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Supabase

An open-source Firebase alternative — Postgres database, auth, real-time subscriptions, storage, and edge functions in one platform. Free tier, self-hostable. The fastest way to get a production backend without building one.

Created by

Paul Copplestone, Ant Wilson · Co-founded Supabase in 2020

Website
When to use
  • New projects needing a backend fast.
  • Real-time apps (chat, live updates).
  • When you want Postgres + auth without building it.
  • Prototypes and MVPs.
When not to
  • When you need full control (self-host Postgres).
  • High-scale apps (manage your own infra).
  • When you need a specific database (not Postgres).

Definition

Supabase is a backend-as-a-service built on . You get: a real Postgres , auth (email, OAuth, magic links), real-time subscriptions (), storage (S3-compatible), edge functions (), and auto-generated APIs (, via PostgREST).

Why it exists

Building auth, , real-time, and storage from scratch is weeks of work. Supabase gives you a production backend in minutes — open source and Postgres-based (no vendor lock-in to a proprietary database).

How it works

Create a project → get a Postgres + auto-generated API. Auth UI handles signup/login. Real-time via Supabase Realtime ( on Postgres changes). Storage buckets for files. Edge Functions () for logic. Client libraries for JS/TS, , etc.

Scaling limits

Postgres limits (connection pooling needed — use Supabase Pooler). Real-time scales to a point. Edge functions have limits. Free tier is generous but has limits. Vendor lock-in to Supabase APIs (mitigated by Postgres being standard ).

Cost shape

Free tier (500MB DB, 1GB storage, 2M edge calls). Pro $25/month. Pay for more.

Alternatives

  • Firebase — Google's BaaS, , more mature, more lock-in.
  • PlanetScale — -only, , no auth/real-time.
  • Custom backend — Full control, more work.

Failure modes

  • Connection limits (use pooler).
  • Free tier limits.
  • Real-time scaling.
  • Edge limits.
  • Vendor lock-in to APIs.

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