Supabase

Supabase is a self-hostable backend platform that provides a Postgres database plus common application backend services such as authentication, file storage, realtime updates, and serverless functions. It exposes auto-generated APIs and tools so teams can build production apps with a single, SQL-first backend.

Key Features

• Postgres database with extensions and SQL-first development
• Auto-generated REST API via PostgREST and GraphQL via pg_graphql (where enabled)
• Realtime subscriptions for database changes (Postgres logical replication)
• Authentication and user management (GoTrue), including JWT-based auth and social/OAuth providers
• Object storage service with access control and signed URLs (S3-style semantics)
• Edge Functions for server-side logic (Deno-based)
• Web dashboard for database/admin tasks, logs, and configuration
• Local development tooling and Docker-based self-hosting stack

Use Cases

• Build mobile/web apps needing auth, database, and file uploads without a custom backend
• Add realtime collaboration features (presence, live updates) backed by Postgres
• Host internal tools/backends with SQL, row-level security, and API generation

Limitations and Considerations

• Full feature parity with the hosted Supabase platform may require operating multiple services (database, auth, storage, realtime, functions) and configuring integrations yourself.

Supabase is suited for teams who want a single Postgres-centered backend with batteries included, while retaining the ability to run the whole stack on their own infrastructure. It is especially useful when you want strong relational data modeling and SQL/RLS while still getting Firebase-like developer experience.