Supabase
Database, functions, realtime, files, and auth in one self-hosted stack; SQL replaces Convex's document model.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Hosting Model
- Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud)
- Platforms
- webself-hostedcliself-host, real ops
- Installation
- Hosted Supabase project, or the official Docker Compose stack; `supabase start` runs the local stack
- Operational Setup
- Self-hosting is not 'just Postgres': the Compose stack needs many secrets and services, plus SMTP, object storage, TLS, backups, observability, and coordinated upgrades.
- Where Your Data Lives
- Relational data, auth records, and platform metadata live in PostgreSQL; Realtime consumes the Postgres replication stream; object data lives in the configured storage backend with metadata in Postgres; edge-function and migration source stays in project files. Supabase Cloud stores and operates the managed copy.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Supabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.
Replaces 3 paid apps
Supabase FAQ
Common questions
Is Supabase free and open source?+
Supabase is an open-source tool licensed under Apache-2.0 that runs on local or hosted. Database, functions, realtime, files, and auth in one self-hosted stack; SQL replaces Convex's document model.
What paid software does Supabase replace?+
Supabase serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Convex, Firebase Blaze, Supabase Pro.
How do you install and set up Supabase?+
Installation: Hosted Supabase project, or the official Docker Compose stack; `supabase start` runs the local stack. Setup notes: Self-hosting is not 'just Postgres': the Compose stack needs many secrets and services, plus SMTP, object storage, TLS, backups, observability, and coordinated upgrades.
What is the catch or trade-off with Supabase?+
Supabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.