A free BaaS platform can replace weeks of backend setup: database, authentication, storage, realtime sync, and serverless logic. The right choice depends less on the largest quota and more on your data model, upgrade path, and tolerance for free-tier constraints.
Choose Supabase for SQL-first web apps and SaaS MVPs.
Choose Firebase when mobile SDKs and NoSQL workflows matter most.
Choose Appwrite if open-source control and self-hosting options are important.
Use these cards as a starting point before scanning the table. They are written around developer intent, not only raw quota size.
Choose it when you want Postgres, Auth, Storage, and simple Edge Functions in one developer-friendly backend.
Choose it when you want Google-native mobile tooling, NoSQL-first data modeling, and mature client SDKs.
Choose it when self-hosting, open-source ownership, and a conventional app backend matter more than the largest ecosystem.
Choose it when your team wants a TypeScript-first backend with realtime sync and a very fast iteration loop.
The table is for fast scanning. Click provider names for in-depth guides when available; use the official-site button to verify the latest pricing and quota details.
| PROVIDER | FREE STORAGE | MONTHLY BANDWIDTH | SPECS / COMPUTE | CONNECTION LIMITS | KEY CONSTRAINTS | ACTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SupabasePGSQL | 500MB | 5GB | Shared Instance / 500MB RAM | 60 concurrent | Pauses after 1 week inactivity | Go to Site ↗ |
FirebaseNOSQL | 1GB | 1GB/day (30GB/mo) | Serverless Cluster | 100 concurrent | Strict daily read/write operations limit | Go to Site ↗ |
AppwriteNOSQL / MARIADB | 2GB | 5GB/week (20GB/mo) | Shared Compute / 2M Rows Limit | 100 concurrent | Max 1 active project per org | Go to Site ↗ |
ConvexREALTIME / TS | 1GB | 50GB (File Storage) | 10M operations/mo | Unlimited concurrent | Scale-to-zero cold start delay | Go to Site ↗ |
If your app needs relational joins, reporting, constraints, and SQL migrations, a Postgres-backed option such as Supabase is easier to reason about. If your app is event-like or document-first, Firebase-style NoSQL may feel faster.
Many free backends look generous until user management, OAuth, email templates, and row-level permissions enter the picture. A good BaaS should reduce auth work without hiding security rules.
Databases often stay small for a long time, but images, videos, and exports can exhaust storage or egress quickly. For media-heavy apps, compare object storage and CDN pages before deciding.
The best free tier is the one with a clear next step. Before launch, know what happens when the project needs backups, higher database size, more functions, or predictable support.
Some platforms pause inactive projects or scale down aggressively. That is fine for demos, but it can surprise production users if nobody has visited the app recently.
A free database is not automatically a safe database. If losing data would hurt, check backup, restore, export, and point-in-time recovery options before launch.
Collaborative apps, dashboards, and chat features can generate more connections and messages than expected. Test with realistic concurrency before promising realtime behavior.
Moving tables is usually easier than moving auth flows, storage permissions, realtime subscriptions, and client SDK assumptions. Keep security rules documented.
A practical free-ish stack for SaaS MVPs: frontend hosting on Cloudflare, Postgres/Auth on Supabase, and transactional email through Resend.
A common Next.js setup: Vercel for app hosting, Supabase for data and auth, and Upstash Redis for rate limits, queues, or lightweight cache.
A good fit for mobile-first apps that still need fast public asset delivery and DNS/CDN control at the edge.
Postgres, Auth, Storage, Edge Functions, Realtime, limitations, and practical use cases.
A longer guide focused on free-tier boundaries and what to do before your project grows.
Compare Postgres and MySQL-style database options when BaaS is more than you need.
Supabase is usually the easiest starting point for SaaS MVPs that need SQL, Auth, file storage, and a dashboard. Firebase can be better for mobile-first NoSQL apps, while Appwrite is attractive if open-source control matters.
You can use it for small or early production apps, but only after checking inactivity behavior, backups, support, egress, database size, and whether the provider offers a predictable upgrade path.
The common hidden costs are storage growth, egress, realtime message volume, function invocations, and paid production features such as backups, custom domains, or support.
Choose SQL if your app needs relationships, constraints, reporting, or portability. Choose NoSQL if your app is document-first, mobile-first, or built around flexible event-shaped data.
Migrate or upgrade when data loss would be painful, traffic becomes predictable, your app needs backups and support, or free-tier limits start shaping product decisions.