Supabase vs Firebase — A Complete Comparison

Supabase and Firebase are two of the most popular backend platforms for modern mobile apps. Both offer authentication, real-time features, storage, and generous free tiers — but their underlying philosophies and long-term scalability differ significantly.

This guide breaks down the key differences to help you choose the right backend for your React Native project.

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Overview

Firebase is a fully managed, closed-source backend platform by Google. It focuses on flexibility and ease of use, particularly for mobile apps.

Supabase is an open-source alternative built on top of PostgreSQL, offering strong relational data modeling and self-hosting capabilities.

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Core Differences

1. Database Model

• Firebase Firestore → NoSQL document store, hierarchical, flexible but less structured.
• Supabase PostgreSQL → SQL relational database with strict schema, constraints, joins, and migrations.

What this means:

• Firebase is simple for small/flat datasets.
• Supabase is better for structured data, analytics, and long-term complexity.

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2. Authentication

Both platforms provide:

• Email/password login
• Social login (Google, Apple, etc.)
• Token-based sessions \ nBut Supabase uses GoTrue, a lightweight service with predictable session management and full SQL integration.

Firebase Auth is deeply tied to Firebase’s ecosystem, which simplifies setup but limits flexibility.

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3. Real-time Features

• Firebase → built-in real-time listeners for Firestore.
• Supabase → real-time replication powered by PostgreSQL logical replication.

Supabase real-time shines when you need SQL-based triggers or row-level events.

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4. APIs and Tooling

• Firebase offers a multi-service SDK (Auth, Firestore, Messaging, Storage).
• Supabase exposes a PostgREST API, with automatic CRUD endpoints.

Supabase’s SQL foundation allows advanced queries directly from your mobile app.

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5. Pricing

Firebase uses a pay-as-you-go model with bandwidth and read/write charges.

Supabase uses predictable tiers with limits on bandwidth, rows, and compute.

For growing apps: Supabase tends to be more cost-predictable.

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6. Self-Hosting and Portability

• Firebase → closed-source, no self-hosting.
• Supabase → fully open-source, Docker deployable.

If you need full data control — Supabase is the clear winner.

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Comparison Table

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When to Choose Supabase

• You need relational data
• You want SQL, joins, and strict types
• You plan for long-term scalability
• You require self-hosting or data ownership
• You want predictable pricing

When to Choose Firebase

• You want the fastest possible setup
• You prefer NoSQL document storage
• You rely heavily on Google ecosystem integrations
• You don’t need SQL-level complexity

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Conclusion

Supabase offers more structure, portability, and transparency thanks to its SQL foundation. Firebase remains a powerful, easy-to-use ecosystem for rapid development. The best choice depends on whether your app benefits more from relational data modeling or seamless managed services.