PocketBase vs Supabase vs Appwrite: Best Backend for Side Projects (2026)

You want a backend without building one from scratch. In 2026, PocketBase, Supabase, and Appwrite offer three fundamentally different approaches to the same problem. Here's how to choose.

Quick Comparison

Feature	PocketBase	Supabase	Appwrite
Architecture	Single binary (Go)	PostgreSQL + services	Docker microservices
Database	SQLite	PostgreSQL	MariaDB
Self-host complexity	Download & run	Moderate (Docker)	Moderate (Docker)
Cloud hosting	Community (PocketHost)	Official (free tier)	Official (free tier)
Real-time	SSE	WebSocket (Postgres changes)	WebSocket
Auth	Built-in	Built-in (robust)	Built-in
File storage	Local/S3	S3-compatible	Local/S3
Edge functions	Go plugins	Deno-based	Multiple runtimes
Admin UI	Built-in	Dashboard	Dashboard
License	MIT	Apache 2.0	BSD-3
Best for	Solo devs, prototypes	Production apps	Self-hosted production

PocketBase: The Single-Binary Backend

PocketBase is a Go application that gives you a database, auth, file storage, and admin UI in a single executable file. Download it, run it, done.

Strengths

• Absurdly simple. One 15MB binary. No Docker, no dependencies, no configuration. ./pocketbase serve and you have a full backend.
• Built-in admin UI. Collection (table) management, user management, API explorer, and logs — all in a clean web interface.
• SQLite performance. For single-server deployments, SQLite is faster than PostgreSQL for read-heavy workloads. No network latency to a separate database.
• Extendable with Go. Use PocketBase as a Go framework — add custom routes, middleware, and business logic in Go.
• Tiny resource footprint. Runs on a $5/month VPS, a Raspberry Pi, or even embedded in a desktop app.
• Real-time via SSE. Subscribe to collection changes with Server-Sent Events.
• JavaScript SDK. Clean SDK for web and mobile apps.

Weaknesses

• Single-server only. SQLite doesn't support multi-server replication (without tools like LiteFS). Not horizontally scalable.
• No official cloud hosting. Community project PocketHost exists, but it's not the same as Supabase's managed cloud.
• Smaller ecosystem. Fewer SDKs, fewer integrations, smaller community than Supabase.
• No SQL access. You interact through the API/SDK, not raw SQL. Power users may feel limited.
• No edge functions. Server-side logic requires Go plugins or a separate service.

Best For

Solo developers, prototypes, internal tools, hobby projects, and any app where a single server is sufficient. If your app will serve <10K concurrent users, PocketBase is likely all you need.

Supabase: The PostgreSQL Platform

Supabase wraps PostgreSQL with auth, real-time subscriptions, storage, edge functions, and a developer dashboard. It's the closest open-source alternative to Firebase.

Strengths

• PostgreSQL. Full SQL access, extensions (pgvector, PostGIS, pg_cron), and decades of ecosystem. Your data model isn't limited by the platform.
• Real-time subscriptions. Listen to database changes via WebSocket. Build collaborative and live-updating apps.
• Row-Level Security. PostgreSQL RLS policies let you define access control at the database level. Powerful and secure.
• Edge Functions. Deno-based serverless functions for custom backend logic.
• Generous free tier. 500MB database, 1GB storage, 2GB bandwidth, 50K monthly active users.
• Massive community. Largest BaaS community after Firebase. Extensive docs, tutorials, and Stack Overflow answers.
• Vector search. pgvector for AI/embedding workloads built into every project.

Weaknesses

• Self-hosting is complex. 12+ Docker containers (PostgREST, GoTrue, Realtime, Storage, etc.). Not a simple deployment.
• RLS learning curve. Row-Level Security is powerful but SQL policies are confusing for developers unfamiliar with PostgreSQL.
• Cloud pricing scales. Free tier is generous, but the jump to Pro ($25/month) and beyond can surprise growing apps.
• Vendor-flavored Postgres. While it's "just PostgreSQL," the Supabase-specific features (auth, storage, real-time) create some lock-in.
• Cold starts on Edge Functions. Deno functions can have noticeable cold starts.

Best For

Production applications that need relational data, real-time features, and a managed cloud option. The default choice for most web apps in 2026.

Appwrite: The Self-Hosted Contender

Appwrite is an open-source BaaS designed for self-hosting, with an official cloud option. It takes a more opinionated approach than Supabase.

Strengths

• Multi-runtime functions. Write server functions in Node.js, Python, PHP, Ruby, Dart, Swift, Kotlin, and more. Most language flexibility of any BaaS.
• Document database. NoSQL collections for flexible schemas. Good for apps with varying data structures.
• Strong mobile SDKs. Flutter, Swift, Kotlin SDKs are first-class. Best mobile support of the three.
• Built-in services. Messaging (email, SMS, push), health checks, migrations — more built-in features than competitors.
• Permission system. Label-based permissions that are simpler than Supabase's RLS policies.
• Self-hosting focus. Docker Compose deployment is well-documented and maintained.

Weaknesses

• MariaDB underneath. Less powerful than PostgreSQL for complex queries, extensions, and the broader ecosystem.
• No raw SQL access. API-only database interaction. Can't run arbitrary SQL queries.
• Cloud free tier is limited. Less generous than Supabase's free tier.
• Smaller community than Supabase.
• No real-time database subscriptions as robust as Supabase's Postgres changes.
• Docker-based self-hosting requires more resources than PocketBase.

Best For

Teams self-hosting their backend, mobile-first apps (Flutter/Swift/Kotlin), and projects needing multi-language server functions.

Detailed Comparisons

Database Model

PocketBase (SQLite): Collections = tables. Define fields in the admin UI. Relations between collections. No raw SQL — API-driven queries with filter expressions.

Supabase (PostgreSQL): Full relational database. Raw SQL access. Extensions, views, functions, triggers, RLS. The most powerful data layer.

Appwrite (MariaDB): Document collections with typed attributes. Flexible schemas. API-driven queries. Good for varied data structures.

Winner: Supabase for power and flexibility. PocketBase for simplicity.

Authentication

All three provide built-in auth with email/password, OAuth providers, and session management.

PocketBase: Simple, built-in auth. Email/password, OAuth2 providers. Sufficient for most apps.

Supabase: GoTrue-based auth. Email/password, magic links, OAuth (30+ providers), phone auth, and SSO (SAML). Most comprehensive.

Appwrite: Email/password, OAuth (30+ providers), phone auth, magic URL, and anonymous sessions. Strong and flexible.

Winner: Supabase for breadth of options.

File Storage

PocketBase: File fields on collections. Stored locally or S3. Simple but limited (no direct URL uploads, size limits per collection).

Supabase: S3-compatible storage with RLS policies. CDN delivery. Image transformations. Most production-ready.

Appwrite: Bucket-based storage with permissions. Compression and encryption options. Good feature set.

Winner: Supabase for production features.

Self-Hosting

PocketBase: Download binary → run. That's it. Updates: download new binary, restart. Backup: copy the SQLite file.

Supabase: Docker Compose with 12+ containers. Requires PostgreSQL knowledge for production tuning. More ops overhead.

Appwrite: Docker Compose with ~15 containers. Well-documented. Moderate ops overhead.

Winner: PocketBase by a mile. It's not even close for self-hosting simplicity.

Pricing

PocketBase

• Self-hosted: Free (your server costs only)
• PocketHost (community): Free tier available, paid plans from ~$5/month

Supabase

• Free: 2 projects, 500MB DB, 1GB storage
• Pro: $25/month (8GB DB, 100GB storage)
• Team: $599/month
• Self-hosted: Free (your infrastructure costs)

Appwrite

• Free: 1 project, limited resources
• Pro: $15/month
• Scale: $599/month
• Self-hosted: Free (your infrastructure costs)

Decision Framework

Choose PocketBase if:

• You're a solo dev or small team
• Single-server deployment is fine
• You want the simplest possible setup
• You're building a prototype, side project, or internal tool
• You want to self-host on minimal infrastructure

Choose Supabase if:

• You need PostgreSQL's power (joins, extensions, RLS)
• You want a managed cloud with a generous free tier
• Real-time database subscriptions are important
• You're building a production app that may scale
• You want the largest community and ecosystem

Choose Appwrite if:

• You're building mobile-first (Flutter, Swift, Kotlin)
• You need server functions in multiple languages
• You prefer self-hosting with good documentation
• NoSQL/document model fits your data better
• You want built-in messaging (email, SMS, push)

FAQ

Can PocketBase handle production traffic?

Yes, for single-server workloads. SQLite handles thousands of concurrent reads efficiently. For write-heavy workloads or horizontal scaling, choose Supabase.

Can I migrate from PocketBase to Supabase later?

Yes, but it requires data migration (SQLite → PostgreSQL) and rewriting API calls. Plan for this if you start with PocketBase and anticipate scaling.

Which is cheapest to run?

PocketBase on a $5/month VPS is the cheapest production backend possible. Supabase's free tier is cheapest for zero cost. Appwrite self-hosted is between the two.

Do any of these support GraphQL?

Supabase has pg_graphql for GraphQL access. PocketBase and Appwrite are REST-only (community GraphQL wrappers exist).

The Verdict

• PocketBase for simplicity and self-hosting. The "just works" backend.
• Supabase for production apps. The default BaaS choice in 2026.
• Appwrite for mobile-first and multi-language server functions.

Start with PocketBase for side projects. Graduate to Supabase when you need PostgreSQL's power or managed hosting at scale.