Supabase vs Amplify: Which Backend Should You Choose?

Choosing a backend defines the architecture and workflow of your app, influencing how you build, scale, and maintain it. 

Backend-as-a-service tools reduce infrastructure work, but not every platform suits every project. Supabase is an open-source backend built on PostgreSQL, designed for simplicity and direct SQL usage. Amplify is part of AWS, offering managed services and cloud infrastructure at scale.

Let’s compare their architecture, features, and trade-offs to help you make a clear choice.

What Is AWS Amplify?

AWS Amplify is a set of tools and services that connect frontend and mobile applications to AWS infrastructure. Part of the broader AWS ecosystem, it simplifies common backend tasks while allowing developers to work in familiar frontend workflows.

Core Components & Architecture

Amplify provides hosting, GraphQL/REST APIs through AppSync, authentication with Cognito, file storage on S3, and serverless functions with Lambda. You define data models, business logic, and auth rules in TypeScript, and Amplify sets up the necessary cloud resources for local testing and deployment.

Git-based workflows let you deploy branches to separate environments, preview changes, and use managed CI/CD pipelines. SSR frameworks like Next.js and Nuxt can be deployed via CloudFront for global availability and lower latency.

Amplify configures AWS services such as DynamoDB, RDS, and AppSync. This provides reliability and scale but requires understanding how multiple connected services work together.

Strengths & Use Cases

Amplify is useful for applications that need scalability or integrate with existing AWS services. It supports traffic management, standard authentication flows, and connections to AWS services like RDS, EC2, and CloudWatch.

Limitations & Challenges

The learning curve is significant. Understanding how Cognito, AppSync, and Lambda interact takes time, and debugging requires familiarity with CloudWatch and IAM. 

Small or early-stage projects may find the platform heavier than needed, and moving away from AWS-specific services requires effort.

What Is Supabase?

Supabase provides an open-source backend built on PostgreSQL. It offers a developer experience similar to Firebase but uses a relational database and SQL queries instead of NoSQL. You can work directly with SQL and relational data models, which makes it easier to manage complex relationships.

Core Components & Architecture

Supabase is built around PostgreSQL with extensions for realtime functionality, authentication, and storage. It includes a realtime engine that broadcasts database changes over WebSockets, Row-Level Security for database-level access control, built-in authentication with email, OAuth, and magic links, and Edge Functions running on Deno for serverless logic.

Because it uses standard PostgreSQL, you can use any PostgreSQL tool or extension. The platform is open-source, so you can inspect the code, contribute, or self-host the full stack on your own infrastructure.

Strengths & Use Cases

Supabase works well for teams that need to move quickly without losing control over their data. SQL support makes it straightforward to model complex relationships and write queries. Row-Level Security lets you enforce access rules directly in the database, reducing the amount of security logic in your application code.

Startups and indie developers benefit from the fast onboarding: authentication, database tables, and realtime subscriptions can be set up in minutes. It is well-suited for MVPs that need to validate ideas quickly while leaving room to scale later.

Limitations & Challenges

Supabase is not as mature as AWS for certain enterprise requirements. Large-scale deployments with complex scaling needs may encounter limits. Its ecosystem of integrations and plugins is smaller than AWS, though it is growing.

Some advanced features require knowledge of PostgreSQL internals. While this provides more control, you need SQL expertise to use the platform effectively.

Feature Comparison: Supabase vs Amplify

Database & Querying

Supabase uses PostgreSQL. You write SQL queries, define relationships with foreign keys, and control access with Row-Level Security. A REST API is generated automatically, or you can query directly with SQL.

Amplify typically uses DynamoDB for NoSQL or RDS for relational needs. Most developers use GraphQL with AppSync, which requires defining schemas and resolvers. DynamoDB performs well for key-value queries but is less suited for complex relational queries.

Authentication & Authorization

Supabase includes built-in authentication with email/password, OAuth, or magic links, integrated with Row-Level Security for database-level access control.

Amplify uses Cognito, offering user pools, identity pools, and federation with social providers.

Advanced flows are supported, but setup requires understanding multiple Cognito components and how they interact with AWS services.

Realtime & Subscriptions

Supabase provides realtime updates via WebSockets. Table changes are pushed automatically once realtime is enabled.

Amplify uses GraphQL subscriptions in AppSync, which requires defining subscription types. Updates are pushed over WebSockets, but setup is more involved.

Storage & File Handling

Supabase provides S3-compatible storage with access rules tied to authentication or custom logic.

Amplify uses AWS S3. You get durability and performance, but access requires IAM configuration or the Amplify storage library. S3 supports features like lifecycle rules and cross-region replication.

Backend Logic & Functions

Supabase supports Edge Functions in TypeScript on Deno and PostgreSQL triggers for database-level logic.

Amplify uses Lambda for serverless functions, supporting multiple runtimes and AWS integrations. Deployment is more complex, and cold starts may occur.

Ecosystem & Integrations

Supabase works with common development tools and frameworks, with official SDKs and third-party integrations.

Amplify connects to the broader AWS ecosystem, giving access to hundreds of services and thousands of third-party integrations, which can be important for specialized or enterprise applications.

Ease of Setup & Developer Experience

Supabase is easy to pick up if you know SQL. The dashboard gives direct access to your database, letting you run queries, modify tables, and manage authentication and storage in one place. You can also run the full stack locally with Docker, which closely mirrors production.

Amplify requires familiarity with AWS concepts like IAM, CloudFormation, and how services such as Cognito, AppSync, and Lambda interact. 

The CLI helps, but testing often requires deploying to a development environment. The console is spread across multiple services, which can slow down simple workflows.

Scalability, Performance & Flexibility

Scaling Strategy

Supabase handles scaling through PostgreSQL's vertical and horizontal scaling capabilities. You can upgrade to larger instances for more CPU and memory. The team continues improving horizontal scaling features, including read replicas and connection pooling. Most applications run comfortably on standard tiers, but very large deployments require planning.

Amplify inherits AWS's proven scaling infrastructure. DynamoDB automatically handles millions of requests per second. Lambda functions scale horizontally without configuration. This automatic scaling covers most scenarios, though costs increase proportionally with usage.

Vendor Lock-in Risk

Supabase's open-source foundation reduces lock-in concerns. You can export your PostgreSQL database and migrate to any PostgreSQL-compatible service. Self-hosting remains an option if you want complete control over your infrastructure.

Amplify ties you closely to AWS services. Migrating away means replacing Cognito authentication, AppSync APIs, and Lambda functions with equivalents on another platform. This migration requires substantial development effort.

Customization & Control

Supabase gives you direct database access. You can create custom PostgreSQL functions, triggers, and extensions. This control lets you implement complex business logic at the database level where it often performs better.

Amplify abstracts more details behind managed services. You gain reliability and automatic scaling but sacrifice some control over implementation details. Most customization happens through configuration rather than direct access to underlying infrastructure.

Pricing & Cost Considerations

Supabase and Amplify both offer free tiers and usage-based pricing, but the approaches differ.

Supabase provides a free tier with 500 MB database storage, 1 GB file storage, 5 GB bandwidth, and up to 50,000 monthly active users. 

Paid plans start at $25 per month, with clear per-unit costs for additional compute, storage, and bandwidth. Spend caps help control costs, and self-hosting is an option for full control.

Amplify offers a free tier for 6-12 months via AWS Free Tier credits. 

After that, you pay per service: build and deploy minutes, hosting storage and transfer, SSR requests, and backend resources like Cognito, AppSync, DynamoDB, Lambda, and S3. Costs scale with usage, and estimating expenses requires tracking each service.

Supabase provides more predictable pricing with flat plans, while Amplify’s pay-as-you-go model can be cost-effective but less predictable for growing apps.

Which One Should You Choose?

Use Supabase for projects that need to get started quickly, like MVPs or small apps. It works well if your team is comfortable with SQL and relational databases. You get direct database access, simple setup, and the option to self-host if needed. Features like JSON columns or full-text search are available without extra configuration.

Use Amplify when you need the reliability and scale of AWS from the start. It integrates with AWS services such as Lambda, S3, AppSync, and Cognito, which can simplify building more complex systems if your team has AWS experience.

You can also connect with our experts for guidance and support to build and scale your applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of Supabase?

Supabase still matures in areas where AWS has decades of development. Very large-scale deployments requiring millions of concurrent users may exceed current capabilities. The ecosystem of pre-built integrations and managed services remains smaller compared to AWS.

Enterprise features like advanced compliance certifications and dedicated support options lag behind AWS offerings. Some organizations need features that only mature cloud providers currently offer.

Can I use Supabase/Amplify with Next.js 14 App Router?

Both platforms work with Next.js 14 and the App Router. Supabase provides a server-side client you can use in Server Components and a client-side client for Client Components. You need to handle authentication carefully between server and client contexts.

Amplify offers updated React bindings that support Server Components. The main consideration involves managing authentication state and ensuring API calls happen in the appropriate context (server vs. client).

What security certifications do Supabase and Amplify have?

Supabase achieved SOC 2 Type II certification, covering security, availability, and confidentiality controls. The platform continues working toward additional certifications relevant for enterprise customers.

Amplify inherits AWS's extensive certification portfolio including ISO 27001, SOC 1/2/3, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. These certifications matter for companies in regulated industries or those with strict compliance requirements. AWS's long track record provides confidence for security-conscious organizations.