Appwrite, Supabase, and Firebase are all Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms that help developers build apps faster by handling authentication, databases, storage, and serverless functions. However, each has different strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. Let’s compare them! 🚀
📌 Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Appwrite 🎯 | Supabase 🟢 | Firebase 🔥 |
| Hosting | Self-hosted & Cloud | Self-hosted & Cloud | Fully managed (Google Cloud) |
| Database | NoSQL (Appwrite DB) | PostgreSQL | Firestore (NoSQL), Realtime DB |
| Realtime Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Authentication | Email, OAuth, Magic Links | Email, OAuth, Phone | Email, OAuth, Phone, Custom |
| Storage | Yes (File-based) | Yes (Bucket Storage) | Yes (Cloud Storage) |
| Serverless Functions | Yes | Yes (Edge Functions) | Yes (Cloud Functions) |
| Self-hosting | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Pricing | Free & Open Source | Free & Open Source | Free tier with paid plans |
| Best For | Privacy-focused apps, self-hosting | SQL-based apps | Fast development on Google Cloud |
🔍 Deep Dive into Each BaaS
1️⃣ Appwrite 🎯 (Best for Self-Hosting & Privacy)
✅ Pros:
Open-source and self-hostable on Docker/Kubernetes.
Provides authentication, NoSQL database, file storage, and cloud functions.
RBAC & Permissions for fine-grained access control.
Realtime APIs for database and authentication.
Multi-language support (Node.js, Python, PHP, Dart, etc.).
❌ Cons:
Limited database options (only NoSQL).
Not as mature as Firebase or Supabase.
No GraphQL support (yet).
💡 Best for: Developers who want an open-source Firebase alternative with full control over their backend.
2️⃣ Supabase 🟢 (Best for SQL-based Apps & Firebase Alternative)
✅ Pros:
Uses PostgreSQL, a powerful relational database.
Realtime database capabilities.
Authentication with row-level security (RLS).
Edge Functions for running backend logic.
GraphQL support via PostgREST.
❌ Cons:
More complex than Firebase due to SQL-based database.
Scaling PostgreSQL requires optimization.
No built-in NoSQL option.
💡 Best for: Developers who need SQL-based databases with Firebase-like functionality.
3️⃣ Firebase 🔥 (Best for Fully Managed Backend & Google Cloud Integration)
✅ Pros:
Fully managed backend (no need to self-host).
Firestore (NoSQL) and Realtime Database for flexible data storage.
Built-in analytics, crash reporting, and push notifications.
Powerful machine learning (ML Kit) integrations.
Great documentation and Google Cloud integration.
❌ Cons:
Vendor lock-in (Google Cloud-dependent).
Expensive at scale due to Firestore reads/writes pricing.
No self-hosting option.
Limited SQL support (Firestore is NoSQL only).
💡 Best for: Developers who want a quick, managed backend solution without dealing with infrastructure.
🤔 Which One Should You Choose?
| Use Case | Best Choice |
| 🔹 Self-hosted backend with privacy control | Appwrite |
| 🔹 SQL database with Firebase-like features | Supabase |
| 🔹 Fast, managed backend with Google Cloud integration | Firebase |
| 🔹 Best for React Native apps | Appwrite or Firebase |
| 🔹 Best for SQL-based Web apps | Supabase |
🚀 Final Thoughts
Use Appwrite if you want a self-hosted, open-source Firebase alternative with a NoSQL database.
Use Supabase if you need a PostgreSQL-based alternative to Firebase, with full SQL capabilities.
Use Firebase if you want a fully managed, production-ready backend with Google Cloud integration.
Each platform has its strengths, so your choice depends on your project requirements. 🔥🎯🟢
Would you like a hands-on guide for setting up any of these in React Native? Let me know! 🚀