Supabase vs PocketBase: Which Backend Wins?

Supabase and PocketBase both provide auth, a database, and APIs you can run yourself, but they take very different approaches. Supabase uses PostgreSQL and works for structured data and scalable applications. PocketBase is a single Go binary with SQLite, which keeps it lightweight for small apps and prototypes.

Let’s break down what each backend is and how their design choices affect real projects.

What is Supabase?

Supabase is an open-source alternative to Firebase. It builds on PostgreSQL and adds authentication, real-time subscriptions, storage, and auto-generated APIs. You can write SQL directly or use client libraries, while Supabase handles the underlying infrastructure.

It uses PostgreSQL for the database, PostgREST for REST APIs, GoTrue for authentication, and Kong for API routing. Each service runs in its own container, so deploying Supabase is running a distributed system.

It works well for relational data, complex queries, row-level security, and real-time updates. You can use the managed service at supabase.com or self-host with Docker Compose.

What is PocketBase?

PocketBase takes a different approach. It ships as a single executable that includes the database, auth system, file storage, and admin dashboard, all in about 15MB.

SQLite is embedded in the binary, so there’s no separate database server or multiple services to manage. Running the file gives you a working backend immediately. The admin UI runs at localhost:8090, where you can create collections, configure auth rules, and manage data.

This setup works well for MVPs, internal tools, and edge applications. Custom logic can be added through Go hooks, keeping it extendable while staying lightweight. 

PocketBase is still under active development, and full backward compatibility isn’t guaranteed before v1.0.0, so production-critical apps may require occasional manual migrations.

Why compare them?

Supabase and PocketBase both give you a working backend, but in different ways. Supabase uses PostgreSQL and is built to handle larger datasets and scaling across servers. PocketBase is a single binary with SQLite, so it’s easy to run and move around, but it doesn’t handle heavy loads the same way.

The choice affects how you deploy, manage data, and maintain the app over time.

Comparison Overview & Use-Case Fit

When to choose Supabase

Supabase is best for applications that need relational data and some real-time functionality:

• Handles complex queries, foreign keys, and transactions via PostgreSQL.

• Real-time subscriptions using PostgreSQL replication.

• Row-level security for authorization rules in SQL.

• Managed hosting provides backups, security updates, and monitoring.

• Common in apps with multiple users interacting with shared data, such as dashboards or collaborative tools.

When to choose PocketBase

PocketBase works for projects where a simple, self-contained backend is sufficient:

• Single binary with SQLite, easy to run and move.

• Can be embedded in desktop or mobile apps for local or offline use.

• Supports small user bases and basic CRUD operations.

• Minimal setup: no containers or service coordination needed.

• Often used for MVPs, prototypes, or internal tools.

Technical Architecture

Database Engine & Storage

Supabase uses PostgreSQL, providing a relational database with ACID guarantees, complex joins, full-text search, JSON columns, and stored procedures. It scales vertically and supports read replicas for horizontal reads. This makes it suitable for complex data models with foreign keys, cascading deletes, and advanced constraints.

PocketBase uses SQLite, an embedded database stored in a single file. It handles read-heavy workloads and thousands of transactions per second on typical hardware. It doesn’t offer the same concurrency or transaction isolation as PostgreSQL but is simpler and more portable.

Microservice vs Single Binary

Supabase runs multiple services - PostgreSQL, PostgREST, GoTrue, Kong, and others - each in its own container. This allows independent scaling of components but requires orchestration with Docker Compose or Kubernetes. 

PocketBase compiles everything into a single process: web server, database, auth, and admin UI. Deployment is simpler, but scaling is limited, and SQLite’s file-based storage can become a bottleneck.

Self-hosting complexity

Self-hosting Supabase involves cloning the repository, setting environment variables, and running docker-compose up. You manage multiple containers, network policies, and volume mounts. PocketBase, by contrast, runs from a single binary.

There’s no container setup or orchestration required, and it can run on minimal hardware. Using a process manager like systemd or supervisord keeps it running after reboots.

Core Feature Comparison

Feature	Supabase	PocketBase
Auth	Email/password, OAuth, magic links; row-level security	Email/password, OAuth2; admin UI or Go hooks
Real-time	PostgreSQL replication	Built-in, for small apps
APIs	Auto REST; joins, filtering; GraphQL	REST per collection; custom Go endpoints
Storage	S3-compatible; access control; CDN	Local by default; customizable via Go
SDKs	JS/TS, Flutter, Swift, Python; type-safe	JS/TS, Dart; Go hooks
Custom Logic	Edge functions, triggers, webhooks	Go hooks; JS VM plugin

Authentication & Authorization

Supabase uses GoTrue for authentication, supporting email/password, magic links, OAuth providers (Google, GitHub, etc.), and phone auth. Row-level security lets you enforce authorization directly in PostgreSQL, keeping rules close to the data.

PocketBase provides built-in user management with email/password and OAuth2. Authorization rules can be configured in the admin UI or with Go hooks. It works for typical use cases but lacks features like passwordless login.

Real-time / Subscriptions

Supabase handles real-time updates via a server that listens to PostgreSQL’s replication log. Clients can subscribe to table changes, which is useful for dashboards, chat, and collaborative features. WebSocket connections manage reconnections and filtering automatically.

PocketBase also supports real-time subscriptions. Its implementation is different from Supabase but covers standard real-time use cases for smaller apps.

APIs & Querying

Supabase generates REST APIs from the database schema using PostgREST. The JavaScript client allows complex queries, including joins, filtering, ordering, and pagination. GraphQL is available through the pg_graphql extension.

PocketBase exposes REST endpoints per collection, supporting filtering and sorting. For more complex queries, custom endpoints are implemented in Go. JavaScript and Dart SDKs provide client access.

Storage & File Handling

Supabase provides S3-compatible storage with access control, integrating with row-level security. Files can be uploaded, served with CDN caching, and permissioned based on user roles.

PocketBase supports file uploads stored locally by default. Storage backends can be customized with Go. It integrates with collection records but lacks advanced features like CDN integration or image transformation

TypeScript / SDK Support

Supabase maintains official JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs with type safety, and SDKs exist for Flutter, Swift, and Python. Types are generated from the database schema to catch errors at compile time.

PocketBase offers SDKs for JavaScript/TypeScript and Dart. Go hooks allow backend extensions. Documentation is less extensive, so advanced use cases may rely on REST API docs.

Extensions, Hooks & Custom Logic

Supabase supports Edge Functions (Deno-based serverless functions) and PostgreSQL functions/triggers. You can also integrate with external services via webhooks.

PocketBase lets you register Go hooks for lifecycle events, custom routes, and middleware directly in the binary. A JavaScript VM plugin allows extending functionality in JavaScript instead of Go. This provides flexibility but requires programming in Go or JavaScript.

Scalability, Performance & Limits

Scaling Behavior & Bottlenecks

Supabase scales by upgrading PostgreSQL vertically and adding read replicas for horizontal scaling. Managed hosting handles this automatically, while self-hosted setups require PostgreSQL expertise. Connection pooling with PgBouncer helps manage high concurrency.

PocketBase is limited by SQLite’s single-writer model. Read performance is fine, but write-heavy apps can bottleneck. The single-binary design works for thousands of concurrent users but struggles beyond that.

Latency, Concurrency & Throughput

Supabase handles high concurrency through PostgreSQL’s connection handling, serving thousands of simultaneous connections with proper pooling. Query speed depends on indexing and dataset size.

PocketBase performs well for read-heavy workloads at moderate concurrency. Writes serialize, limiting throughput under load. Local deployments reduce network latency compared to cloud setups.

Limitations

Supabase depends on your hosting tier. Free tier: 500MB DB, 2 CPU cores. Paid tiers scale with resources. PostgreSQL connections typically require pooling for high-traffic apps.

PocketBase constraints come from SQLite and its single-process design. Theoretical DB size is large, but practical limits arise from performance. RAM grows with concurrent connections and caching. Vertical scaling is practical up to around 10–20k concurrent users.

Concurrency and Throughput Comparison:

Metric	Supabase	PocketBase
Read concurrency	High (thousands)	High (thousands)
Write concurrency	High (hundreds)	Limited (serialized)
Connection pooling	PgBouncer	N/A
Horizontal scaling	Read replicas	Load balancer (complex with SQLite)
Vertical scaling	PostgreSQL limits	Hardware limits

Cost & Licensing

Pricing Models & Cost Structure

Supabase offers a free tier with 500MB database storage, 1GB file storage, and 50k monthly active users. Paid plans start at $25/month for the Pro tier, which includes an 8GB database and additional support. Self-hosting eliminates SaaS fees but depends on your infrastructure costs.

PocketBase is free. You only pay for hosting - VPS, cloud VM, or on-prem hardware. A $5 VPS is sufficient for small to medium applications, making it low-cost for lightweight projects.

Open Source License & Constraints

Supabase uses the Apache 2.0 license, allowing commercial use, modification, and redistribution. Each component is open source.

PocketBase uses MIT license, also fully open source. Its single codebase is easier to understand and modify compared to Supabase’s multi-service setup. Both projects accept community contributions via GitHub.

Developer Experience

Getting Started & Setup Effort

Supabase requires either signing up for the hosted service or running Docker Compose locally. The hosted service is fastest: create a project, get credentials, and start coding. Local setup takes 10-15 minutes following the documentation.

PocketBase is simpler. Download the binary, run ./pocketbase serve, and open the admin panel. You have a working backend in minutes with no Docker, configuration files, or multi-service setup.

Tooling, Dashboards & UI

Supabase provides a full web dashboard with table editors, SQL runners, API docs, and monitoring. Built-in logs and metrics help with debugging.

PocketBase has a clean admin panel for collections, records, and settings. It covers essential tasks but lacks advanced monitoring, so external logging is recommended for production.

Debugging, Logs & Observability

Supabase hosted service includes log aggregation and query monitoring. Self-hosted setups require managing logs across multiple containers, which adds complexity.

PocketBase logs to stdout/stderr, keeping everything in one place. Debugging is straightforward locally, with errors pointing to specific code locations. For production, external monitoring is still advisable.

Real-World Projects & Production Use

1. Small/MVP Projects

PocketBase is often used for small projects and MVPs. Developers build todo apps, URL shorteners, and niche SaaS tools quickly. 

Its single-binary setup allows custom business logic with minimal infrastructure complexity, letting you go from idea to running backend in minutes.

2. Production Systems & Scaling

Supabase is used for production applications that require PostgreSQL’s reliability and features. It handles significant traffic, provides automated backups, monitoring, and scaling, and the dashboard gives teams visibility into the system. 

It works well when multiple developers need to collaborate on shared data.

Pros & Cons Summary

Supabase Pros:

• PostgreSQL's full feature set and reliability.

• Real-time subscriptions built in.

• Comprehensive authentication options.

• Strong TypeScript support and SDK ecosystem.

• Scales to production workloads.

• Managed hosting available.

• GraphQL support through extensions.

Supabase Cons:

• Complex self-hosting with multiple services.

• Higher resource requirements.

• Steeper learning curve for distributed architecture.

• Costs increase with scale on managed hosting.

PocketBase Pros:

• Single binary deployment.

• Extremely simple setup and maintenance.

• Near-zero hosting costs.

• Fast local development.

• Easy to understand and modify.

• Embedded SQLite for offline-capable apps.

• Built-in real-time subscriptions.

• JavaScript VM plugin for extending without Go.

PocketBase Cons:

• Limited write concurrency with SQLite.

• Smaller ecosystem and community.

• Pre-1.0 status means API changes are possible.

• Scaling requires architectural changes.

• Less comprehensive documentation than Supabase.

Getting Started

Supabase fits team projects with growing data needs, while PocketBase lets you get a backend running in minutes for smaller apps or experiments.

Both options are usable. Focus on what you need right now, and adjust as your project evolves.

You can also connect with our experts to get guidance on choosing the right backend for your project, optimizing your setup, or planning for future scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which backend is better: Supabase or PocketBase?

Neither is universally “better.” Supabase is ideal for scalable, relational applications that need PostgreSQL’s power, real-time features, and robust auth. PocketBase is better for lightweight apps, MVPs, and projects that need a simple, portable backend with minimal setup.

When should I choose Supabase over PocketBase?

Choose Supabase when you need complex queries, relational data modeling, row-level security, large datasets, or long-term scalability. It’s best for production apps, multi-user systems, dashboards, and collaborative tools.

What types of projects is PocketBase best for?

PocketBase is ideal for small apps, MVPs, prototypes, local-first tools, internal dashboards, and offline-capable applications. Its single-binary design makes it great when you need a backend running quickly with minimal infrastructure.

How do Supabase and PocketBase differ in scalability?

Supabase scales through PostgreSQL’s vertical scaling and read replicas, supporting high concurrency and heavy workloads. PocketBase is limited by SQLite’s single-writer model - fine for thousands of reads, but write-heavy apps may bottleneck and require architectural changes.

What’s the cost difference between Supabase and PocketBase?

Supabase has a free tier, but production use often requires paid plans starting at $25/month. PocketBase is fully free and only requires hosting costs, making it cheaper for small to medium apps. However, PocketBase may require more custom work for advanced features.