Supabase vs Firebase: When to Choose Open-Source Postgres for Your App’s Scalability

In today’s app development landscape, the need for scalable backends has become a priority for developers and businesses alike. Two backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms that have garnered significant attention are Firebase and Supabase. Both platforms simplify the backend development process, but their underlying architectures differ significantly, especially when it comes to scalability and data management. In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between Supabase and Firebase, and why choosing open-source Postgres with Supabase might be the best decision for scaling your app.

Introduction: The Rise of Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS)

Backend-as-a-service platforms have revolutionized the way developers build and deploy applications. BaaS solutions like Firebase and Supabase allow developers to focus on building user-facing features without worrying about infrastructure management. However, as your app grows, your backend needs become more complex, and that’s where the choice of platform becomes critical.

Firebase, developed by Google, was one of the early pioneers in BaaS, providing a NoSQL database, real-time capabilities, and easy integration with other Google Cloud services. But as the demand for scalability and data flexibility grows, some developers are now looking for alternatives that can offer better control and the power of SQL databases. Supabase, an open-source alternative built on top of PostgreSQL, is a growing contender in this space.

This blog explores the differences between Firebase and Supabase, helping you determine when to choose open-source Postgres for your app’s scalability needs.

Firebase in a Nutshell: Google’s Real-Time Powerhouse

Firebase offers a suite of services, including a real-time NoSQL database (Firestore), authentication, hosting, and cloud functions. It’s designed to provide an easy-to-use, out-of-the-box solution for developers to get apps up and running quickly.

Key Features of Firebase:

• Real-time Database (Firestore): Firebase’s real-time database allows you to sync data across all clients instantly. This is perfect for applications like chat apps, gaming leaderboards, or IoT apps that require constant data updates.
• Authentication & Hosting: Firebase offers simple authentication with multiple sign-in providers (Google, Facebook, Twitter) and provides an easy-to-use hosting platform.
• Serverless Functions: Firebase offers cloud functions to write backend logic without managing servers.

However, as your app grows, Firebase starts to show limitations. While it excels in real-time applications and rapid prototyping, Firebase’s NoSQL database can struggle with complex queries and relational data management. The pricing model, which charges based on reads, writes, and storage, can become expensive as your app scales.

Supabase 101: The Open-Source Firebase Alternative

Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service platform that uses PostgreSQL as its core database engine. Built on top of Postgres, it offers many of the same features as Firebase—like authentication, storage, and real-time subscriptions—while providing the power of a relational database.

Key Features of Supabase:

• Relational Database (PostgreSQL): Supabase uses Postgres, a mature and feature-rich relational database management system (RDBMS) that supports SQL queries, complex joins, and transactions.
• Real-time Subscriptions: Just like Firebase, Supabase offers real-time data synchronization, making it suitable for real-time applications like messaging apps or collaborative platforms.
• Authentication & Storage: Supabase provides authentication and file storage out-of-the-box, just like Firebase, with the added benefit of being open-source.

One of the major advantages of Supabase development services is its ability to leverage the full power of PostgreSQL, which offers advanced features such as full-text search, geospatial queries, and data integrity, all while being open-source. Supabase’s relational model offers more flexibility and control over your data as compared to Firebase’s NoSQL model.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Supabase vs Firebase

Let’s dive deeper into how Supabase and Firebase compare on several crucial factors:

Architecture: NoSQL vs. SQL

• Firebase uses Firestore, a NoSQL database that stores data as JSON documents. This is ideal for simple, hierarchical data models, but it can become inefficient when dealing with complex data or relational structures.
• Supabase uses PostgreSQL, an open-source relational database that excels at handling complex queries, joins, and transactions. Postgres provides a flexible schema and supports advanced data types like arrays, JSONB, and custom data types.

Performance & Scalability

• Firebase is optimized for real-time applications and excels when you have simple, flat data structures. However, as the app scales and the amount of data grows, Firebase may experience performance issues with complex queries or large-scale data operations.
• Supabase benefits from PostgreSQL’s robust indexing and query optimization capabilities. It’s better suited for applications that need to handle complex relationships and large amounts of data without compromising performance.Pricing

• Firebase offers a free tier, but scaling comes at a cost. Firebase charges for data reads, writes, and storage, which can become expensive for large-scale applications. For example, as the number of reads and writes increases, your costs could skyrocket.
• Supabase, on the other hand, has a transparent and predictable pricing model. It charges based on the amount of storage, requests, and API usage, but the cost structure tends to be more predictable for larger apps. Additionally, since Supabase is open-source, you have the option to self-host, which could reduce costs in the long run.