Supabase vs Firebase
Updated:
Choose Supabase when your data is relational, you want SQL and open source, and you value predictable plan based pricing. Choose Firebase when you want Google’s mature mobile tooling, real time NoSQL documents and services like analytics and messaging in one place. Both are excellent for MVPs.
Supabase vs Firebase at a glance
Supabase | Firebase | |
|---|---|---|
Core database | Postgres (relational, SQL) | Cloud Firestore (NoSQL documents); SQL Connect on Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL |
Open source | Yes | No |
Free tier | 500 MB database, 50,000 monthly active users, 2 active projects | Spark plan; Firestore free up to 1 GiB stored, 50K reads and 20K writes per day |
Free project pausing | Paused after 1 week of inactivity | Not applicable |
Paid model | Pro from $25/month with included usage | Blaze pay as you go |
Auth | Built in | Built in (free up to 50K monthly active users) |
Best for | Relational data, SQL teams | Mobile apps, real time sync, Google ecosystem |
The database decides most of it
Supabase is built on Postgres. If your data has relationships, like users, teams, orders and invoices, SQL makes queries and reports straightforward, and you can move your database elsewhere because it is standard Postgres.
Firebase’s main database, Cloud Firestore, stores documents. It shines for real time sync and simple, nested data, and it comes with a broad set of Google services. Firebase now also offers SQL Connect on Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL for relational needs.
Pricing in practice
Supabase Pro starts at $25 a month and includes usage such as 100,000 monthly active users and 8 GB of disk per project. Free projects pause after a week of inactivity, which matters for demos. Firebase’s Blaze plan is pay as you go, with generous no-cost quotas first. Model your expected reads and writes before choosing.
Choose Supabase if
Your data is relational and your team knows SQL.
Open source and portability matter.
You prefer plan based pricing.
Choose Firebase if
You build mobile first with real time sync.
You want analytics, messaging and hosting in one Google platform.
Your data is document shaped.
Lock in and portability
Supabase is open source and built on Postgres, so your data and much of your logic can move to another Postgres host if needed. Firebase is a Google platform; Firestore’s document model and security rules are specific to it, so moving away takes more work. Neither is a reason to avoid the other, but it is worth deciding consciously.
Developer experience
Supabase gives you a SQL database, auto generated APIs, authentication, storage and edge functions, with a dashboard that feels familiar to anyone who knows databases. Firebase offers a broad, mature set of services for mobile apps, from authentication to analytics and messaging, with very polished SDKs.
Real time and offline
Both offer real time updates. Firebase has long been strong at offline first mobile apps that sync when back online. Supabase’s real time features work well for live dashboards and collaborative features on top of Postgres.
A quick decision test
Sketch your main data. If you see tables and relationships, choose Supabase. If you see nested documents and need real time mobile sync with Google services, choose Firebase. If you are unsure, pick the one your developers know best, because that will matter more in the first year.
How Digcy approaches it
We choose the backend after the product flows are designed, because the data model follows the product. See our web app development services and AI product development services, or contact our UI/UX agency in Casablanca. Plan your build.
FAQ
Is Supabase free?
There is a free plan with 500 MB database per project and 50,000 monthly active users. Free projects pause after a week of inactivity.
Is Firebase free?
The Spark plan is no cost within limits, for example Firestore up to 1 GiB stored and 50K reads per day.
Can I migrate from Firebase to Supabase?
Yes, but moving from documents to relational tables takes planning.
Which is better for an MVP?
Both. Pick the one that matches your data model and your team’s skills.
Sources
Updated October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check current pricing on each vendor’s site.
