Pocketbase vs Supabase
PocketBase is a free, open source backend that ships as a single executable file with an embedded SQLite database, meant to be self-hosted with no official managed cloud. Supabase gives every project a dedicated Postgres database plus auth, storage and APIs, available as a managed cloud service or self-hosted. Choose PocketBase for the simplest possible self-hosted setup on SQLite; choose Supabase for a managed cloud option and a full Postgres database that scales further.
Facts checked on against the official sources listed at the end. Usage numbers update daily.
Best for
Small to mid-size self-hosted projects that want a single binary and SQLite
Free plan.
Best for
Projects that want a managed cloud option and a full relational Postgres database
Free plan. Paid from $25 a month (Pro), plus usage above the included limits.
Pocketbase vs Supabase at a glance
| Compared on | Pocketbase | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Database engine | Embedded SQLite, bundled into the single binary | Dedicated Postgres database per project |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted only, no official managed cloud | Managed cloud (with a free tier) or self-hosted |
| Setup | Download and run a single executable file; no separate services to configure | Create a project through the dashboard or CLI, or run the open source stack yourself |
| Admin interface | Built into the same single binary as an admin dashboard | Web-based Studio dashboard for the whole project |
| Extending the backend | Extend with Go (compiled in) or JavaScript hooks | Edge Functions (Deno-compatible) and Postgres functions |
| Scaling model | Limited by SQLite's single-writer model and whatever server you run it on | Managed Postgres that can scale compute and storage on paid plans |
| Open source | Yes, MIT | Yes, Apache-2.0 |
| Free plan | Yes, PocketBase is free and self-hosted; there is no paid managed version | Yes: 2 active projects, 500 MB database, 50,000 monthly active users, 1 GB file storage. Projects pause after 1 week of inactivity. |
| Paid plans from | Not listed | $25 a month (Pro), plus usage above the included limits |
| Made by | PocketBase (open source project) | Supabase Inc. |
| Launched | Not listed | 2020 |
What's the difference between Pocketbase and Supabase?
PocketBase is one file, Supabase is a managed platform
PocketBase runs as a single Go binary with an embedded SQLite database and admin dashboard, so getting started means downloading and running one file. Supabase is a full platform with its own dashboard, either run as a managed cloud service or self-hosted as multiple coordinated services.
Supabase offers a managed cloud, PocketBase doesn't
Supabase has an official managed cloud with a free tier and paid plans, so you don't have to run your own servers. PocketBase has no official managed cloud offering; every deployment is self-hosted on your own infrastructure.
SQLite limits PocketBase's scale in ways Postgres doesn't for Supabase
PocketBase's embedded SQLite database is a single-writer system, which caps how much concurrent write traffic one instance can handle. Supabase's dedicated Postgres database supports much higher concurrency and can scale compute and storage independently on paid plans.
PocketBase extends with compiled Go, Supabase extends with Edge Functions
PocketBase is typically extended by writing Go code that gets compiled directly into your own binary, or by using its JavaScript hook system. Supabase is extended through Edge Functions running on a Deno-compatible runtime, deployed separately from the core database.
Pocketbase vs Supabase pricing
PocketBase itself is always free, since it's self-hosted software with no vendor pricing plan. Supabase has both a free managed tier and paid plans, plus the option to self-host for free like PocketBase.
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.
Supabase
Free: 2 active projects, 500 MB database, pauses after 1 week idle. Pro: from $25 a month for 8 GB database and 100,000 monthly active users. Self-hosting the full stack is also free.
- Free
- $0
- Pro
- From $25 a month
- Team
- From $599 a month
- Enterprise
- Custom
Prices in USD from the official pricing pages on 29 September 2026. They change often, so confirm on pocketbase.io and supabase.com before you commit.
Usage and activity
Supabase has 81% more GitHub stars than Pocketbase (111k against 61.3k). Weekly npm downloads: 286k for pocketbase and 35M for @supabase/supabase-js. Releases on GitHub in the last 90 days: 5 for Pocketbase and 1 for Supabase.
| Measure | Pocketbase | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 61,305 | 111,180 |
| npm downloads a week | 286k (pocketbase) | 35M (@supabase/supabase-js) |
| Latest release | v0.40.4, 3 weeks ago | v1.26.08, 2 months ago |
| Releases in 90 days | 5 | 1 |
From the public GitHub and npm APIs, updated daily. Stars and downloads show developer interest, not product quality.
Should you choose Pocketbase or Supabase?
Choose Pocketbase if
- You want the simplest possible self-hosted setup: one binary, no separate services
- Your project's scale fits comfortably within SQLite's single-writer model
- You want to extend the backend with compiled Go code rather than a separate functions runtime
- You don't need a managed cloud option and are comfortable running your own server
Choose Supabase if
- You want a managed cloud option so you don't have to run your own servers
- You expect enough concurrent write traffic that SQLite's single-writer model would be a bottleneck
- You want a real Postgres database with SQL and existing Postgres tooling
- You want built-in row level security policies written in SQL
Switching between Pocketbase and Supabase
Moving from PocketBase to Supabase means migrating data out of SQLite into a Postgres schema and rebuilding any Go or JavaScript hooks as Edge Functions or Postgres functions. Moving from Supabase to PocketBase means the reverse: converting relational Postgres tables and row level security policies into PocketBase's collection model and its own permission rules, and giving up managed cloud hosting if you were using it.
Pocketbase vs Supabase: common questions
Does PocketBase have a managed cloud like Supabase?
No, PocketBase has no official managed cloud offering; it's self-hosted only. Supabase offers both a managed cloud with a free tier and the option to self-host.
Is PocketBase free?
Yes, entirely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tier since there's no vendor-run service. Supabase 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. Supabase gives every project a dedicated Postgres database instead.
Can PocketBase handle production-scale traffic?
It depends on your write concurrency, since SQLite is a single-writer database. Supabase's Postgres database generally supports higher concurrent write traffic, especially on paid plans with more compute.
How do you extend PocketBase's backend logic?
By writing Go code that compiles directly into your own PocketBase binary, or using its JavaScript hook system. Supabase extends through Edge Functions running on a separate Deno-compatible runtime.
Other options to consider
All databases tools
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.
Neon
Serverless Postgres platform with autoscaling and instant branching, owned by Databricks.
Sources
More sources for each tool are on the Pocketbase and Supabase pages.
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