Appwrite vs Pocketbase
Appwrite is an open source backend bundling a database, auth, storage, functions, realtime and messaging into one self-hostable system, also available as Appwrite Cloud. PocketBase is a free, open source backend that ships as a single executable file with an embedded SQLite database, self-hosted only with no official managed cloud. Choose Appwrite for a fuller-featured platform with messaging and a managed cloud option; choose PocketBase for the simplest possible self-hosted setup.
Facts checked on against the official sources listed at the end. Usage numbers update daily.
Best for
Teams that want messaging, hosting and a managed cloud option alongside the database
Free plan. Paid from $25 a month per project for the Pro plan.
Best for
Small to mid-size self-hosted projects that want a single binary and SQLite
Free plan.
Appwrite vs Pocketbase at a glance
| Compared on | Appwrite | Pocketbase |
|---|---|---|
| Database engine | Its own document-oriented database | Embedded SQLite, bundled into the single binary |
| Deployment model | Appwrite Cloud (managed, with a free tier) or self-hosted | Self-hosted only, no official managed cloud |
| Built-in messaging | Messaging included in the Pro plan since a September 2025 pricing update | Not included; no built-in messaging product |
| Static site hosting | Sites, included in the Pro plan | Not a core feature |
| Setup complexity | Docker-based self-hosted stack, or sign up for Appwrite Cloud | Download and run a single executable file; no separate services to configure |
| Extending the backend | Serverless functions in multiple supported languages | Extend with Go (compiled in) or JavaScript hooks |
| Open source | Yes, BSD-3-Clause | Yes, MIT |
| Free plan | Yes: 75,000 monthly requests, bandwidth and storage included, unlimited projects | Yes, PocketBase is free and self-hosted; there is no paid managed version |
| Paid plans from | $25 a month per project for the Pro plan | Not listed |
| Made by | Appwrite | PocketBase (open source project) |
| Launched | 2019 | Not listed |
What's the difference between Appwrite and Pocketbase?
Appwrite bundles messaging and hosting, PocketBase doesn't
Appwrite folded Messaging (email, SMS, push) and Sites (static hosting) into its Pro plan as part of a September 2025 pricing update, covering more of an app's needs in one platform. PocketBase focuses narrowly on database, auth, storage and realtime, with no built-in messaging or hosting product.
Appwrite offers a managed cloud, PocketBase is self-hosted only
Appwrite Cloud gives you a managed option with a free plan, so you don't have to run your own servers, alongside the option to self-host the same open source stack. PocketBase has no official managed cloud; every deployment runs on infrastructure you manage yourself.
PocketBase is a single binary, Appwrite is a multi-service platform
PocketBase runs as one Go executable with an embedded SQLite database and admin dashboard built in, so self-hosting means running a single file. Appwrite's self-hosted stack runs as multiple coordinated Docker services, a more involved setup than PocketBase's single-binary approach.
Appwrite supports serverless functions in multiple languages, PocketBase extends through Go or JavaScript
Appwrite's functions platform supports multiple programming languages for server-side logic. PocketBase is extended either by writing Go code that compiles directly into your own binary, or through its JavaScript hook system, a narrower set of options.
Appwrite vs Pocketbase pricing
Appwrite has a free managed cloud tier plus a per-project paid Pro plan, and its full stack is also free to self-host. PocketBase has no vendor pricing at all, since it's self-hosted software with no managed offering.
Appwrite
Free: 75,000 monthly requests, unlimited projects, community support. Pro: from $25 a month per project, with 2 TB bandwidth, higher storage and execution limits, Messaging and Sites included. Self-hosting the full stack is also free.
- Free
- $0 a month
- Pro
- From $25 a month per project
- Self-hosted
- $0, run your own infrastructure
Pocketbase
Free and open source under the MIT license. There's no official paid or managed version; costs come only from whatever server or hosting you run it on.
Prices in USD from the official pricing pages on 29 September 2026. They change often, so confirm on appwrite.io and pocketbase.io before you commit.
Usage and activity
Appwrite and Pocketbase have a similar number of GitHub stars (57.7k and 61.4k). Weekly npm downloads: 53.8k for appwrite and 286k for pocketbase. Releases on GitHub in the last 90 days: 7 for Appwrite and 7 for Pocketbase.
| Measure | Appwrite | Pocketbase |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 57,708 | 61,449 |
| npm downloads a week | 53.8k (appwrite) | 286k (pocketbase) |
| Latest release | 2.5.0, 3 days ago | v0.40.5, 1 week ago |
| Releases in 90 days | 7 | 7 |
From the public GitHub and npm APIs, updated daily. Stars and downloads show developer interest, not product quality.
Should you choose Appwrite or Pocketbase?
Choose Appwrite if
- You want messaging (email, SMS, push) and static hosting bundled with your backend
- You want the option of a managed cloud instead of running your own servers
- You need serverless functions in more than one programming language
- You're building a larger project where Appwrite's broader feature set pays off
Choose Pocketbase if
- You want the simplest possible self-hosted setup: one binary, no separate services
- You don't need messaging, static hosting or a managed cloud option
- You want to extend the backend with compiled Go code rather than a functions platform
- Your project's scale fits comfortably within SQLite's single-writer model
Switching between Appwrite and Pocketbase
Moving from Appwrite to PocketBase means migrating data out of Appwrite's document-oriented database into PocketBase's SQLite-backed collections, and rebuilding any messaging or hosting features separately, since PocketBase has no equivalent. Moving from PocketBase to Appwrite means the reverse, and gaining access to a managed cloud option and bundled messaging if you choose to use them.
Appwrite vs Pocketbase: common questions
Is PocketBase easier to set up than Appwrite?
Generally yes for a self-hosted deployment, since PocketBase runs as a single executable file with no separate services, while Appwrite's self-hosted stack runs as multiple coordinated Docker services.
Does PocketBase have a managed cloud like Appwrite Cloud?
No, PocketBase has no official managed cloud offering; it's self-hosted only. Appwrite offers both Appwrite Cloud, with a free tier, and the option to self-host.
Does Appwrite include messaging?
Yes, since a September 2025 pricing update, Messaging and Sites (hosting) are included in Appwrite's Pro plan. PocketBase has no built-in messaging product.
Is PocketBase free?
Yes, entirely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tier since there's no vendor-run service. Appwrite is also free to self-host, plus has a free managed cloud tier.
What database does PocketBase use?
An embedded SQLite database bundled directly into its single executable file. Appwrite uses its own document-oriented database instead.
Other options to consider
All databases tools
Supabase
Open source Postgres development platform with auth, instant APIs, realtime, storage and edge functions.
Redis
In-memory data store used as a cache, database and message broker, available self-hosted or as Redis Cloud.
MongoDB Atlas
MongoDB's fully managed cloud database service, with a free tier and usage-based paid tiers.
Firebase
Google's backend-as-a-service platform for mobile and web apps: database, auth, hosting and functions.
Sources
More sources for each tool are on the Appwrite and Pocketbase pages.
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