Which one should I use for mobile apps?

**Firebase, no contest.** The SDKs are bulletproof and offline sync just works. Everything else makes you reinvent wheels. Supabase is getting better for mobile but you'll hit edge cases. PocketBase works fine if you don't need fancy offline features.

Can I escape Firebase without a complete rewrite?

**Short answer: no. Long answer: nooooooo.** Firebase migration is extracting yourself from superglue. Those [Supabase migration tools](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/migrations/firebase-auth)? They handle maybe 30% of the work. You're still rewriting every query, security rule, and real-time subscription. Took us 4 months and two nervous breakdowns. Appwrite and PocketBase? Might as well start from scratch.

Which has the best real-time features?

**Firebase's real-time is black magic** - it just works everywhere. [Supabase real-time](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/realtime) is good but you'll spend time debugging WebSocket connections. PocketBase real-time is fine for simple stuff but don't expect Firebase-level magic.

What will this actually cost me?

**For 50K users:** Supabase runs about $180-300/month (storage creep gets you). Firebase is $250-500/month (runaway queries will fuck you). Appwrite falls around $120-200/month (decent value). PocketBase is $40-100/month on a VPS but you're fixing server issues at 3am. Those pricing calculators? Written by people who've never run production. Double whatever they say, then add 50%.

Which has the best developer experience?

**PocketBase wins for simplicity** - download one binary and you're done. Firebase has the most tutorials and Stack Overflow answers. [Supabase TypeScript support](https://supabase.com/docs/reference/javascript/typescript-support) is actually pretty good. Appwrite has decent tooling but a steeper learning curve.

How do they handle scaling when my app blows up?

**Firebase scales automatically** (and bills you automatically). Supabase needs [manual scaling planning](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/platform/performance) but PostgreSQL is solid. Appwrite gives you scaling controls. **PocketBase doesn't scale horizontally** - you're stuck on one server with SQLite limits.

Am I trapped once I choose one?

**Firebase is a roach motel** - easy to get in, hell to get out. Supabase is just PostgreSQL so you can always leave. PocketBase is SQLite and Go - ultimate freedom. Appwrite is open source but has some proprietary cloud features.

Which one is best for AI stuff?

**Firebase integrates with Google's AI services** like [ML Kit](https://developers.google.com/ml-kit) out of the box. **Supabase has [pgvector](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/ai)** which is great for embeddings and vector search. PocketBase and Appwrite? You're integrating external APIs yourself.

How's the authentication story?

**Firebase auth just works** - social logins, MFA, password resets, all handled. [Supabase auth](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/auth/social-login) is solid but you'll debug magic link deliverability. Appwrite auth is decent with good OAuth support. PocketBase auth is basic but functional.

What about offline support?

**Firebase offline sync is magic** - it handles everything automatically. Supabase, Appwrite, and PocketBase? You're writing your own caching and sync logic. Good luck with that.

Which has the best serverless functions?

**Firebase Cloud Functions** integrate perfectly with the ecosystem. [Supabase Edge Functions](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/functions) are faster (Deno) but newer. Appwrite functions are okay. **PocketBase doesn't do functions** - you'll need external services.

How's backup and disaster recovery?

**Firebase handles it automatically** through Google Cloud. [Supabase offers daily backups](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/platform/backups) ($100/month for point-in-time recovery). Appwrite has basic backup plans. **PocketBase? You're copying SQLite files yourself.**

What about monitoring and analytics?

**Firebase has comprehensive monitoring** built-in. Supabase has basic metrics. Appwrite offers monitoring on paid plans. **PocketBase needs external monitoring** - but the admin UI is surprisingly good.

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Backend-as-a-Service Platform Comparison: AI-Optimized Technical Reference

Name: Supabase
Availability: InStock

Executive Decision Framework

Platform Selection Matrix

Use Case	Recommended Platform	Fallback Option	Avoid If
Mobile Apps	Firebase	Supabase	Offline sync critical + budget sensitive
Complex SQL Queries	Supabase	Appwrite	NoSQL mindset required
Indie/Bootstrap Projects	PocketBase	Supabase	High write concurrency expected
Enterprise/Compliance	Firebase	Supabase	Self-hosting required
Multi-Platform Development	Appwrite	Firebase	Single platform focus

Critical Performance Thresholds

Supabase (PostgreSQL-based)

Connection Pool Limit: ~18K concurrent users before connection pool exhausted errors
Query Performance: 15s Firestore → 1.8s PostgreSQL for complex JOINs
Single Document Retrieval: 120ms (slower than Firestore's 50ms)
Breaking Point: Complex JOINs across 5+ tables without proper indexing

Firebase (Firestore)

Billing Trap Threshold: 2.3M document reads = $847 unexpected bill
Query Limitations: No NOT IN queries, no multi-field queries without composite indexes
Real-time Performance: 50ms document retrieval, bulletproof offline sync
Runaway Query Risk: No circuit breakers for stuck listeners

PocketBase (SQLite-based)

Write Concurrency Limit: ~400 concurrent writes before database is locked
Read Performance: Fastest for simple queries (SQLite optimization)
Scaling Constraint: Single writer limitation, no horizontal scaling
Failure Mode: Multiple simultaneous user registrations cause database locks

Appwrite

Performance Range: Between Firebase and Supabase for most operations
Resource Requirements: Fighting uphill battle for market share
Stability: Decent but not market leader in any specific area

Production Cost Reality (Monthly, 50K Users)

Platform	Advertised	Actual Production Cost	Hidden Costs
Supabase	$25 base	$180-300	Storage creep ($0.125/GB after 8GB)
Firebase	"Pay-per-use"	$250-500	Runaway queries, per-read billing
Appwrite	$25 base	$120-200	Recent price increase from $15
PocketBase	$0	$40-100 VPS	3AM server maintenance time

Cost Multiplier Rule

Planning Estimate: Double calculator estimates, add 50%
Storage Warning: Image/file storage costs escalate rapidly on Supabase/Firebase
Billing Surprise Risk: Firebase highest, PocketBase lowest

Migration Complexity Assessment

Firebase Escape Difficulty: EXTREME

Time Investment: 3-4 months minimum (not weeks as advertised)
Rewrite Scope: 100% - queries, security rules, real-time subscriptions
Data Model Translation: Nested documents → foreign key relationships
Vendor Lock-in Severity: "Roach motel" - designed to trap users

SQL Platform Migration: MODERATE

Between Supabase/Appwrite/PocketBase: API changes, auth reconfiguration required
Data Portability: SQL dumps work across platforms
Time Investment: Weeks not months

PocketBase Exit Strategy: MINIMAL

Migration Method: Copy SQLite .db file
Lock-in Risk: Lowest - single binary, standard SQLite
Freedom Level: Ultimate portability

Critical Failure Modes

Supabase Production Failures

Connection Pool Exhaustion: Heavy JOIN queries under load
WebSocket Debugging: Real-time subscriptions require troubleshooting
Storage Cost Shock: Rapid escalation beyond 8GB limit

Firebase Production Failures

Runaway Billing: No automatic query circuit breakers
Query Limitations: Client-side filtering for complex operations
Migration Lock-in: Designed to prevent exodus

PocketBase Production Failures

Write Concurrency: SQLite single-writer bottleneck at ~400 users
Scaling Wall: No horizontal scaling path
Self-Hosting Burden: Solo server maintenance responsibility

Appwrite Production Failures

Resource Competition: Smaller team fighting multiple fronts
Documentation Gaps: Incomplete coverage for edge cases
Market Position: Not best-in-class for any specific use case

Authentication & Security Reality

Production-Ready Auth Ranking

Firebase: Bulletproof, handles MFA/social/password resets automatically
Supabase: Solid but magic link deliverability issues
Appwrite: Decent OAuth support, improving
PocketBase: Basic but functional

Compliance Support

HIPAA Ready: Firebase (paid), Supabase (SOC 2 certified 2024)
Self-Managed: PocketBase (explain SQLite to auditors yourself)
Enterprise Features: Firebase > Supabase > Appwrite > PocketBase

Real-Time Implementation Quality

Performance Hierarchy

Firebase: "Black magic" - works everywhere, no debugging needed
Supabase: Good but requires WebSocket connection debugging
PocketBase: Basic functionality, adequate for simple use cases
Appwrite: Standard WebSocket implementation

Offline Sync Capability

Firebase: Automatic magic, handles everything
Others: Manual caching and sync logic implementation required

Community Support & Ecosystem Maturity

Stack Overflow Question Count (Problem-Solving Indicator)

Firebase: 89K+ questions (mature ecosystem)
Supabase: 3,200+ questions (growing rapidly)
PocketBase: ~200 questions (smaller but focused community)
Appwrite: Limited but helpful Discord community

Integration Ecosystem Availability

Firebase: Universal framework support, extensive tutorials
Supabase: Growing fast, occasional "no examples found"
Appwrite: Standard integrations available
PocketBase: Minimal but accurate documentation

Scaling Architecture Limitations

Horizontal Scaling Support

Firebase: Automatic Google Cloud scaling
Supabase: Manual PostgreSQL scaling planning required
Appwrite: Scaling controls available
PocketBase: No horizontal scaling - single server limit

Database Architecture Constraints

PostgreSQL (Supabase): Real SQL with complex query support
Firestore (Firebase): Document model with query limitations
Multi-DB (Appwrite): Choice paralysis but flexibility
SQLite (PocketBase): Single writer bottleneck

Long-term Viability Assessment

Financial Backing & Sustainability

Firebase: Google infinite cash pile - guaranteed survival
Supabase: $80M raised 2022, strong growth trajectory
Appwrite: $27M raised, uphill market battle
PocketBase: Single maintainer but simple enough to outlast complexity

Development Velocity Risk

Firebase: Constant feature churn, deprecation risk
Supabase: Fast iteration, occasional breaking changes
Appwrite: Resource-limited development speed
PocketBase: Minimal changes, stable foundation

Technical Decision Triggers

Choose Firebase When

Mobile-first development with offline sync requirements
Need Google ecosystem integration (ML Kit, Cloud services)
Team lacks database expertise
Budget can absorb unpredictable billing spikes

Choose Supabase When

Complex reporting queries required
PostgreSQL expertise available
Self-hosting option needed for future
Real-time features important but not critical

Choose Appwrite When

Multi-database support required
Hedging against single platform lock-in
Team needs comprehensive platform coverage
Community support via Discord acceptable

Choose PocketBase When

Indie development with tight budget constraints
Simple application with low write concurrency
Self-hosting/server management skills available
Maximum platform independence required

Resource Requirements & Expertise Needs

Development Team Skills Required

Firebase: Mobile SDK knowledge, NoSQL mindset
Supabase: SQL proficiency, PostgreSQL optimization
Appwrite: Multi-platform development experience
PocketBase: Basic server administration, Go familiarity helpful

Time Investment Estimates

Initial Setup: Firebase (15min) > PocketBase (5min) > Supabase (30min) > Appwrite (45min)
Migration FROM Platform: Firebase (3-4 months) > Others (2-4 weeks)
Production Debugging: Firebase (community solutions) > Supabase (growing resources) > Others (limited examples)

Infrastructure Management Burden

Fully Managed: Firebase, Supabase Cloud, Appwrite Cloud
Hybrid Management: Supabase self-hosted
Full Self-Management: PocketBase (VPS, SSL, backups, monitoring)

Critical Warning Indicators

Immediate Red Flags

Firebase bill spike from runaway queries (no circuit breakers)
PocketBase database locks under concurrent write load
Supabase connection pool exhaustion from complex queries
Migration estimates that seem "too easy"

Early Warning Signs

Firebase query complexity requiring client-side filtering
Supabase storage costs accelerating beyond $6-8/month
PocketBase approaching 400 concurrent user threshold
Team lacking platform-specific expertise for chosen solution

Point of No Return Warnings

Firebase integration depth making migration impossible
Production dependencies on platform-specific features
Scale requirements exceeding single-platform capabilities
Compliance requirements changing without platform support

Useful Links for Further Investigation

Links That Won't Waste Your Time (Tested by People Who Debug at 3am)

Link	Description
Supabase	The main site for Supabase, where pricing information is available, noted for being more transparent than competitors.
Supabase Docs	Comprehensive and well-written documentation for Supabase, created by actual users of the product, providing practical insights.
Supabase GitHub	The official GitHub repository for Supabase, featuring genuine issues and practical solutions, rather than just feature requests.
Supabase Pricing	Detailed pricing information for Supabase, highlighted for its transparency compared to Firebase's less clear "pay per read" model.
Supabase Blog	The official blog for Supabase, offering valuable content including migration experiences and in-depth performance analyses from experienced users.
Supabase Discord	A Discord community for Supabase users, known for its helpful members and genuine support, avoiding automated responses and marketing.
Firebase	Google's mobile backend service, known for its comprehensive features but also for potentially incurring significant costs for users.
Firebase Docs	Extensive documentation for Firebase, though a significant portion of its provided examples are unfortunately no longer current or accurate.
Firebase Pricing	The pricing page for Firebase, with a calculator that is criticized for underestimating costs, suggesting actual production costs are much higher.
Firebase Console	The administrative console for Firebase, where users can monitor their projects and observe the accumulation of their service charges.
Firebase Blog	The official blog for Firebase, primarily featuring announcements of new features that may not always align with user needs or requests.
Firebase GitHub	The official GitHub organization for Firebase, providing code examples that are often used for quick integration but may not consistently function.
Appwrite	A backend-as-a-service platform that aims to provide a comprehensive suite of tools and features for a wide range of developers.
Appwrite Docs	The documentation for Appwrite, which is continuously being improved but still contains certain omissions or unclear areas that may cause issues during late-night debugging.
Appwrite GitHub	The official GitHub repository for Appwrite, highlighting its genuinely open-source nature, a contrast to some other platforms that claim open-source status.
Appwrite Pricing	The pricing page for Appwrite, noting a recent increase to $25 per month, indicating the platform's need for revenue to sustain operations.
Appwrite Cloud	Appwrite's managed hosting service, offering a convenient solution for users who prefer not to handle Docker container management themselves.
Appwrite Discord	A Discord community for Appwrite users, recognized for its active and helpful members who provide genuine support, unlike automated bot interactions.
PocketBase	A lightweight, open-source backend-as-a-service that operates as a single binary, simplifying deployment and management for developers.
PocketBase Docs	The documentation for PocketBase, characterized by its concise nature, yet praised for its accuracy and reliability in providing information.
PocketBase GitHub	The official GitHub repository for PocketBase, serving as the primary location to download the single binary for the backend service.
Awesome PocketBase	A curated list of community-contributed resources and tools for PocketBase, known for providing functional and reliable extensions.
PocketBase Discussions	The discussion forum on GitHub for PocketBase, featuring a smaller but highly knowledgeable community capable of providing expert assistance.
Firebase to Supabase Migration	The official guide provided by Supabase for migrating authentication from Firebase, noted for being a complex process that can take several months.
Firebase to Supabase Scripts	Community-developed scripts and tools designed to assist with the migration process from Firebase to Supabase, offering some level of support.
Appwrite Migration Docs	Documentation from Appwrite covering fundamental aspects of platform migration, providing essential guidance for moving data and services.
Real Migration Story	A blog post detailing the actual experiences and challenges encountered during a migration from Firebase to Supabase, emphasizing its difficulty.
Supabase Quickstart	A quickstart guide for Supabase, realistically estimating a 15-minute setup time, which is more accurate than typical 5-minute claims.
Firebase Getting Started	A guide for getting started with Firebase, noted for its ease of initial setup but implying significant difficulty when attempting to migrate away.
Appwrite Quick Start	Quick start guides for Appwrite, including framework-specific tutorials that are generally considered to be of good quality and helpful.
PocketBase Setup	Instructions for setting up PocketBase, highlighting its simplicity: download the binary, execute it, and the setup is complete.
Firebase on Stack Overflow	The Stack Overflow tag for Firebase, featuring over 89,000 questions and a vast collection of practical, community-provided solutions.
Supabase on Stack Overflow	The Stack Overflow tag for Supabase, currently hosting over 3,000 questions and rapidly expanding its collection of community-driven answers.
PostgreSQL Help	The Stack Overflow tag for PostgreSQL, an essential resource for Supabase users seeking assistance with their underlying database technology.
SQLite Forum	The official forum for SQLite, providing crucial support and discussions for PocketBase users focused on optimizing database performance.
Supabase vs Firebase Benchmark	An article presenting independent benchmark tests comparing the performance of Supabase against Firebase, offering objective data for evaluation.
BaaS Platform Analysis	A comprehensive analysis of Backend-as-a-Service platforms, including Supabase, Firebase, and PocketBase, featuring a 2025 comparison with actual performance data.
Backend Solutions on GitHub	A GitHub topic page dedicated to Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions, serving as a valuable resource for discovering alternative platforms and tools.
Supabase CLI	The command-line interface for Supabase, enabling efficient local development setups that are generally well-regarded by developers.
Supabase Client Libraries	Documentation for Supabase client libraries, specifically highlighting the reliability and functionality of their TypeScript type definitions.
PostgREST	An open-source web server that turns a PostgreSQL database directly into a RESTful API, serving as the core technology for Supabase's automatic APIs.
GoTrue	An open-source authentication service developed by Netlify, which is utilized as the underlying authentication provider for Supabase projects.
Firebase CLI	The command-line interface for Firebase, used for deploying projects, often with the implication that successful deployment requires some luck.
Firebase Emulator Suite	A suite of local emulators for Firebase services, allowing developers to test their applications offline and avoid unexpected billing charges.
Firebase Extensions	A collection of pre-packaged, open-source solutions designed to extend Firebase functionality, generally found to be functional for common use cases.
FlutterFire	A set of official Flutter plugins for Firebase, known for their robust integration and reliable performance within Flutter applications.
Appwrite CLI	The command-line interface for Appwrite, providing competent tools for deploying and managing Appwrite projects and services.
Appwrite SDKs	A collection of Software Development Kits for Appwrite, supporting over 15 platforms, with the quality and maturity varying across different SDKs.
Appwrite Functions	Documentation and examples for Appwrite's serverless functions, noted for providing code that reliably compiles and executes as expected.
Appwrite Self-Hosting	Documentation for self-hosting Appwrite, specifically highlighting the clear and comprehensive instructions provided for setting up with Docker.
PocketHost	A managed hosting service specifically for PocketBase, offering a convenient solution for users who prefer not to handle self-hosting complexities.
PocketBase JS SDK	The official JavaScript Software Development Kit for PocketBase, praised for its straightforward design and reliable functionality in client-side applications.
Community Extensions	A section on GitHub discussions for PocketBase, showcasing community-contributed extensions that, while currently small in number, are actively expanding.
Railway	A cloud platform offering easy deployment and hosting, including a $5/month plan suitable for PocketBase, known for its straightforward deployment process.
DigitalOcean	A cloud infrastructure provider offering virtual private servers, known as droplets, with reliable performance starting from $6 per month.
Linode	A cloud hosting provider offering virtual private servers, recognized for delivering strong performance at competitive and reasonable pricing.
Hetzner	A German-based web hosting provider known for offering cost-effective and reliable hosting solutions, particularly popular for its European data centers.
UptimeRobot	A service that provides free website and server uptime monitoring, alerting users to downtime and performance issues without cost.
Sentry	An open-source error tracking and performance monitoring platform that helps developers identify, triage, and resolve issues in real-time.
LogRocket	A front-end monitoring solution that provides session replay, allowing developers to see exactly what users did on their website, including network requests and console logs.

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