Supabase vs Firebase vs PocketBase: Which One Should You Choose in 2025?

Choosing the right backend can make or break your app — and with so many BaaS (Backend as a Service) options, it’s easy to feel stuck. Firebase has been the go-to for years, but Supabase and PocketBase are gaining serious traction.

So, which one should you pick in 2025? Let’s break it down: pricing, performance, developer experience, and the kind of projects each one fits best.

💡 TL;DR (Quick Answer)

• Use Firebase if you need battle-tested infrastructure, great documentation, and don’t mind vendor lock-in.

• Use Supabase if you want an open-source, SQL-based alternative with real-time features and more control.

• Use PocketBase if you want something super lightweight, fast to deploy, and self-hosted by default.

But if you’re here, you probably want the full breakdown — so let’s dive in.

🔥 Firebase: The Veteran

Firebase is still the king of managed backends for mobile apps, especially if you’re building in the Google ecosystem.

✅ Why Developers Love It

• Instant setup: Auth, Database, and Storage all work out of the box.

• Great for mobile apps (especially with Flutter or Android).

• Scales automatically — you don’t have to think about servers.

❌ Downsides

• Vendor lock-in: You’re stuck with Google’s stack.

• No SQL: Firestore is NoSQL, and complex queries can be painful.

• Pricing can spike fast if your app grows.

“Firestore is amazing… until you try to run a complex query and realize you need to restructure your entire data model.” — Reddit user @ozziedev

⚡ Supabase: The Open-Source Contender

Supabase markets itself as the “open-source Firebase alternative,” and it delivers on that promise.

✅ Why Developers Love It

• Postgres under the hood — you get SQL, relations, and powerful extensions.

• Real-time features out of the box (great for chats or live dashboards).

• Open-source: You can self-host anytime (and save money).

❌ Downsides

• Still maturing — analytics and some enterprise features lag behind Firebase.

• Cold start times on Edge Functions can be inconsistent.

If you want flexibility and control, Supabase feels like a no-brainer. Plus, you can literally spin up your own instance on a $5 VPS.

🪶 PocketBase: The Lightweight Newcomer

PocketBase is a newer player, but developers love it for quick prototypes and self-hosted apps.

✅ Why Developers Love It

• Insanely easy to deploy — a single binary you run on your server.

• Built-in auth, file storage, and real-time API.

• Free and self-hosted by default.

❌ Downsides

• No managed cloud (you’re responsible for hosting).

• Not ideal for large-scale apps — better for side projects, indie apps, or internal tools.

💰 Pricing Comparison (2025)

PlatformFree TierPaidFirebaseGenerous free tier, but costs grow with reads/writesPay-as-you-go (can get expensive fast)SupabaseFree up to 500 MB DB & 1 GB storage$25/month for Pro, or self-host for cheapPocketBaseFree (self-hosted)Just the cost of your VPS

If you’re price-sensitive or hate vendor lock-in, Supabase or PocketBase will save you money in the long run.

📊 Feature Comparison Table

🧪 Which One Should You Pick?

• Choose Firebase → You’re building a consumer mobile app and want the least DevOps possible.

• Choose Supabase → You want SQL, real-time features, and the ability to self-host later.

• Choose PocketBase → You’re prototyping, building internal tools, or want full control from day one.

Personally? I run most of my projects on Supabase these days. It strikes a good balance between ease of use and control — and if I need to monitor something on the go, I can just check it from my phone.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The good news: all three are excellent in 2025. Your choice really comes down to how much control you need vs how much you want things managed for you.

• Love convenience? Go Firebase.

• Want open-source + real-time + SQL? Supabase wins.

• Need lightweight and self-hosted? PocketBase all the way.

Whichever you choose, just make sure you’re not over-engineering. Pick the tool that gets you shipping faster.