Convex
Supabase
| Feature | Convex | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $25/mo | Free / from $25/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | full-stack-developers, real-time-apps, startups, rapid-prototyping | developers, startups, indie-hackers, full-stack-teams |
| Founded | 2021 | 2020 |
| Real Time Database | ✓ | ✗ |
| Serverless Functions | ✓ | ✗ |
| File Storage | ✓ | ✗ |
| Authentication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Postgres Database | ✗ | ✓ |
| Edge Functions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Real Time | ✗ | ✓ |
| Storage | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Embeddings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Convex Pros
- Real-time by default
- TypeScript-first
- Built-in auth and file storage
- Automatic caching
✗ Convex Cons
- Vendor lock-in
- Newer platform
- Limited to Convex runtime
✓ Supabase Pros
- Full Postgres with SQL access
- Generous free tier (500MB, 50K monthly active users)
- Auth, storage, and edge functions included
- Open-source and self-hostable
✗ Supabase Cons
- Can be complex for non-developers
- Pauses inactive free projects after 7 days
- Real-time can be expensive at scale
The Verdict
Convex is built for full stack developers and real time apps, with a focus on real-time-database and serverless-functions. Supabase targets developers and startups and leads with postgres-database and authentication.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($25/mo for Convex, $25/mo for Supabase), so pricing won't make the decision for you.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Supabase offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Convex takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for startups — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.