Supabase
Build apps fast with Supabase: hosted Postgres database, auth, APIs, edge functions, storage, realtime, and vector embeddings. Open source, scalable, and trusted by top companies.
Editor's Verdict
Key Takeaways
- Postgres Database
- Authentication
- Edge Functions
- Storage
In-Depth Review: What is Supabase?
Supabase is an open-source platform that provides a complete backend solution, including a PostgreSQL database, authentication, instant REST APIs, edge functions, file storage, real-time data synchronization, and vector embeddings for AI. It's designed to let you build a project in a weekend and scale to millions. With built-in Row Level Security, easy integration with frameworks like React, and a dashboard for managing your app, Supabase offers a developer-friendly, portable, and extensible alternative to services like Firebase. Trusted by fast-growing companies, it's 100% open source and gives you full control.
Core Features
Postgres Database
Every project is a full Postgres database, the world's most trusted relational database, with 100% portability, built-in Auth with RLS, and easy extensibility.
Authentication
Add user sign ups and logins, securing your data with Row Level Security.
Edge Functions
Easily write custom code without deploying or scaling servers.
Storage
Store, organize, and serve large files, from videos to images.
Realtime
Build multiplayer experiences with real-time data synchronization.
Vector
Integrate your favorite ML-models to store, index and search vector embeddings (OpenAI, Hugging Face).
Data APIs
Instant ready-to-use REST APIs.
Open Source
Built in the open, transparent, inspectable, and owned by the community; self-hostable.
Pricing
Free
- Unlimited API requests
- 50,000 monthly active users
- 500 MB database size
- Shared CPU • 500 MB RAM
- 5 GB egress
- 5 GB cached egress
- 1 GB file storage
- Community support
- 2 active projects limit, paused after 1 week inactivity
Pro
- 100,000 monthly active users (then $0.00325 per MAU)
- 8 GB disk size per project (then $0.125 per GB)
- 250 GB egress (then $0.09 per GB)
- 250 GB cached egress (then $0.03 per GB)
- 100 GB file storage (then $0.0213 per GB)
- Email support
- Daily backups stored for 7 days
- 7-day log retention
- Add Log Drains ($60 per drain per project)
- Compute credits $10/month for one Micro instance
Team
- SOC2 & ISO 27001
- Project-scoped and read-only access
- HIPAA available as paid add-on
- SSO for Supabase Dashboard
- Priority email support & SLAs
- Daily backups stored for 14 days
- 28-day log retention
- All Pro features
Enterprise
- Designated Support manager
- Uptime SLAs
- BYO Cloud supported
- 24x7x365 premium enterprise support
- Private Slack channel
- Custom Security Questionnaires
Pros and Cons
Pros
- All-in-one platformIntegrated suite of database, auth, storage, functions, realtime, and vector search, reducing need for multiple services.
- Easy to start and scaleFree tier allows building in a weekend, with seamless scaling to millions of users.
- Open source and portableFully open source with self-hosting option; no vendor lock-in.
- Strong security and complianceSOC2, HIPAA, ISO 27001 certifications, and Row Level Security built-in.
- Great developer experienceIntuitive dashboard, SQL editor, RLS policies, and extensive client libraries (React, Flutter, etc.)
Cons
- Free project inactivity pauseFree projects are paused after 1 week of inactivity, requiring manual reactivation.
- Pricing can become expensive at scaleCosts for egress, storage, and compute add-ons can add up for high-traffic applications.
- Limited advanced features on lower plansFeatures like point-in-time recovery, custom domains, and advanced MFA are paid add-ons.
- No uptime SLA on lower plansUptime SLAs only available on Enterprise plan.
- Shared CPU on free and micro computeFree plan uses shared CPU with limited resources, may not suit performance-critical apps.
Use Cases & Recommended Professions
Full-stack Developer→ View Toolkit
Need a backend-as-a-service to quickly build and deploy applications with auth, database, and APIs without managing servers.
Startup Founder→ View Toolkit
Require a scalable, cost-effective platform to iterate and grow from prototype to millions of users.
AI/ML Engineer→ View Toolkit
Use vector embeddings and edge functions to integrate ML models and build AI-powered features.
Mobile App Developer (Flutter/React Native)→ View Toolkit
Need realtime data sync, file storage, and authentication for mobile apps with minimal backend code.
Indie Hacker→ View Toolkit
Build and launch side projects quickly with a generous free tier and easy-to-use tooling.
Enterprise Architect→ View Toolkit
Seek a compliant, self-hostable backend with SSO, audit logs, and advanced security for large-scale deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
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ℹ️ Curation Disclosure: The overview and features of Supabase were synthesized using AI and fact-checked by our curation team to ensure accuracy.