Supabase

What it does

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative — Postgres database, authentication, file storage, real-time subscriptions, and edge functions in one platform. The default backend for many AI-app developers in 2026.

Who it's best for

Indie developers and small teams shipping web apps. Especially good for AI-app projects where you need auth + database + file storage but don't want to wire each separately.

Where it's strong

Real Postgres. Unlike Firebase's quirky NoSQL, Supabase gives you actual Postgres — joins, SQL, foreign keys, the works. Easier to migrate off later if you outgrow it.

Auth built-in. Email/password, social logins (Google, GitHub, etc.), magic links, MFA — all wired in. Saves days of setup vs. rolling your own.

Generous free tier. Free tier supports a real app (500MB DB, 50K monthly active users, 1GB storage). Most side projects never need to upgrade.

Where it's weak

Edge functions are limited. Deno-based runtime; some Node libraries don't work. Hardcore backends still pull data into a proper Node/Python service.

Pricing scales. Pro at $25/mo is reasonable. Team and Enterprise tiers add up fast at scale.

Vendor lock-in is real. It's "just Postgres" but the auth, storage, and edge functions are Supabase-specific. Migration is doable but not free.

Verdict

Pick Supabase as your default backend if you're building a web app or AI side project. The free tier lets you ship; the $25/mo tier handles real traffic. For high-scale production, the lock-in matters — but most projects never get there. Neon is the close competitor for pure database (without the auth/storage layer).