Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Convex · ☁️ hosting
Convex vs Nhost
Postgres plus GraphQL, auth, storage, functions, and realtime; closer to Firebase than most Firebase alternatives. Here is how Nhost ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Convex (paid subscription) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Convex vs Nhost Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Convex (Paid) | Nhost (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | Paid tier | $0 / mo |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source MIT |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedcliself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 9.3k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Convex to Nhost
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Nhost's PostgreSQL-and-GraphQL model is conventional and powerful, but it does not reproduce Convex's reactive functions, automatic cache invalidation, or unified TypeScript data model.
How to deploy Nhost
Hosted Nhost project, or Nhost CLI/Docker for local and self-hosted deployments
What it takes to run
Self-hosting means operating PostgreSQL, Hasura, authentication, storage, functions, networking, secrets, email, and upgrades rather than one small binary.
Where your data lives
Application and auth records live in PostgreSQL, GraphQL metadata and migrations can live beside the project in version-controlled files, uploaded objects use S3-compatible storage, and serverless-function source remains in the project directory. Nhost Cloud runs those services in Nhost's infrastructure.
Why fork Nhost instead of vibe-coding a Convex clone?
Do not mistake the interface for the product. Convex's durable value is infrastructure, uptime, operations, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.
Convex vs Nhost FAQ
Is Nhost a good free alternative to Convex?+
Yes. Nhost is a verified open-source (MIT) replacement for Convex. Postgres plus GraphQL, auth, storage, functions, and realtime; closer to Firebase than most Firebase alternatives.
What is the catch when switching from Convex to Nhost?+
Nhost's PostgreSQL-and-GraphQL model is conventional and powerful, but it does not reproduce Convex's reactive functions, automatic cache invalidation, or unified TypeScript data model.
How do I install or self-host Nhost instead of Convex?+
Install: Hosted Nhost project, or Nhost CLI/Docker for local and self-hosted deployments. Setup: Self-hosting means operating PostgreSQL, Hasura, authentication, storage, functions, networking, secrets, email, and upgrades rather than one small binary.
