Firebase
Supabase
| Feature | Firebase | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free / from $25/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | mobile-developers, startups, prototypers, small-teams | developers, startups, indie-hackers, full-stack-teams |
| Founded | 2012 | 2020 |
| Firestore | ✓ | ✗ |
| Authentication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cloud Functions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Crashlytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Postgres Database | ✗ | ✓ |
| Edge Functions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Real Time | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Embeddings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Firebase Pros
- Generous free tier (Spark plan)
- Real-time database syncing
- Simple authentication setup
- Excellent for mobile apps
✗ Firebase Cons
- NoSQL can be limiting for complex queries
- Costs unpredictable at scale
- Vendor lock-in with Google
✓ 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
Firebase is built for mobile developers and startups, with a focus on firestore and authentication. Supabase targets developers and startups and leads with postgres-database and authentication.
On pricing, Firebase is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $25/mo for Supabase. That $25/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
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.
Bottom line: Supabase has a slight overall edge — but if generous free tier (spark plan) matters most to you, Firebase may still be the right call.