What is Supabase and when to use it

Von Sander Hahn am 21.01.2026

When you start your Fullstack application, the planning can be difficult. What Programming Language should I use? What Framework should I use? Should I write my own backend? Choosing the right backend is very difficult and can decide everything from your development speed to how much control you have over your data. Firebase has been a first option for developers who want to have a fast backend with minimal setup for years, but more recently, Supabase has been growing in popularity, making an open-source Postgres database a compelling alternative.

Both platforms promise fast and easy development, built-in authentication, real-time data, and scalable infrastructure. But can they deliver on these promises and when should I use what? Both are valid choices for your next project but they have their differences in some fundamental ways: data modeling, query flexibility, pricing transparency, and how much you can customize as your app grows. Those differences matter, especially once you move beyond a prototype. But first: what is Supabase actually and what can it do?

What is Supabase

Supabase is a serverless, open-source backend platform that is designed to help developers build scalable, high-performance applications with minimal setup. It’s built on top of PostgreSQL, it provides a fully managed, production-ready database along with essential backend features such as authentication, storage, and real-time data without relying on other services. This means that you don’t need to configure or maintain a custom backend server, allowing you to move faster and focus on product development.

As a serverless solution, Supabase handles infrastructure concerns like provisioning, scaling, and security automatically. It also allows the user to get direct access to a powerful SQL database that uses PostgreSQL for structured data modeling, complex queries, joins, and transactions.

With Supabase, you get a managed backend with features like:

SQL database: PostgreSQL with support for advanced queries, joins, and JSON data.
Authentication: Secure, built-in user management.
Realtime updates: Live data synchronization using WebSockets.
Storage: Easy-to-use storage for files and media.
Edge functions: Custom serverless functions for handling app logic.

Firebase

Similar to Supabase, Firebase is a backend-as-a-service solution offered by Google, which assists developers in the development of applications without the need for them to handle the infrastructure on their own. Firebase also offers a set of features such as authentication, real-time databases, cloud functions, file storage, and analytics. This solution is designed with the objective of providing ease of use and rapid development.

At the heart of the Firebase platform are the NoSQL databases, namely the Realtime Database and the Cloud Firestore, which organize and store the data in the form of documents and collections, unlike traditional relational databases in the form of tables. Although the NoSQL databases provide a degree of flexibility and ease of development, especially when real-time updates and data access patterns are concerned, handling complex relationships and queries in a scaled-up application might be a challenge.

Supabase takes a different approach to backend development. Like mentioned above, it’s an open-source, serverless framework that centers around PostgreSQL. Supabase offers its features with just one Postgres database.

Supabase vs Firebase

Data model

Firebase supports a NoSQL, document-oriented data structure well-suited for hierarchical or event-oriented data. Supabase supports relational SQL, which provides support for schemas, joins, transactions, and consistency.

Querying and logic

It allows complex queries and business logic to be implemented directly in the database through SQL, constraints, and triggers. Firebase uses more client-side logic and Cloud Functions for complex operations.

Scalability & Control

Whereas Firebase abstracts infrastructure almost completely, which is easy to set up but makes it difficult to customize, Supabase provides more visibility and flexibility, which includes direct database access and the ability to host it on your own infrastructure.

Vendor lock-in

Firebase is highly integrated with Google Cloud. Supabase values portability and focuses on using open standards and tools that make it easy to migrate in and out.

Use Cases

Supabase is well suited for:

SaaS platforms with relational data and role-based access control
Data-intensive applications such as analytics dashboards and internal tools
Projects that require complex queries, transactions, or strong data integrity
Teams that value open source, portability, and long-term flexibility

Firebase is well suited for:

MVPs and prototypes that need to ship quickly
Real-time applications like chat, presence, or collaborative tools
Frontend-heavy apps with simple data relationships
Teams already invested in the Google Cloud ecosystem

Choosing Between Supabase and Firebase

The choice between Supabase and Firebase ultimately depends on how your application handles data and how much control you want over your backend. Firebase is very good at simplicity and speed, while Supabase shines when structure, scalability, and flexibility become more important over time.

Conclusion

Choosing a backend platform is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting you fullstack application. It decides not only how fast you’ll progress and deliver your first version, but also how well your application can scale and how complex your data model can become.

Firebase and Supabase are both good options to choose from and remove a lot of the traditional backend complexity. Firebase is good for rapid development, especially for real-time, frontend-driven applications. Supabase, on the other hand, offers a more structured and transparent approach, built around the concept of open-source and PostgreSQL, making it a strong choice for applications that need simple data models and long-term flexibility.

As always, there is no universally “better” option… Only the better fit for your project. If you need to move fast with minimal setup and simple data relationships, Firebase is a solid choice. If your application relies on relational data, complex queries, and future-proof architecture, Supabase provides a powerful and scalable foundation.

Ultimately, the best backend is the one that aligns with your application’s needs today while still supporting where you want it to go tomorrow.