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Firebase vs Supabase: What are the differences?
Firebase and Supabase are two popular backend as a service (BaaS) platforms that provide various features to support developing web and mobile applications. Below are the key differences between Firebase and Supabase.
Real-time Database: Firebase offers a real-time database that synchronizes data across clients in real-time, allowing for seamless updates and collaboration. In contrast, Supabase utilizes a PostgreSQL database, which provides strong relational database features but does not have native real-time functionality without the use of additional tools like websockets or triggers.
Authentication: Firebase provides built-in authentication services with support for various providers like Google, Facebook, and email/password. On the other hand, Supabase also offers authentication features with support for OAuth providers but is more customizable as it allows developers to choose their own authentication logic and storage.
Data Storage: Firebase provides cloud storage for storing user-generated content like images, videos, and files. In comparison, Supabase leverages PostgreSQL's BLOB data type for storing files, offering more flexibility in managing and querying the data within the database.
Serverless Functions: Firebase offers serverless functions through Google Cloud Functions, allowing developers to run backend code without managing servers. In contrast, Supabase recently announced support for serverless functions using AWS Lambda, providing a similar serverless architecture for application logic.
Real-time Push Notifications: Firebase includes support for sending real-time push notifications to users through Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), enabling developers to engage users with timely updates. With Supabase, developers need to set up external services or use other solutions to achieve real-time push notifications functionality.
In Summary, Firebase and Supabase differ in their real-time database capabilities, authentication services, data storage options, serverless function support, and real-time push notifications handling.
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.
I would recommend looking hard into Firebase for this project, especially if you do not have dedicated full-stack or backend members on your team.
The real time database, as you mentioned, is a great option, but I would also look into Firestore. Similar to RTDB, it adds more functions and some cool methods as well. Also, another great thing about Firebase is you have easy access to storage and dead simple auth as well.
Node.js Express MongoDB Socket.IO and Apollo are great technologies as well, and may be the better option if you do not wish to cede as much control to third parties in your application.
Overall, I say if you wish to focus more time developing your React application instead of other parts of your stack, Firebase is a great way to do that.
Hello Noam 👋,
I suggest taking a look at Ably, it has all the realtime features you need and the platform is designed to guarantee critical functionality at scale.
Here is an in depth comparison between Ably and Firebase
Hey Noam,
I would recommend you to take a look into 8base. It has features you've requested, also relation database and GraphQL API which will help you to develop rapidly.
Thanks, Ilya
Pros of Firebase
- Realtime backend made easy371
- Fast and responsive270
- Easy setup242
- Real-time215
- JSON191
- Free134
- Backed by google128
- Angular adaptor83
- Reliable68
- Great customer support36
- Great documentation32
- Real-time synchronization25
- Mobile friendly21
- Rapid prototyping19
- Great security14
- Automatic scaling12
- Freakingly awesome11
- Super fast development8
- Angularfire is an amazing addition!8
- Chat8
- Firebase hosting6
- Built in user auth/oauth6
- Awesome next-gen backend6
- Ios adaptor6
- Speed of light4
- Very easy to use4
- Great3
- It's made development super fast3
- Brilliant for startups3
- Free hosting2
- Cloud functions2
- JS Offline and Sync suport2
- Low battery consumption2
- .net2
- The concurrent updates create a great experience2
- Push notification2
- I can quickly create static web apps with no backend2
- Great all-round functionality2
- Free authentication solution2
- Easy Reactjs integration1
- Google's support1
- Free SSL1
- CDN & cache out of the box1
- Easy to use1
- Large1
- Faster workflow1
- Serverless1
- Good Free Limits1
- Simple and easy1
Pros of Supabase
- Relational Database6
- Self hosting5
- Postgres hosting3
- Free3
- Open source2
- Easy deployment2
- Focus on product, not on deployment1
- Faster development1
- Huge time-saver1
- Realtime1
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Cons of Firebase
- Can become expensive31
- No open source, you depend on external company16
- Scalability is not infinite15
- Not Flexible Enough9
- Cant filter queries7
- Very unstable server3
- No Relational Data3
- Too many errors2
- No offline sync2
Cons of Supabase
- No cons0
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