Supabase vs Firebase vs PlanetScale: Backend Platforms
Compare Supabase, Firebase, and PlanetScale for your startup's backend. We evaluate database type, real-time features, pricing, and developer experience for each platform.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | supabase | firebase | planetscale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database Type | PostgreSQL (full SQL, relational) | Firestore (NoSQL document) and Realtime Database | MySQL with Vitess-powered branching |
| Free Tier | 500 MB database, 2 GB bandwidth, 50K auth MAU | 1 GB Firestore, 10 GB bandwidth, 50K auth MAU | Hobby plan removed — starts at $39/mo Scaler |
| Authentication | Built-in Auth with social login, magic links, SAML | Firebase Auth with social login, phone, anonymous | No built-in auth — database only |
| Real-Time | Real-time subscriptions via PostgreSQL CDC | Best-in-class real-time sync, offline-first SDKs | No built-in real-time features |
| Edge Functions | Deno-based Edge Functions with global deployment | Cloud Functions (Node.js) on Google Cloud | No serverless functions — database service only |
| Schema Migrations | SQL migrations, Supabase CLI, visual schema editor | Schemaless — no migrations needed (or possible) | Non-blocking schema changes with deploy requests |
Our Verdict
Supabase is the best all-around backend for startups — you get a real PostgreSQL database with auth, storage, real-time, and edge functions in one platform. Firebase excels at real-time apps with offline support and is still the fastest path from zero to MVP for mobile apps. PlanetScale is a pure database play — choose it when you need a managed MySQL database with zero-downtime schema changes, not a full backend platform. For most web startups building with React or Next.js, Supabase is the strongest default choice.
Choose based on your use case:
supabase if full-stack web app needing auth, database, and storage
Supabase bundles PostgreSQL, auth, storage, real-time, and edge functions — a complete backend from one provider.
firebase if mobile app needing real-time sync and offline support
Firebase's offline-first SDKs and real-time listeners are purpose-built for mobile apps that need seamless sync.
planetscale if scaling mysql database with zero-downtime migrations
PlanetScale's Vitess-based branching and deploy requests let you change schemas on production without locking tables.
supabase if startup with an existing postgresql schema to migrate
Supabase runs standard PostgreSQL — migrate your existing schema, queries, and extensions with minimal changes.
