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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Platform as a Service
  4. Realtime Backend API
  5. Appwrite vs Firebase

Appwrite vs Firebase

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Firebase
Firebase
Stacks42.5K
Followers36.0K
Votes2.0K
Appwrite
Appwrite
Stacks84
Followers167
Votes69
GitHub Stars53.4K
Forks4.8K

Appwrite vs Firebase: What are the differences?

Comparison: Appwrite vs Firebase

Appwrite and Firebase are both back-end as a service (BaaS) platforms that offer a range of features for developing and scaling web and mobile applications. While they have some similarities, there are key differences between the two.

  1. Authentication and User Management: Appwrite offers built-in authentication systems with support for email/password, OAuth, and JWT. It also provides user management features like user roles and permissions. In contrast, Firebase offers a more extensive authentication system with support for a wide range of providers like email/password, social logins, phone authentication, and anonymous authentication. Firebase also provides additional features like custom claim management and multi-factor authentication.

  2. Database Options: Appwrite utilizes a NoSQL database called "Collections," which provides a schema-less approach for storing data. On the other hand, Firebase offers two database options: Firestore, a NoSQL document database, and the Realtime Database, which is a JSON-based, real-time database. Both options have their own unique features and use cases, such as scalability and real-time synchronization.

  3. File Storage: Appwrite supports file storage and allows users to securely upload and manage files in the cloud. It offers built-in support for file uploads, downloads, and generating file previews. Firebase, on the other hand, provides Firebase Storage, which is a powerful and flexible file storage solution designed specifically for mobile and web apps. It offers features like resumable uploads, access controls, and server-side file manipulation.

  4. Server-side Customizations and Integrations: Appwrite allows developers to extend its functionality with server-side scripts, webhooks, and custom server actions. This enables developers to add custom business logic and automate workflows. In contrast, Firebase offers Firebase Cloud Functions, which allows developers to run custom server-side code in a serverless environment. It provides a scalable and flexible solution for integrating with other Firebase services and external APIs.

  5. Server Infrastructure: Appwrite allows users to deploy their applications on any hosting provider of their choice, providing flexibility and control over the hosting environment. Firebase, on the other hand, provides Firebase Hosting, a fully-managed hosting service that enables developers to deploy their applications quickly and easily. It offers features like SSL support, automatic scaling, and global content delivery network (CDN).

  6. Pricing Structure: Appwrite offers a straightforward pricing structure based on the number of active users and the amount of storage used. It provides a free tier with certain limitations. Firebase, on the other hand, also offers a free tier with limited usage quotas, but its pricing is primarily based on usage of services like authentication, database, storage, and hosting. It offers a range of pricing plans that cater to different usage needs.

In summary, while both Appwrite and Firebase are powerful BaaS platforms, they have distinct differences in terms of authentication and user management, database options, file storage, server-side customizations, server infrastructure, and pricing structure. The choice between the two would depend on specific requirements and preferences of the project or application being developed.

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Advice on Firebase, Appwrite

Jared
Jared

Contractor at Insight Global

Aug 9, 2019

ReviewonFirebaseFirebase

I started using Firebase over 5 years ago because of the 'real-time' nature. I originally used to use Real Time Database, but now I use Cloud Firestore. I recommend using the Google Firebase PaaS to quickly develop or prototype small to enterprise level web/mobile applications. Since Google purchased Firebase, it has exploded and it growing rapidly. I also find some level of comfort that it is Backed by Google.

272k views272k
Comments
Noam
Noam

Jul 16, 2020

Needs adviceonNode.jsNode.jsExpressJSExpressJSReactReact

We are starting to work on a web-based platform aiming to connect artists (clients) and professional freelancers (service providers). In-app, timeline-based, real-time communication between users (& storing it), file transfers, and push notifications are essential core features. We are considering using Node.js, ExpressJS, React, MongoDB stack with Socket.IO & Apollo, or maybe using Real-Time Database and functionalities of Firebase.

1.15M views1.15M
Comments

Detailed Comparison

Firebase
Firebase
Appwrite
Appwrite

Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications. Simply add the Firebase library to your application to gain access to a shared data structure; any changes you make to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.

Appwrite's open-source platform lets you add Auth, DBs, Functions and Storage to your product and build any application at any scale, own your data, and use your preferred coding languages and tools.

Add the Firebase library to your app and get access to a shared data structure. Any changes made to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.;Firebase apps can be written entirely with client-side code, update in real-time out-of-the-box, interoperate well with existing services, scale automatically, and provide strong data security.;Data Accessibility- Data is stored as JSON in Firebase. Every piece of data has its own URL which can be used in Firebase's client libraries and as a REST endpoint. These URLs can also be entered into a browser to view the data and watch it update in real-time.;Real-time Synchronization- Firebase takes a new approach to the way data is moved around an app. Rather than using a traditional request & response model, it works by synchronizing data between devices. Whenever your data changes, all clients are immediately notified within milliseconds. The synchronized data is also persisted, allowing new clients to be immediately updated.;First-class Data Security- Traditional applications intermix security code with application code, whereas Firebase treats security as a first-class feature. You define your security policies in one place using a flexible rules language, and Firebase ensures that they are consistently enforced across all parts of your application. Having all your security logic in one place allows for easy auditing and helps you avoid security mistakes. The safety and security of your data is our top priority.;Automatic Scaling- The Firebase API is built from the ground up for performance and scale. Whenever your data changes, Firebase calculates the minimum set of updates required to keep all your clients in sync. In addition, all Firebase API functions are designed to scale linearly with the size of the data being synchronized. More importantly, Firebase handles all of the scaling and operations for you. Your app will scale from its first user to its first million without any code changes.;Servers are Optional- Firebase can provide all of the data storage, control, and transmission needs of most apps. In many cases, Firebase can completely replace your server and server-side code. This means you no longer need to build complicated backend software and can instead focus on your application logic and your customers.
Authentication;Databases;Storage;Functions;Fast and Secure ;Manage Access control;File Previews; Image Manipulations;Authenticate, Confirm and Manage your Users;Multiple Signin Methods;Auto-Generated SSL;Built-in Files and Secrets Encryption;Serverless Functions;Built-in Anti-Virus scanner;Webhooks;Background Tasks;Open-Source;Self-Hosted;Privacy;Cross-Platform;Flutter Support;Audit Logging;Input Validation;Abuse Protection;HTTP\2 Support
Statistics
GitHub Stars
-
GitHub Stars
53.4K
GitHub Forks
-
GitHub Forks
4.8K
Stacks
42.5K
Stacks
84
Followers
36.0K
Followers
167
Votes
2.0K
Votes
69
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 371
    Realtime backend made easy
  • 270
    Fast and responsive
  • 242
    Easy setup
  • 215
    Real-time
  • 191
    JSON
Cons
  • 31
    Can become expensive
  • 16
    No open source, you depend on external company
  • 15
    Scalability is not infinite
  • 9
    Not Flexible Enough
  • 7
    Cant filter queries
Pros
  • 10
    Great UI
  • 8
    100% open source
  • 7
    Easy to setup
  • 6
    End to end solution
  • 5
    Consistency across platforms
Integrations
Trigger.io
Trigger.io
Famo.us
Famo.us
Backbone.js
Backbone.js
Ember.js
Ember.js
AngularJS
AngularJS
React
React
Kotlin
Kotlin
Dart
Dart
Swift
Swift
Vue.js
Vue.js
PHP
PHP
Node.js
Node.js
Python
Python
JavaScript
JavaScript
React
React
Java
Java

What are some alternatives to Firebase, Appwrite?

Postman

Postman

It is the only complete API development environment, used by nearly five million developers and more than 100,000 companies worldwide.

Socket.IO

Socket.IO

It enables real-time bidirectional event-based communication. It works on every platform, browser or device, focusing equally on reliability and speed.

PubNub

PubNub

PubNub makes it easy for you to add real-time capabilities to your apps, without worrying about the infrastructure. Build apps that allow your users to engage in real-time across mobile, browser, desktop and server.

Pusher

Pusher

Pusher is the category leader in delightful APIs for app developers building communication and collaboration features.

Paw

Paw

Paw is a full-featured and beautifully designed Mac app that makes interaction with REST services delightful. Either you are an API maker or consumer, Paw helps you build HTTP requests, inspect the server's response and even generate client code.

SignalR

SignalR

SignalR allows bi-directional communication between server and client. Servers can now push content to connected clients instantly as it becomes available. SignalR supports Web Sockets, and falls back to other compatible techniques for older browsers. SignalR includes APIs for connection management (for instance, connect and disconnect events), grouping connections, and authorization.

Ably

Ably

Ably offers WebSockets, stream resume, history, presence, and managed third-party integrations to make it simple to build, extend, and deliver digital realtime experiences at scale.

Karate DSL

Karate DSL

Combines API test-automation, mocks and performance-testing into a single, unified framework. The BDD syntax popularized by Cucumber is language-neutral, and easy for even non-programmers. Besides powerful JSON & XML assertions, you can run tests in parallel for speed - which is critical for HTTP API testing.

Syncano

Syncano

Syncano is a backend platform to build powerful real-time apps more efficiently. Integrate with any API, minimize boilerplate code and control your data - all from one place.

NATS

NATS

Unlike traditional enterprise messaging systems, NATS has an always-on dial tone that does whatever it takes to remain available. This forms a great base for building modern, reliable, and scalable cloud and distributed systems.

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