Foundation
Database
Store your app's data somewhere reliable, and talk to it from code.
Ask your AI about this, with this page as the source:ChatGPT ↗Claude ↗Perplexity ↗
The real choice
Where the data lives: a whole backend platform (database, auth and storage in one project), a managed database you reach from your own code, or the raw engine on your own server. Postgres is the default unless you have a reason to pick otherwise; analytics and graph databases sit next to it for workloads it handles poorly, not instead of it. How your code talks to it is its own decision (Database Access & ORMs).
Pick by situation
Tap the ones that are you — the tools that fit light up below.- You want the database, auth and file storage in one project, and plain SQL you can take elsewhere
Supabase - You're building a live, collaborative app entirely in TypeScript
Convex - Your traffic is bursty or you run many preview deploys, and idle hours shouldn't cost much
Neon - You already run your own server and want a flat monthly cost
PostgreSQL
The contenders
Grouped by the side of the choice they answer, not ranked. Open a row for when to use it, the trade-off and what makers say.
ToolBest for
Backend platform3
Supabaseplatform · open source · free tierPostgres plus auth, storage and realtime in one project.
564+75 open source$25Pro25.4M/wk+96% vs npm
Use it whenYou want one service for most of the backend and a SQL database you can take with you.
Trade-offAuth, storage and database in one vendor makes leaving harder later, and free projects pause after a week without activity.
llms.txtMCPCLIIn Bolt, Lovable, v0Used by 1-bit.day, 21st, a0.dev, Accordio AI, Adventory and 559 more · in 75 open-source projects.
One Postgres with RLS on every table is the reason a solo founder can ship contracts, invoices and a client portal without a backend team. Auth, storage and realtime came for free.
Firebaseplatform · free tierMobile apps that need offline sync and client-side SDKs.
182+70 open source$9.66Blaze (pay as you go)8.8M/wk−21% vs npm
Use it whenYou're shipping a mobile app first and want the client to read and write data directly, including while offline.
Trade-offA document store without SQL joins; hard to migrate off.
llms.txtIn LovableUsed by 1752vc Pitch Deck Analyzer, AI Product Hunter, AI Shadowing, AI Visual Reasoning by Chance, Arkiv and 177 more · in 70 open-source projects.
Key role in helping us deliver results in real time, because the analysis streams onto the page as it completes instead of making founders wait for a finished report.
Convexplatform · open source · free tierRealtime, collaborative apps written entirely in TypeScript.
50+9 open source$29Professional1.3M/wk5.5× vs npm
Use it whenYou want queries that update the UI live without writing sync code.
Trade-offIts own data model and query API rather than SQL.
llms.txtCLIUsed by a0.dev, BloxGPT, brag.fast, Brew, Brutal Verdict and 45 more · in 9 open-source projects.
This real-time database for TypeScript is a game-changer. It seamlessly integrates with my application, providing real-time data synchronization and making development a breeze.
Managed database4
MongoDBdatabase · self-hostable · free tierDocument-shaped data and teams already fluent in Mongo.
131+148 open source$58Atlas Dedicated M1014.5M/wk−45% vs npm
Use it whenYour team already knows Mongo, or your records vary so much in shape that a fixed schema gets in the way.
Trade-offNo joins or schema by default, so relational data and migrations take discipline you'd get for free in Postgres.
llms.txtUsed by agumbe.dev, AidaJet, AiTerm, Alchemyze, Alpaca Chat and 126 more · in 148 open-source projects.
Shoutout to MongoDB for providing a powerful, flexible database solution that scales with our needs. Your platform helps us manage and analyze vast amounts of data seamlessly!
Neondatabase · open source · free tierServerless Postgres that scales to zero, with a branch per preview deploy.
95+16 open source$22Launch3.7M/wk+35% vs npm
Use it whenYou want every pull request's preview deploy to get its own copy of the database.
Trade-offCold starts after idle periods add latency to the first query, and heavy always-on workloads can cost more than a fixed server.
llms.txtMCPCLIIn v0Used by AgreeGuard, Anymark, Anything, Aymo AI, BaseHub and 90 more · in 16 open-source projects.
Serverless Postgres with branching is a game changer for solo builders. Scale to zero means no idle costs, and the connection pooling just works. Perfect for an early-stage product.
PlanetScaledatabaseApps that expect heavy scale and want zero-downtime schema changes.
29+9 open source$7.40Postgres PS-5 (single node)265.6k/wk−35% vs npm
Use it whenYour tables are big and busy enough that a locking migration would mean downtime.
Trade-offNo free tier.
llms.txtUsed by Balance, Campsite, Cushion, Eververse, Graphy and 24 more · in 9 open-source projects.
A joy to work with. Branching, schema changes, and zero-downtime deploys make PlanetScale perfect for our evolving data models. Developer-friendly + production-safe = rare combo.
Tursodatabase · open source · free tierSQLite at the edge, or one database per customer.
13+33 open source$5.99Developer2.2M/wk+102% vs npm
Use it whenEach customer should get their own isolated database, or reads need to happen close to users worldwide.
Trade-offSQLite semantics — one writer at a time, fewer extensions — suit read-heavy apps better than write-heavy ones.
llms.txtCLIUsed by Anarlog, CoffeeChat Bot, EmailCatcher, HootLearn AI, Parseflow.io and 8 more · in 33 open-source projects.
We wanted to build application that has single tenant databases for each organization. Turso handles that super nicely. In addition the ability to have embedded replicas is killer feature for building local RAG.
Run it yourself1
PostgreSQLdatabase · open source · free tierThe engine behind most of the hosted options above, run on your own server or container for full control and a flat cost.
74+542 open source—45.1M/wk+18% vs npm
Use it whenYou already run a server, or want extensions and settings a managed provider doesn't offer.
Trade-offBackups, upgrades, failover and connection pooling are yours to set up and watch.
In ReplitUsed by Atlas.co, Baselight, BooleanMaths Pulse, Boondockers Welcome, Byterover and 69 more · in 542 open-source projects.
Postgres is rock-solid. It handles complex data relationships gracefully and gives us the querying power we need as we scale. For relational data, it’s hands down the best choice for us.
Cost: the cheapest plan that fits database size 8 GB, data transfer 50 GB, document or row reads 10 million reads, document or row writes 2 million writes, from list prices. Try your own numbers →
Cost as you grow
Each contender's cheapest usable plan as usage rises.
Who switches to what
Public pull requests on GitHub since Oct 2024 whose title says "X to Y" — real code changes, by developers in general rather than makers only. Pick a flow to see its pull requests.
Firebase → Supabase298 PRs · Compare →- feat migrate auth and data from Firebase to Supabasezabdax/callimachus · 2026-10-02
- feat: migrate from Firebase to Supabase with offline-first support an…xabhishek54/personal-finance-tracker · 2026-09-30
- Start Firebase to Supabase migrationapurbabhaiya/Apurba-Roy · 2026-09-29
- Foundation: connect Firebase sessions to Supabase toolkit accountswinningj26-prog/aiStudio-BudgetPlanner · 2026-09-29
- Foundation: connect Firebase identity to Supabase account servicewinningj26-prog/aiStudio-BudgetPlanner · 2026-09-29
- Migrate from Firebase to Supabase for auth, database, and storagekaitodecode/nyated.adikurniawan.com · 2026-09-27
- Firebase to self-hosted Supabase migration + accumulated Beta feature worksandschi/StreamCast-Pro · 2026-09-26
- Migrate authentication provider from Firebase to Supabasesametboy112-ctrl/JOKERWEB · 2026-09-25
- Migrate the backend from Firebase to Supabase PostgreSQL with RLSmonarch7107/Mohammed-Fazil-Cattery- · 2026-09-24
- Remove Firebase completely and migrate to Supabaseyouknowwalid/MD-WALID-RAHMAN · 2026-09-24
Supabase → Neon170 PRs · Compare →- feat(auth): cut over Supabase Auth to Neon Managed AuthMarcelo-teets/Motor-originac-srm · 2026-10-02
- Move backend from Supabase to Neon Postgres with Better Authsaadibnainan/edu-tracker · 2026-10-02
- Migrate CRM data layer from Supabase to NeonOverclock-Accelerator/Medline · 2026-10-01
- Migrate CRM routes from Supabase to Neon PostgresOverclock-Accelerator/overclock-tool-calling · 2026-10-01
- Migrate snapshot storage from Supabase to Neon Postgresafhaque/MeridianHealth-App · 2026-10-01
- Migrate LandmarketThai from Supabase to Neonlandmarketthai/landmarketthai · 2026-09-29
- Migrate from Supabase to Neon + host on Cloudflare Workersyannsalvo/nicophoto · 2026-09-28
- Migrate SpendWise from Supabase to Neon and Clerkderlinromero/SpendWise · 2026-09-28
- Migrate database from Supabase to NeonAakash22010/myPortfolio · 2026-09-27
- Migrate WakeMyWay accounts from Supabase to Neonyotamon/WakeMyWay · 2026-09-26
Supabase → Firebase113 PRs · Compare →- Migrate shared state from Supabase to Firebaseryanlay/tcfdlabschool.github.io · 2026-10-01
- Migrate database from Supabase to Firebase FirestoreubcWiCS/marketing-manager · 2026-09-30
- Migrate backend from Supabase to Firebase (specs + steering)livanuj/homemade_Uno · 2026-09-29
- Migrate backend from Supabase to Firebase: Firestore, Auth, Functions and client adapterJanStoutBlack/rankride · 2026-09-28
- feat: migrate backend from Supabase SQL to Firebase Firestore NoSQLparthasdey2304/paisa-lainden · 2026-09-27
- feat: migrate auth from Supabase to Firebase with Google OAuthSushma-1206/ai-pr-copilot · 2026-09-26
- feat: migrate Supabase to Firebase - fixes 504 timeoutAdinath-Jagtap/TripTogether · 2026-09-26
- feat: migrate admin data from Supabase to Firebasebustmartin05/barriguita · 2026-09-25
- feat(auth): migrate from Supabase to Firebase Authenticationfer-araujo/solarpanel-system · 2026-09-22
- Migrate backend from Supabase to FirebaseJoeK1973/RC-Endurance-Pit-Wall · 2026-09-22
MongoDB → Supabase76 PRs · Compare →- MongoDB to Supabase migration: schema, data, backend, and frontend wiring (chunks 1-4)jeffwelch0620-png/JayMax-Concepts- · 2026-09-29
- Migrate backend from MongoDB to Supabase (Postgres + Storage), convert to TypeScriptwnr-group/aqua-talent-service · 2026-09-22
- Migrate from MongoDB + MinIO to Supabase for shared dataset managementShanmukha-Gautam-Pidaparthi/EchoBoard · 2026-09-21
- Migrate database from MongoDB to Supabase (Postgres)Rushi8118/Lustre-And-Co. · 2026-09-15
- Migrate contact form storage from MongoDB to Supabase PostgresGreenbergEnterprise/greenberg-enterprisegroup-website · 2026-09-15
- feat: stage MongoDB to Supabase events migrationphanthienquoc/TCE-dashboard · 2026-09-14
- Convert mongoDB to Supabaseperixtar/HouseMeds · 2026-09-12
- feat: migrate MongoDB to Supabase, fix PWA cache reload and enable real-time alertspranithapoojaryy/Alertlife · 2026-09-12
- Migrate backend from MongoDB to Supabase (PostgreSQL)s4burieru/wyndells · 2026-09-11
- I have migrated from the mongoDB connection to a supabase connectionvivianejikeme2006-hash/NunesAuto_Supabase_backend · 2026-09-11
Neon → Supabase64 PRs · Compare →- chore(db): migrate database config from Neon to Supabasekurtlewis-ui/V-and-Sound-Inventory-System · 2026-09-30
- fix(db): move production Postgres from Neon to Supabase (v1.21.2)batashof/JobRadar · 2026-09-30
- Figma Make redesign + move sign-in and data off Neon to SupabaseGeorgeAkai/Lets_Carpool · 2026-09-29
- Switch the database from Neon to Supabase.opensourcepundits/cafe-food-hoppers · 2026-09-20
- Move the board's database from Neon to Supabaseyko79135/holyguide-test-board · 2026-09-19
- feat(db): migrate from Neon to self-hosted Supabasesebascm-dev/sebascm-dev.me · 2026-09-14
- Switch DB client from Neon HTTP to postgres.js for Supabasedoommir/novapath-website · 2026-09-10
- feat: migrate database from Neon to Supabase with updated Prisma conf…codebreakers-gcek/codebreakersgcek · 2026-09-07
- Move email signups from Neon to Supabase; drop the dead routing proxyalpline-labs/alpline-web · 2026-09-06
- feat: move lead storage from Neon to SupabaseCorranForce/throughline-marketing · 2026-09-03
Supabase → Convex50 PRs · Compare →- feat(convex): migrate backend from Supabase to ConvexChhikara-Industries/website · 2026-10-01
- Migrate Kodi from Supabase to Convex (self-hosted)jawg-zz/kodi · 2026-09-20
- Migrate Rough Consensus from Supabase to Convexalexlwn123/Rough-Consensus · 2026-09-15
- Migrate data layer from Supabase to Convexangadchhikara12/san-transport-services · 2026-09-12
- Migrate from Supabase to Convex + ClerkChe1195/cooksnap · 2026-09-11
- Migrate starter from Supabase to Convexrobbybuilds/agent-founders-web-app-starter · 2026-08-24
- Migrate from Supabase to Convexdrumdrone/social-canvas-calendar · 2026-08-03
- Migrate backend from Supabase to Convexsheerazautomate/mepcoapk · 2026-07-28
- feat: migrate Supabase to Convex and Clerkkalynbeach/kalynbeach-net · 2026-07-17
- Add ledgered Supabase to Convex migrationjunyengit/skyla · 2026-07-12
Supabase → PostgreSQL48+ PRs · Compare →- Move backend from Supabase to Neon Postgres with Better Authsaadibnainan/edu-tracker · 2026-10-02
- Migrate CRM routes from Supabase to Neon PostgresOverclock-Accelerator/overclock-tool-calling · 2026-10-01
- Migrate snapshot storage from Supabase to Neon Postgresafhaque/MeridianHealth-App · 2026-10-01
- Migrate from Supabase to self-hosted Postgres + Auth.jsynni-llan-energy/ynni-llan-energy · 2026-09-21
- BRAWUKA-507: staging app data moved off Supabase to Dokploy VPS Postgreslyuzizheng/coffeemode · 2026-09-20
- Migrate from Supabase to Railway Postgresbrawlstarsleon538/rabka-bloom-boutique · 2026-09-19
- Build the monitoring system and move off Supabase to Postgres, Prisma and Better Authtariq-khan9/webpulse · 2026-09-18
- feat(db): migrate from Supabase to Neon Postgres + Drizzle ORM (phase 1)thisisouvik/trustlend-stellar · 2026-09-12
- Migrate from Supabase to Railway Postgresair-planes/3rd-bass · 2026-09-09
- Migrate storage and auth from Supabase to Neon Postgres.Ed1305/Demographics · 2026-09-07
MongoDB → PostgreSQL46 PRs · Compare →- refactor(db)!: migrate Payload CMS from MongoDB to Postgresm6-o4/payload-template-pg · 2026-09-25
- Migrate contact form storage from MongoDB to Supabase PostgresGreenbergEnterprise/greenberg-enterprisegroup-website · 2026-09-15
- Migrate persistence from MongoDB to Supabase Postgres (SQLAlchemy async)naheedroomy/valorantsl-new · 2026-08-14
- feat(db): move the data layer from MongoDB to Postgres with pgvectorjohnbekele/infracanvas · 2026-08-09
- Migrate ROI calculator from MongoDB Atlas to Neon PostgresAONIQQ/fastrackwebsite · 2026-08-06
- fix: rewire merchant read path from MongoDB to Postgres, delete Merch…Syed-web-coder/expense-project · 2026-07-27
- Migrate backend from MongoDB to Supabase Postgressatishkengam2017-ops/InvoiceAI · 2026-07-24
- feat: migrate database from MongoDB to Supabase Postgresfdrive422/React-Admin-Dashboard · 2026-07-14
- Migrate storage from MongoDB to Postgres, hosting from Render to Vercelprashanth-ds-ml/workhub-office-time-tracker · 2026-07-13
- migrate ConnectionRequest feature from MongoDB to Postgres (Drizzle)Dikshant441/merge_me · 2026-07-08
Before you choose
How to approach it
Pick a managed Postgres unless you have a reason not to. Turn on backups before your first real user, and use the provider's connection pooler from serverless functions.
Common mistakes
- Never restoring a backup until the day you need one — the first bad migration or stray DELETE is a bad time to learn the backup is missing or too old.
- Opening a fresh database connection in every serverless function call, which runs Postgres out of connections under modest traffic; use the provider's connection pooler.
- Changing the schema by hand in the production console instead of through migrations, so local, preview and production databases quietly drift apart.
Other options
Real choices most makers here won't need to weigh.
ClickHouseAnalytics (OLAP)Fast aggregate queries over billions of rows of events, logs or metrics, self-hosted or on ClickHouse Cloud.40 makers' products
TinybirdAnalytics (OLAP)Managed ClickHouse that turns SQL over event streams into fast API endpoints for dashboards and usage analytics in your product.30 makers' products
Neo4jGraphData that is mostly relationships — social graphs, recommendations, knowledge graphs — queried with Cypher.19 makers' products
DuckDBAnalytics (OLAP)Analytical SQL inside your app or script over local or S3-hosted CSV and Parquet files, with no server to run.14 makers' products
AppwriteBackend platformA Firebase-style backend — database, auth, storage, functions and messaging — that is open source and can be self-hosted.8 makers' productsXanoBackend platformA backend — database, API endpoints, business logic and auth — built visually instead of in code.8 makers' products
PocketBaseBackend platformA whole backend — database, auth, files, realtime and admin UI — in one self-hosted executable.6 makers' products
MySQLRun it yourselfPHP, Laravel, WordPress and Rails stacks, and teams that already know MySQL well.6 makers' productsInstantDBBackend platformRealtime, multiplayer and offline-friendly apps where the frontend queries and writes data directly, with auth, permissions and storage included.2 makers' productsXataManaged databasePostgres branches that copy instantly and scale to zero, for a separate database per developer, pull request or agent, optionally filled with anonymized production data.1 makers' product
SQLiteRun it yourselfA database that is just a file in your app — desktop and mobile apps, single-server web apps, tests and prototypes.
Cloudflare D1Managed databaseA serverless SQLite database for apps running on Cloudflare Workers or Pages, with a free tier and no egress fees.
Amazon DynamoDBManaged databaseA serverless key-value and document database on AWS that scales with no servers to manage, with an always-free tier.
MariaDBRun it yourselfA MySQL-compatible open-source database, the default MySQL on many Linux distributions and hosts.Decided alongside
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