Supabase vs Turso
Updated . Stats refresh daily.
Short answer: Choose based on your latency needs and feature requirements.
At a glance
| Attribute | Supabase | Turso |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Main job | Backend DB | Edge Database |
| GitHub stars | 110,783 | 17,237 |
| npm downloads a week | 30M | 3.2M |
| Latest release | v1.26.08, 1 month ago | libsql-server-v0.24.32, 1 year ago |
| Founded | 2020 | 2023 |
| Database Engine | PostgreSQL | SQLite (libSQL) |
| Edge Deployment | No (regional + read replicas) | Yes (global edge replicas) |
| Latency | 10-100ms (region-based) | 1-10ms (edge-first) |
| Built-in Auth | Yes (Supabase Auth) | No (BYO auth) |
| File Storage | Yes (Supabase Storage) | No |
| Realtime | Yes (Postgres changes) | No |
| Writes | Global writes to primary | Local edge writes with sync |
| Multi-tenancy | Single DB or RLS | Database-per-tenant model |
| Free Tier | 500MB, unlimited API | 9GB storage, 1B row reads |
| Pricing | $25/mo (Pro) | $29/mo (Scaler) |
Key differences
Database Engine
Supabase uses PostgreSQL (powerful, feature-rich relational database). Turso uses SQLite (lightweight, embedded database) distributed at the edge. Supabase is centralized Postgres; Turso is distributed SQLite.
Edge vs Centralized
Turso replicates SQLite databases to edge locations globally (ultra-low latency). Supabase runs from centralized regions with read replicas. Turso is edge-first; Supabase is region-based.
Feature Set
Supabase is full BaaS (auth, storage, realtime, functions). Turso is pure database-as-a-service (no auth, storage, etc.). Supabase is batteries-included; Turso is focused.
Pricing
Supabase
Free: 500MB database, unlimited API requests. Pro: $25/mo for 8GB database, 50GB bandwidth, 100GB file storage. Team: Custom pricing for dedicated resources.
Turso
Free (Starter): 9GB storage, 1B row reads/mo, 5M row writes/mo. Scaler: $29/mo for 50GB storage, 1T row reads, 100M writes. Usage-based beyond limits.
Prices change often. Check each vendor's pricing page before you commit.
Strengths and weaknesses
Supabase
Strengths
- Full BaaS (auth, storage, functions, realtime)
- PostgreSQL power (advanced features)
- Open source (self-hostable)
- Mature ecosystem and support
Weaknesses
- Not edge-deployed (higher latency for global users)
- Centralized architecture limits
- More expensive for high-bandwidth use cases
- Single-region writes
Turso
Strengths
- Ultra-low latency (edge replicas)
- SQLite simplicity and performance
- Great for read-heavy workloads
- Generous free tier (9GB, 1B reads)
Weaknesses
- No built-in auth, storage, or realtime
- Less feature-rich than Postgres
- Newer platform (less mature)
- SQLite limitations (no advanced Postgres features)
Which should you choose?
Choose Supabase if
- You need built-in auth, storage, and realtime.
- PostgreSQL features are important (JSONB, extensions, etc.).
- You want a mature, full BaaS platform.
- Your users are mostly in one region.
Choose Turso if
- Global edge latency is critical (<10ms reads).
- You have a read-heavy workload.
- You're okay building auth/storage separately.
- SQLite's simplicity fits your needs.
Questions
Is Turso faster than Supabase?
For reads: Yes, Turso is much faster due to edge replication (1-10ms vs 10-100ms). For writes: Similar speed. Turso excels at read-heavy, globally distributed apps.
Can Turso replace Supabase completely?
Not easily. Turso is database-only—you'd need to build auth, storage, and realtime separately. Supabase is a complete platform. Turso is great if you only need a database with edge performance.
Which is better for global apps?
Turso is better for truly global apps with users worldwide (edge replicas everywhere). Supabase is better for regional apps or apps where BaaS features matter more than latency.
Does Turso support PostgreSQL features?
No, Turso uses SQLite (libSQL fork). You get SQL but lose PostgreSQL-specific features like JSONB, advanced indexing, extensions, etc. If you need those, use Supabase.
Which is more affordable?
Similar pricing for small apps. Turso has a more generous free tier (9GB vs 500MB). For production, Supabase $25/mo vs Turso $29/mo—comparable. Turso may be cheaper for high read volumes.