Supabase vs Neon: Which Should You Choose?

Leanware Editorial Team
Oct 27
7 min read

Supabase is a Postgres backend with built-in auth, real-time updates, and edge functions. Neon is a serverless Postgres database with branching and scalable compute in the cloud.

Supabase provides a full backend stack. Neon provides a Postgres database with tools for cloud-native workflows.

Let’s compare their architecture, features, performance, and cost to see which fits your project.

What is Supabase?

Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service built on PostgreSQL. The platform provides managed database hosting plus authentication, file storage, real-time subscriptions, and auto-generated APIs. Supabase positions itself as a Firebase alternative with the advantage of using standard PostgreSQL instead of a proprietary database.

The service includes edge functions for serverless compute, row-level security for access control, and client libraries for JavaScript, Python, and mobile frameworks. Everything integrates through a unified dashboard.

What is Neon?

Neon is a serverless Postgres platform that separates compute from storage. Databases can scale down to zero when idle and start up in milliseconds when needed.

Its main feature is branching, which works like git branches for your data, letting you test or make changes without affecting the main database.

Founded in 2022, Neon has gained traction among developers, particularly those using platforms like Vercel and GitHub Actions. The company has secured significant funding from investors, including GGV Capital, Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, M12 (Microsoft's venture arm), Menlo Ventures, Notable Capital, and Databricks. Neon focuses specifically on database infrastructure rather than a complete backend stack.

Core Philosophies and Positioning

Supabase aims to replace Firebase with an open-source alternative. The platform bundles everything you need to build applications without writing backend code. This approach optimizes for developer velocity and reducing the number of services you manage.

Neon focuses exclusively on making Postgres serverless and developer-friendly. The team built features like instant branching for CI/CD workflows and automatic scaling for cost efficiency. Neon expects you to bring your own authentication, APIs, and other backend services.

Architecture & Core Components

Neon's Architecture

Neon separates compute and storage. Database files sit in S3-compatible storage, while compute runs in lightweight VMs that start in under a second. Branches share storage via copy-on-write, so creating a branch is instant - similar to git branches pointing to commits, not full copies.

Compute scales up during traffic spikes and down to zero when idle, so you pay only for what you use.

Supabase's Architecture

Supabase runs standard Postgres with added services. PostgREST generates REST APIs, Realtime handles live updates, GoTrue manages auth, and storage ties file access to database policies. This gives a full backend stack out of the box, but compute is always on, even when idle, and multiple services run simultaneously.

Branching & Workflows

Neon makes development easy: branch from production, run tests or migrations, then discard the branch - no large data copies needed. Supabase doesn’t have native branching.

You duplicate projects manually or with pg_dump, which takes time and grows with database size. Most teams run separate Supabase projects for staging and production.

Core Features & Developer Experience

1. Database/Storage

Both run PostgreSQL, so queries, extensions, and core features work the same. Differences show up in scaling and compute.

Supabase: Fixed compute tiers tied to your plan; storage scales independently. Connection limits usually 60-120 on Pro plans.
Neon: Compute scales automatically within configured limits. Storage grows as needed. Connection pooling is built-in and transparent.

2. Authentication & Auth Flow

Supabase includes complete authentication with email/password, magic links, OAuth providers (Google, GitHub, Apple), and phone authentication. User management happens through the dashboard or API. Row-level security policies integrate directly with auth tokens.

Neon provides database infrastructure only. You implement authentication with services like Auth0, Clerk, or custom solutions. Neon focuses on being a great database for whatever auth system you choose rather than providing auth itself.

3. Real-time & Subscriptions

Supabase's Realtime server monitors database changes through Postgres replication and broadcasts updates via WebSockets. Subscribe to table changes, row changes, or presence channels through client libraries. This works without additional configuration once you enable it for specific tables.

Neon doesn't include real-time functionality. You build change notifications using Postgres LISTEN/NOTIFY, external change data capture tools, or polling mechanisms. For applications needing real-time features, you'll integrate third-party services.

4. Edge Functions, APIs, and Tooling

Supabase auto-generates REST APIs through PostgREST. Insert a table, and you immediately get endpoints for CRUD operations with filtering, pagination, and relationship resolution. GraphQL works through Hasura integration. Edge functions run Deno-based serverless functions for custom backend logic.

Neon provides Postgres connections. You build APIs with your preferred framework like Express, FastAPI, or Next.js API routes. This gives more flexibility in API design but requires more setup work.

Performance, Scalability & Reliability

Neon spins up suspended databases in under 500ms, and branching completes in seconds using copy-on-write storage. Query performance is the same as standard Postgres once compute is active. Autoscaling adjusts compute automatically for traffic spikes within your configured limits.

Supabase performance depends on instance size and plan. Real-time subscriptions add overhead, and heavy queries consume allocated compute. Scaling usually requires upgrading the instance, with brief downtime. Read replicas help distribute read-heavy workloads.

Neon handles variable traffic well, scaling up for bursts and idling when not in use. Supabase works better for steady traffic patterns due to fixed compute. Both handle typical SaaS workloads reliably.

Security & Compliance

Neon: TLS encrypts connections; data at rest is encrypted. Role-based access uses Postgres permissions. Branches provide isolated environments for testing. IP allowlisting and rotating passwords secure access.

Supabase: Row-level security (RLS) enforces access based on JWT claims. API keys control access to REST endpoints and storage. Built-in auth issues JWTs with user metadata.

Compliance: Supabase holds SOC 2 Type II, offers regional data residency (US, EU, APAC), and provides automated backups with point-in-time recovery. Neon also offers automated backups and PITR, with data residency depending on plan tier.

Ecosystem, Community & Integration

Neon works well with Vercel and GitHub Actions, letting you create databases and test migrations with branching. Prisma, Drizzle, and other ORMs work out of the box. The ecosystem focuses on developer workflow tools rather than full application features.

Supabase provides client libraries for JS, TS, Python, Dart, Swift, and Kotlin, covering auth, real-time updates, storage, and database queries. Guides support Next.js, React, Vue, Svelte, and mobile frameworks. Its GitHub repos have over 90,000 stars, with an active community around full-stack development.

Neon’s community centers on database infrastructure and DevOps workflows, with detailed branching and CI/CD examples in the docs and an active GitHub presence.

Pricing, Plans & Cost Efficiency

Neon is usage-based:

Free: 20 projects, 100 CU-hours per project, 0.5 GB storage, autoscaling, read replicas.
Launch: $5/month min, $0.14 per CU-hour compute, $0.35 per GB-month storage, 100 projects, sizes up to 16 CU, 7-day PITR.
Scale: $5/month min, $0.26 per CU-hour compute, $0.35 per GB-month storage, sizes up to 56 CU, 30-day PITR, private network options, SOC 2/HIPAA available.

Neon’s scale-to-zero compute and branching make it cost-effective for variable workloads and temporary environments.

Supabase tiers:

Free: 50,000 MAUs, 500 MB database, 1 GB file storage, 5 GB egress, paused after 1 week.
Pro: $25/month per project, 100,000 MAUs, 8 GB database, 100 GB file storage, daily backups, $10 in compute credits included.
Team & Enterprise: From $599/month, adds SSO, extended backups, HIPAA/SOC 2, higher compute/storage.

Neon fits bursty workloads and CI/CD testing. Supabase works best for full-stack apps needing auth, storage, and real-time features.

Use Cases & Code Examples

Neon works well for apps with variable traffic or complex workflows. Autoscaling handles peak loads, and database branches let teams test migrations or create isolated environments quickly. Preview deployments on Vercel can use branches for each environment.

Supabase provides a full backend with database, authentication, storage, and real-time updates. Mobile apps integrate with client libraries, and projects that need real-time updates or multi-tenant support can use built-in subscriptions and row-level security.

Sample Code:

Neon (Postgres standard drivers):
import { Pool } from 'pg';

const pool = new Pool({
  connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
  ssl: true
});

const result = await pool.query('SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = $1', [userId]);

Supabase (high-level client):

import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabase = createClient(
  process.env.SUPABASE_URL,
  process.env.SUPABASE_KEY
);

const { data, error } = await supabase
  .from('users')
  .select('*')
  .eq('id', userId);

const { user } = await supabase.auth.signIn({
  email: 'user@example.com',
  password: 'password'
});

When to Use Neon?

Neon works best if you only need a database and want serverless scaling. Projects with variable traffic benefit from autoscaling and scale-to-zero compute. Development teams using CI/CD pipelines can take advantage of instant database branches.

It’s also a good choice if you already have a backend and want to replace only the database layer, or if your team prefers to manage APIs and authentication separately.

When to Use Supabase?

Supabase is a better fit when you need multiple backend services in one platform. Integrated authentication, storage, and real-time updates reduce setup and operational overhead. Small teams and MVPs can move faster using auto-generated APIs and client libraries. JavaScript and mobile apps integrate cleanly with Supabase’s tooling.

Migration and Hybrid Options

You can pair Neon with a separate authentication system, but that requires extra integration work. Moving from Supabase to Neon means replacing auth, storage, and real-time features, though the database itself transfers easily via pg_dump.

If you start with Supabase and plan to migrate later, avoid deep coupling with Supabase-specific features. Abstract database access and authentication behind interfaces to simplify changes.

Your Next Step

Look at your project needs and how your team works. Decide which features are necessary, how the application should scale, and what responsibilities your team can manage.

Try a small prototype or proof of concept with the platform that fits best. Testing real workloads and integrations early will reveal any limitations and help guide your choice.

Both platforms use standard PostgreSQL, so you can adjust or migrate parts later if needed. Start small, observe performance and developer workflow, and expand from there.

You can also connect with our experts for guidance on backend choices, Postgres workflows, or testing prototypes.