Pocketbase is a single-file backend — authentication, database, file storage, and admin UI in one 15MB binary.
What You Get for Free
- SQLite database — with real-time subscriptions
- REST API — auto-generated CRUD endpoints
- Authentication — email/password + OAuth2 (Google, GitHub, etc.)
- File storage — upload and serve files with S3 support
- Admin UI — manage collections, users, files in browser
- Real-time — subscribe to database changes via SSE
- Hooks — JavaScript hooks for custom logic
- Deploy anywhere — single binary, runs on $5 VPS
Quick Start
# Download and run
./pocketbase serve
# Admin UI at http://127.0.0.1:8090/_/
# API at http://127.0.0.1:8090/api/
// Client SDK
import PocketBase from 'pocketbase'
const pb = new PocketBase('http://127.0.0.1:8090')
await pb.collection('users').authWithPassword('user@test.com', 'password')
const posts = await pb.collection('posts').getList(1, 20)
Why Developers Switch from Firebase
Firebase is complex, proprietary, and gets expensive fast:
- Self-hosted — your data stays on YOUR server
- One binary — no Docker, no dependencies, no config
- SQLite — backup = copy one file
- $5/month — runs on the cheapest VPS, not $50+ on Firebase
A solo developer's Firebase bill hit $120/month for a side project with 500 users. After Pocketbase on a $5 Hetzner VPS: same features, same users, 96% cost reduction.
Need Custom Data Solutions?
I build production-grade scrapers and data pipelines for startups, agencies, and research teams.
Browse 88+ ready-made scrapers on Apify → — Reddit, HN, LinkedIn, Google, Amazon, and more.
Custom project? Email me: spinov001@gmail.com — fast turnaround, fair pricing.
Top comments (0)