If you’re a developer, you’ve definitely heard of Firebase—Google’s powerhouse Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS). It has been the industry standard for years. However, as projects scale, many developers (myself included) start looking for something more flexible and, frankly, more affordable.
Recently, I hit a wall with a project. I had two non-negotiable requirements: I needed a robust PostgreSQL database without the "cloud tax," and I needed a real-time solution that wouldn't bankrupt me as my user base grew. This led me straight to Supabase.
Here is my honest comparison and the reasons why I believe Supabase is winning the battle for modern developers.
1. The Database: NoSQL vs. The Power of SQL
The biggest shift when moving from Firebase to Supabase is the underlying architecture.
Firebase (Firestore):
It’s a NoSQL document store. While it's great for simple data, it becomes a nightmare when you need complex relations. You often end up "denormalizing" data or doing multiple nested queries that increase your costs.
Supabase (PostgreSQL):
This was the primary reason I made the switch. Supabase gives you a full PostgreSQL instance. For my project, getting a high-performance relational database for free (on the basic tier) was a game-changer. I could use joins, views, and complex filters that are simply impossible or too expensive in Firestore.
2. Real-Time: Better, Faster, and Significantly Cheaper
There is a common misconception that Firebase is the only king of Real-time. In my experience, Supabase Real-time is not only a viable alternative but often a better one.
Why Supabase Real-time impressed me:
The Cost Factor: In Firebase, every real-time listener and every data sync counts as a "document read." If you have 1,000 users watching a list, your bill explodes. In Supabase, you aren't charged per "read" operation. You pay for bandwidth, which is significantly cheaper.
Postgres Changes: Supabase listens to the PostgreSQL Write-Ahead Log (WAL). This means you can subscribe to specific events (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) directly on your database tables.
**Broadcast & Presence: **This is where I saved the most. Supabase allows you to send messages between clients (Broadcast) and track who is online (Presence) without writing any data to the database. It’s low-latency and incredibly cost-effective.
JavaScript
// Supabase Real-time is clean and efficient
const channel = supabase
.channel('room-1')
.on('postgres_changes', { event: 'INSERT', schema: 'public', table: 'messages' },
payload => {
console.log('New message received!', payload.new.text)
})
.subscribe()
3. Pricing: Escaping the "Success Tax"
We’ve all heard the horror stories of Firebase "Bill Shocks." Firebase’s pay-per-read model means that if your app goes viral, you might wake up to a $5,000 bill.
The Comparison:
Firebase: You pay for every single operation. Read a document? Pay. Write a document? Pay. It’s hard to predict your monthly costs.
Supabase: They offer a generous Free Tier (which includes that free Postgres DB I needed). Their Pro Plan is a flat $25/month, which covers most of what an MVP needs with very predictable overage costs.
My real-world experience: For a medium-sized app with high traffic, I found that Supabase can be 75% to 80% cheaper than Firebase, mainly because I wasn't being penalized for every database fetch.
4. No Vendor Lock-in
One of the most liberating things about Supabase is that it’s Open Source.
Firebase is a closed Google product. If they raise prices or shut down a service (like they have in the past), you are stuck.
Supabase is built on open tools. If you ever decide to leave their cloud platform, you can take your PostgreSQL database and self-host it anywhere. That peace of mind is priceless.
Final Verdict: Which should you choose?
Stick with Firebase if:
You are building a mobile-first app that requires extremely complex offline-syncing out of the box.
You are deeply integrated into the Google Cloud ecosystem.
*Switch to Supabase if:
*
You want PostgreSQL: You need the reliability and power of a relational database.
You need "Cheap" Real-time: You want to scale your real-time features without worrying about "per-operation" costs.
You want predictable billing: You prefer a flat monthly fee over a "guessing game" bill.
My Experience?
I came for the free PostgreSQL, but I stayed for the Real-time performance and the fair pricing. Supabase has proven that you don't have to sacrifice power for price.
Have you tried Supabase yet, or are you still loyal to Firebase? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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