What is Supabase?
Supabase provides a managed Postgres database bundled with authentication, auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, file storage, realtime subscriptions and edge functions. Projects run on Supabase's cloud or can be self-hosted via Docker using the same open-source components.
Read the full overview
Sources checked 27 September 2026: official website, documentation, repository.
SupabaseDatabasesOpen-source Firebase alternative built on Postgres
Key capabilities
- Database: A full Postgres instance with extensions, not a proprietary data store.
- Auth & storage: Built-in user authentication and object storage.
- APIs & realtime: Auto-generated REST/GraphQL APIs and realtime change subscriptions.
Where Supabase fits
Database-as-a-service, authentication, storage and realtime data form its core areas, all built around Postgres rather than a custom database engine.
Positioning and limitations
Choose Supabase when a team wants a Postgres-based backend with authentication and storage out of the box, without hand-rolling that infrastructure. It fits projects already comfortable with SQL and Postgres extensions rather than a fully proprietary BaaS.
Because the same open-source stack runs in Supabase's cloud and in self-hosted deployments, a fair test is spinning up a project both ways and comparing operational overhead against the managed pricing tiers.
“Open-source Firebase alternative built on Postgres”
Technical details
- Access
- Self-hosted
- Source model
- Open source
- License
- Verify license
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Pricing details
- Software and service terms ↗
- API
- Available
- Website
- supabase.com ↗
- GitHub
- Source repository ↗
What to verify
Start from the users, systems and operating responsibilities the tool needs to support.
- Confirm current features, licensing and support terms.
- Validate deployment, data location and access control.
- Test integrations, exports and recovery workflows.
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