Supabase vs Redis
Updated . Stats refresh daily.
Short answer: These tools complement each other—use both!
At a glance
| Attribute | Supabase | Redis |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open Source |
| Main job | Backend DB | In-Memory Cache |
| GitHub stars | 110,783 | 76,498 |
| npm downloads a week | 30M | 15M |
| Latest release | v1.26.08, 1 month ago | 8.10.2, 1 week ago |
| Founded | 2020 | 2009 |
| Primary Use | Application database | Caching / sessions / queues |
| Data Persistence | Disk (durable) | In-memory (volatile) |
| Query Complexity | SQL (complex joins, queries) | Simple key-value, data structures |
| Speed | Fast (milliseconds) | Ultra-fast (microseconds) |
| Built-in Auth | Yes | No |
| Realtime | Yes (Postgres changes) | Pub/Sub messaging |
| File Storage | Yes | No |
| Typical Scale | GB to TB | MB to GB (in memory) |
| Best For | Primary database | Cache layer, sessions, rate limiting |
| Free Tier | 500MB database | 30MB (Redis Cloud) |
Key differences
Primary Purpose
Supabase is a full application database (persistent storage, complex queries). Redis is an in-memory cache/data structure store (ultra-fast reads, ephemeral data). Supabase is your database; Redis is your cache.
Data Persistence
Supabase persists all data to disk (PostgreSQL). Redis stores data in memory (fast but volatile, optional disk persistence). Supabase is durable; Redis is fast.
Use Case Overlap
These tools are complementary, not competitors. Most apps use Supabase for database + Redis for caching. They solve different problems.
Pricing
Supabase
Free: 500MB database, unlimited API. Pro: $25/mo for 8GB database. Redis is typically used alongside Supabase, not instead of it.
Redis
Redis Cloud Free: 30MB. Paid: $5/mo for 100MB, scales based on memory. Self-hosted: Free (run your own Redis server). Typically cheap since it's just cache.
Prices change often. Check each vendor's pricing page before you commit.
Strengths and weaknesses
Supabase
Strengths
- Full database with persistence
- Complex SQL queries and joins
- Built-in auth, storage, realtime
- Durable data (survives restarts)
Weaknesses
- Slower than in-memory (milliseconds vs microseconds)
- Not designed for caching use cases
- More expensive for high-throughput reads
- Overkill for simple key-value needs
Redis
Strengths
- Extremely fast (in-memory)
- Perfect for caching, sessions, rate limiting
- Pub/Sub for realtime messaging
- Very affordable for caching layer
Weaknesses
- Not a primary database (data is volatile)
- No complex queries (just key-value, sets, lists)
- Data loss on restart (unless persistence enabled)
- Limited by server RAM
Which should you choose?
Best Practice: Use Supabase for your database + Redis for caching on top!
Choose Supabase if
- You need persistent, durable data storage.
- You need complex SQL queries and relationships.
- You want built-in auth, storage, and realtime.
- This is your main application database.
Choose Redis if
- You need ultra-fast reads (caching).
- You're storing sessions, rate limits, or temporary data.
- You need pub/sub messaging.
- You want to reduce database load.
Questions
Should I use Redis instead of Supabase?
No! They serve different purposes. Use Supabase as your primary database and Redis as a caching layer in front of it. Almost all production apps use both.
Can Redis replace Supabase for my database?
No. Redis is in-memory and volatile—data can be lost on restart (unless persistence is enabled and configured properly). Use Supabase for persistent data, Redis for ephemeral/cache data.
How do Supabase and Redis work together?
Common pattern: Store data in Supabase. Cache frequently-accessed data in Redis. Check Redis first (fast); fall back to Supabase if cache miss. This reduces database load and improves performance.
Is Redis faster than Supabase?
Yes, Redis is much faster (microseconds vs milliseconds) because it's in-memory. But Supabase is durable and supports complex queries. Different trade-offs for different needs.
Which is cheaper?
Redis is cheaper for caching use cases ($5/mo for 100MB). Supabase is cheaper for database needs ($25/mo for 8GB). Both are affordable when used for their intended purposes.