Supabase vs Firebase — 2026
Supabase wins on SQL, open-source ethos, and pgvector for AI work. Firebase wins on mobile SDK maturity and Google's analytics ecosystem. For AI-heavy builds, Supabase is the better default.
Pick Supabase if…
- You want Postgres + SQL
- Building AI / RAG features (pgvector built-in)
- You want self-hosting option
- Row-Level Security matters
Pick Firebase if…
- Mobile-first (iOS / Android SDKs are more mature)
- You need Firebase Analytics tight integration
- You're already on Google Cloud
- You want Firestore's flexible schema model
Pricing
Supabase
Free tier generous. Pro $25/mo. Team $599/mo. Usage-based above.
Firebase
Spark (free) tier. Blaze (pay-as-go) — can scale costs unpredictably on reads.
Our verdict
AI / web → Supabase. Mobile + Google ecosystem → Firebase.
FAQs
Supabase vs Firebase — which is better?
AI / web → Supabase. Mobile + Google ecosystem → Firebase.
When should I pick Supabase?
You want Postgres + SQL. Building AI / RAG features (pgvector built-in). You want self-hosting option. Row-Level Security matters.
When should I pick Firebase?
Mobile-first (iOS / Android SDKs are more mature). You need Firebase Analytics tight integration. You're already on Google Cloud. You want Firestore's flexible schema model.
How much does Supabase cost?
Free tier generous. Pro $25/mo. Team $599/mo. Usage-based above.
How much does Firebase cost?
Spark (free) tier. Blaze (pay-as-go) — can scale costs unpredictably on reads.
Can I use both Supabase and Firebase?
Often yes — we build hybrid setups all the time. AI / web → Supabase. Mobile + Google ecosystem → Firebase.
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