate from Pocketbase to Appwrite later?
Yes, but requires work. You'll need to export SQLite data, transform schemas, and rewrite API calls. Both systems are different enough that migration isn't trivial.
Which is better for a startup MVP?
Pocketbase is excellent for MVPs - incredibly fast to set up and cheap. Appwrite is better if you anticipate rapid growth needing horizontal scaling soon.