Firebase vs Convex
Updated . Stats refresh daily.
Short answer: Choose based on your priorities: maturity vs modern DX.
At a glance
| Attribute | Firebase | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Main job | Backend as a Service | Reactive Backend |
| GitHub stars | 5,147 | 12,615 |
| npm downloads a week | 11M | 1.6M |
| Latest release | firebase@12.19.0, 2 weeks ago | None on GitHub |
| Founded | 2011 | 2021 |
| TypeScript Support | Basic (client SDK) | First-class (end-to-end) |
| Database Model | Firestore (NoSQL) | Document (NoSQL with relations) |
| Reactivity | Manual subscriptions | Automatic (query invalidation) |
| Backend Functions | Cloud Functions | TypeScript server functions |
| Built-in Auth | Yes (Firebase Auth) | Yes (Convex Auth) |
| File Storage | Yes (Firebase Storage) | Yes (Convex File Storage) |
| Hosting | Yes (Firebase Hosting) | No (use Vercel/Netlify) |
| Maturity | Established (2011) | Newer (2021) |
| Free Tier | 1GB storage | Generous (unlimited for small apps) |
| Pricing | Pay-per-use | $25/mo (Professional) |
Key differences
Developer Experience Philosophy
Firebase uses traditional NoSQL with client SDKs and security rules. Convex uses TypeScript-first approach with server functions and automatic reactivity. Firebase is SDK-based; Convex is function-based.
Reactivity Model
Firebase has realtime listeners you manually subscribe to. Convex has automatic reactivity (queries auto-update when data changes). Firebase requires manual subscriptions; Convex is reactive by default.
Type Safety
Firebase has limited TypeScript support (runtime types). Convex is TypeScript-first with end-to-end type safety. Firebase is loosely typed; Convex is strongly typed.
Pricing
Firebase
Free (Spark): 1GB storage, 50K reads/day. Pay-as-you-go (Blaze): $0.18/GB, $0.06 per 100K reads. Well-established pricing model.
Convex
Free (Starter): Unlimited for hobby projects. Professional: $25/mo for production apps with guaranteed resources. Simpler pricing than Firebase.
Prices change often. Check each vendor's pricing page before you commit.
Strengths and weaknesses
Firebase
Strengths
- Mature platform (13+ years)
- Google Cloud infrastructure
- Massive ecosystem and community
- Hosting included
Weaknesses
- Limited TypeScript support
- Manual reactivity (subscriptions)
- Security rules can be complex
- Older developer experience
Convex
Strengths
- TypeScript-first (end-to-end type safety)
- Automatic reactivity (no manual subscriptions)
- Modern developer experience
- Simpler function-based backend
Weaknesses
- Newer platform (less mature)
- Smaller community
- No hosting included
- Less proven at scale
Which should you choose?
Choose Firebase if
- You want a mature, battle-tested platform.
- Google Cloud ecosystem matters.
- Hosting is needed (Firebase Hosting).
- Massive community and resources are valuable.
Choose Convex if
- TypeScript end-to-end type safety is critical.
- You want automatic reactivity (no manual subscriptions).
- Modern, function-based backend appeals to you.
- You're building a new app with modern stack.
Questions
Is Convex more type-safe than Firebase?
Yes, significantly. Convex has end-to-end TypeScript with full type safety from database to frontend. Firebase has basic TypeScript support but no end-to-end types.
What is automatic reactivity in Convex?
Queries automatically re-run when underlying data changes—no manual subscriptions needed. Firebase requires manually setting up realtime listeners for each query.
Which is better for new projects?
If you value modern DX and TypeScript, Convex is excellent. If you want proven scale and maturity, Firebase is safer. Both are viable for new projects.
Can I migrate from Firebase to Convex?
Yes, but it requires rewriting your backend logic (security rules → server functions) and data access patterns. Not trivial but doable for medium-sized apps.
Which is more expensive?
Similar costs for small-medium apps. Firebase is pay-per-use; Convex is $25/mo flat. Firebase can be cheaper for very low traffic, Convex is more predictable.