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Supabase vs PocketBase
Short answer: Supabase and PocketBase are both self-hostable alternatives to Firebase. Pick Supabase if community size is your main criterion – it has 1.8× the stars. Pick PocketBase if its feature set fits your use case better – stars, license and activity don't measure features, so try both on a test server. If you will customize the code, choose the stack your team knows (Supabase: TypeScript, PocketBase: Go).
Supabase has 1.8× the GitHub stars of PocketBase (111.8k vs 61.5k). Stars measure popularity and community size, not quality. Both are actively developed: Supabase's last push was on 2026-10-19 (on the day of our check); PocketBase's last push was on 2026-10-14 (5 days before our check).
Supabase vs PocketBase at a glance
| Supabase | PocketBase | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 111.8k | ★ 61.5k |
| Forks | 17.2k | 3.7k |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| License type | permissive | permissive |
| Last push | 2026-10-19 on the day of our check | 2026-10-14 5 days before our check |
| Latest GitHub release | v1.26.08 2026-08-07 | v0.40.5 2026-10-08 |
| Main language | TypeScript | Go |
| Archived | no | no |
| Repository | supabase/supabase | pocketbase/pocketbase |
Data: GitHub REST API, checked 2026-10-19. Licenses verified manually against each project's license file. Self-hosting difficulty (Firebase: medium) is our rating per use case and applies to both.
In their own words
Supabase (GitHub description): The Postgres development platform. Supabase gives you a dedicated Postgres database to build your web, mobile, and AI applications.
PocketBase (GitHub description): Open Source realtime backend in 1 file
Which should you pick?
- Pick Supabase if community size is your main criterion – it has 1.8× the stars.
- Pick PocketBase if its feature set fits your use case better – stars, license and activity don't measure features, so try both on a test server.
- If you will customize the code, choose the stack your team knows (Supabase: TypeScript, PocketBase: Go).
Both use a permissive license (Apache-2.0 / MIT). Supabase is written mainly in TypeScript, PocketBase in Go – relevant if you plan to patch or extend it.
FAQ
Which is more popular, Supabase or PocketBase?
Supabase has 1.8× the GitHub stars of PocketBase (111.8k vs 61.5k). Stars measure popularity and community size, not quality.
Are Supabase and PocketBase actively maintained?
Both are actively developed: Supabase's last push was on 2026-10-19 (on the day of our check); PocketBase's last push was on 2026-10-14 (5 days before our check). Latest GitHub releases: Supabase v1.26.08 (2026-08-07), PocketBase v0.40.5 (2026-10-08).
What licenses do Supabase and PocketBase use?
Supabase: Apache-2.0 – permissive (MIT/Apache/BSD-style: few obligations). PocketBase: MIT – permissive (MIT/Apache/BSD-style: few obligations).
Is Supabase or PocketBase easier to self-host?
We rate self-hosting difficulty per use case, not per project: medium for Firebase alternatives. Both need a server you maintain; check each project's install docs for the exact services (database, workers) it needs.
Should I pick Supabase or PocketBase?
Pick Supabase if community size is your main criterion – it has 1.8× the stars. Pick PocketBase if its feature set fits your use case better – stars, license and activity don't measure features, so try both on a test server. If you will customize the code, choose the stack your team knows (Supabase: TypeScript, PocketBase: Go).
All alternatives
Both are listed in the directory, next to other options and a build-it-yourself-with-AI prompt:
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