Supabase vs Appwrite (2026)
Head-to-head comparison for vibe coders: scores, free tiers, pricing and best-for, using the same evidence-based methodology. Rankings are never for sale.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Supabase | Appwrite |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 93/100 | 80/100 |
| Free tier | Yes: 2 projects, 500 MB DB, 50K MAU, 1 GB storage (pauses after 1 week idle) | Yes: 75K MAU, 2 GB storage, 5 GB bandwidth, 750K executions; 2 projects, paused after 1 week idle |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Pro from $25/mo per org (includes $10 compute credit) | Pro from $25/mo per project (+$15/extra project); 200K MAU included, then $3 per 1,000 |
| Best for | Default backend for vibe-coded apps (Lovable, Bolt, v0 integrations) | An open-source, self-hostable Firebase alternative |
| Category | Databases & backends | Databases & backends |
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Supabase | Appwrite |
|---|---|---|
| Fit for the use case /25 | 24 | 20 |
| Vibe-coder friendliness /15 | 14 | 11 |
| Output quality & reliability /15 | 13 | 12 |
| Pricing & free tier /15 | 13 | 12 |
| Ecosystem & integrations /10 | 10 | 8 |
| Momentum /10 | 10 | 7 |
| Code ownership & lock-in /10 | 9 | 10 |
Based on desk research of official pricing pages and docs; see methodology.
How they differ
Both are open-source backends you can use hosted or self-host, with sign-in, a database, file storage, serverless functions and realtime in one place. Supabase (93) is built on Postgres: you get a real Postgres database with SQL, row-level security and a large ecosystem, which is why Lovable and Bolt document a Supabase integration. Appwrite (80) gives you its own databases API through SDKs rather than raw SQL, plus messaging and Sites hosting, and bills Pro per project.
Free plans
Supabase Free: 50,000 monthly active users (MAU), 500 MB database, 1 GB file storage, 5 GB egress, 2 active projects, and free projects pause after 1 week of inactivity. Appwrite Free: 75,000 MAU, 2 GB storage, 5 GB bandwidth, 750,000 function executions, 2 projects, also paused after 1 week idle.
What you pay after the free plan
Supabase Pro is from $25/mo for the first project (extra projects from $10/mo) and includes $10/mo of compute credits, 100,000 MAU then $0.00325 per MAU, 8 GB disk per project then $0.125 per GB, 100 GB file storage and 250 GB egress, with daily backups kept 7 days. Appwrite Pro is from $25/mo per project (+$15 per extra project) and includes 200,000 MAU then $3 per 1,000, 150 GB storage, 2 TB bandwidth, 3.5 million executions, $10/mo of database compute credits and daily backups.
The math by users
At 100,000 MAU both Pro plans cost $25/mo before extra usage. At 300,000 MAU Supabase Pro is about $675/mo for users ($25 plus 200,000 × $0.00325) while Appwrite Pro is about $325/mo ($25 plus 100 × $3). For apps with lots of users but light data, Appwrite is cheaper; for many small projects, Supabase’s $10 extra projects beat Appwrite’s $15.
Which to pick
Pick Supabase if you want Postgres and SQL, your AI app builder already integrates with it, or you expect to lean on the bigger ecosystem of guides and examples. Pick Appwrite if you prefer an SDK-first backend, want hosting and messaging in the same platform, or expect a large user count where its 200,000 included MAU and lower per-user rate save money.
Who wins: Supabase or Appwrite?
By score, Supabase wins Supabase vs Appwrite at 93/100 vs 80/100. Supabase: The best fit for AI builders: Postgres, auth and storage in one, a generous free tier, open source and deep builder integrations. Appwrite: Fully open source and self-hostable with a real free tier. Smaller AI-builder ecosystem than Supabase. Supabase is best for Default backend for vibe-coded apps (Lovable, Bolt, v0 integrations). Appwrite is best for An open-source, self-hostable Firebase alternative.
FAQ
- Which is better, Supabase or Appwrite?
- By our score, Supabase (93/100) ranks above Appwrite (80/100). Supabase is best for Default backend for vibe-coded apps (Lovable, Bolt, v0 integrations). The right pick still depends on your workflow; see the side-by-side table.
- What is the Supabase vs Appwrite score?
- Supabase scores 93/100 and Appwrite scores 80/100 on PromptToProd's evidence-based ranking. Scores are never for sale.
- Is Appwrite cheaper than Supabase?
- Both Pro plans start at $25/mo. Appwrite includes 200,000 monthly active users versus Supabase’s 100,000, and charges $3 per extra 1,000 versus $3.25, so Appwrite is cheaper at high user counts. Supabase is cheaper for extra projects ($10/mo vs $15/mo).
- Do free projects pause on both?
- Yes. Supabase and Appwrite both pause free projects after 1 week of inactivity, and both limit the free plan to 2 projects. Paid projects are not paused.
- Can I self-host Supabase and Appwrite?
- Yes. Both are open source and can be self-hosted; the prices above are for their hosted clouds.