PocketBase Review (2026)
PocketBase is a single Go binary that gives you a complete backend — database, auth, file storage, realtime subscriptions, and admin UI. Download one file, run it, and you have a backend.
What Is PocketBase?
PocketBase packages SQLite, authentication, file storage, and a REST API into a single ~20MB executable. No Docker, no Redis, no separate database server.
# Download and run
wget https://github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/releases/latest/download/pocketbase_linux_amd64.zip
unzip pocketbase_linux_amd64.zip
./pocketbase serve
# Admin UI: http://127.0.0.1:8090/_/
# API: http://127.0.0.1:8090/api/
What You Get
Database
SQLite-backed collections with a visual admin UI. Create collections (tables), define fields, set validation rules — no SQL required.
Authentication
Built-in email/password, OAuth2 (Google, GitHub, Discord, etc.), and API key auth. User management included.
File Storage
Upload and serve files. Supports local storage or S3-compatible backends (Cloudflare R2, MinIO).
Realtime
Server-Sent Events (SSE) for live data updates. Subscribe to collection changes from the client.
Admin UI
Web-based dashboard for managing collections, users, settings, and logs. Included out of the box.
What I Like
1. Deployment is absurdly simple. One binary. Copy it to a VPS, run it. No Docker compose, no environment setup, no dependency management. Deploy to a $5/month Hetzner VPS and you're done.
2. Perfect for MVPs. From zero to working backend in 5 minutes. Auth, database, storage — all included. Build your frontend, point it at PocketBase, ship.
3. Go hooks for customization. Extend PocketBase with Go code for custom API endpoints, hooks, and business logic.
4. SQLite is underrated. For read-heavy workloads (which most apps are), SQLite is incredibly fast. No network latency to a database server.
5. The admin UI is actually good. Clean, functional, and handles 90% of data management needs.
What I Don't Like
1. SQLite limitations. One writer at a time. High-write-concurrency apps will hit bottlenecks. Not suitable for apps with heavy concurrent writes.
2. No managed cloud. You must self-host. PocketBase doesn't offer a managed service. You handle backups, updates, and uptime.
3. Scaling is hard. Single server architecture. You can't horizontally scale PocketBase. When you outgrow one server, you need to migrate to something else.
4. Limited ecosystem. Fewer SDKs, fewer integrations, fewer community resources than Supabase or Firebase.
5. SSE vs WebSockets. Server-Sent Events work for most cases but are unidirectional. WebSockets (Supabase) are more flexible for complex realtime needs.
When to Use PocketBase
✅ Use it for:
- Side projects and MVPs
- Internal tools
- Small SaaS apps (<10K users)
- Prototypes and hackathons
- Apps where you want full server control
❌ Don't use it for:
- High-write-concurrency apps
- Apps that need horizontal scaling
- Teams that can't self-host
- Enterprise apps needing compliance certifications
PocketBase vs Supabase
| PocketBase | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 1 minute | 5 minutes |
| Database | SQLite | PostgreSQL |
| Hosting | Self-host only | Managed cloud |
| Cost | $5/mo VPS | Free – $25/mo |
| Scale limit | Single server | Horizontally scalable |
| Best for | MVPs, side projects | Production apps |
FAQ
Is PocketBase production-ready?
For small-medium apps, yes. Companies run PocketBase in production with thousands of users. It's not suitable for high-scale apps.
How do I back up PocketBase?
Copy the pb_data directory. It contains the SQLite database and uploaded files. Automate with a cron job.
Can I use PocketBase with Next.js?
Yes. Use the PocketBase JavaScript SDK from your Next.js API routes or server components.
Verdict
8/10 for side projects and MVPs. 5/10 for production SaaS.
PocketBase is the fastest path from zero to working backend. The single-binary deployment model is brilliant. But SQLite limitations and lack of horizontal scaling mean you'll likely migrate to Supabase or a custom backend if your app grows. Start with PocketBase, migrate when you need to. The time saved on initial development is worth it.