Firebase vs Supabase: Which BaaS Should You Choose for Your Next Project in 2025?

What Are Firebase and Supabase? A Quick Overview

Firebase: Google's Comprehensive BaaS Platform

Firebase, launched in 2011 and acquired by Google in 2014, is a leading Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that offers a wide array of tools to streamline app development. As of 2025, Firebase's feature set includes:

Realtime Database: A NoSQL database that allows real-time data synchronization across clients.
Firestore: A scalable, flexible database for hierarchical data, supporting complex queries and real-time updates.
Authentication: Supports various authentication methods, including email/password, phone, and social logins.
Cloud Storage: Secure file storage backed by Google Cloud Storage.
Hosting: Fast and secure web hosting with global content delivery.
Cloud Functions: Serverless functions that run backend code in response to events.
Cloud Messaging: Cross-platform messaging and notifications.
Performance Monitoring: Tools to monitor and improve app performance.
Analytics: In-depth insights into user engagement and behavior.
Remote Config: Dynamically change app behavior and appearance without deploying a new version.

In late 2024, Firebase introduced several enhancements:

App Hosting Emulator: Allows developers to test apps locally using the apphosting.yaml configuration, ensuring consistency between development and production environments.
Improved Build Debugging UI: An updated interface in the Firebase console to simplify troubleshooting of build failures.
VPC Access in Cloud Run: Enables connections to Virtual Private Cloud networks, allowing access to non-public resources like Cloud SQL or internal microservices.

These updates further solidify Firebase's position as a comprehensive solution for app development.

Supabase: The Open-Source Firebase Alternative

Supabase, founded in 2019, is an open-source BaaS platform built on PostgreSQL. It provides developers with:

PostgreSQL Database: A relational database offering real-time capabilities and robust SQL querying.
Authentication: Comprehensive auth system supporting multiple providers.
Storage: Scalable storage solutions for various media types.
Edge Functions: Serverless functions that run at the edge for low-latency responses.

As of December 2024, Supabase introduced several notable features:

Integrations Page: A dedicated section in the dashboard showcasing new PostgreSQL modules like Cron Jobs and Queues.
AI Assistance: An AI assistant that helps identify and resolve security and performance issues, providing explanations and suggested fixes.
SQL Editor Enhancements: Inline AI assistance within the SQL editor to help modify queries efficiently.
Vercel Integration: Enhanced branching integration with Vercel, allowing synchronization of environment variables for new branches.
Responsive Dashboard: A redesigned, responsive dashboard for improved mobile accessibility.

Supabase's commitment to open-source principles and its rapid development make it a compelling choice for developers seeking flexibility and control.

Firebase vs. Supabase: A Detailed Comparison for Developers

1. Feature Set: Firebase's Breadth vs. Supabase's Focused Approach

When comparing Firebase vs. Supabase features, Firebase offers a broader range, including mobile-specific tools like Crashlytics and Cloud Messaging. However, for web app development, Supabase's core offerings—authentication, database, storage, and functions—align closely with common requirements.

Supabase's rapid expansion, particularly with AI-assisted development tools and enhanced integrations, positions it as a strong contender for modern web apps. For developers building web-focused projects, the best BaaS platform depends on specific needs rather than the sheer number of features.

Verdict: Firebase leads in breadth, but Supabase's targeted features are often sufficient for web projects.

2. Authentication: Comprehensive Solutions from Both

Both platforms offer robust authentication services, supporting methods like email/password, phone, magic links, and social logins (Google, Facebook, Twitter, GitHub).

Firebase Authentication: Includes anonymous authentication, ideal for apps allowing guest access without sign-up.
Supabase Authentication: Matches Firebase in ease but lacks anonymous auth.

Verdict: For BaaS authentication, both are excellent. Choose Firebase for anonymous login; otherwise, they're comparable.

3. Database: NoSQL vs. Relational—Firestore vs. PostgreSQL

The database is a pivotal factor in choosing a BaaS platform. Firebase and Supabase take different approaches here.

Firebase Databases: Realtime Database and Firestore (NoSQL)

Firebase provides two NoSQL options:

Realtime Database: A JSON-based database for simple real-time syncing.
Firestore: A scalable document-based database, also JSON-based, with enhanced querying capabilities.

Firestore enables client-side reads and writes via security rules, which are straightforward to implement.

Supabase Database: Managed PostgreSQL (Relational)

Supabase utilizes PostgreSQL, a powerful relational database that supports complex queries and ensures data integrity. Developers can leverage SQL for data manipulation and benefit from PostgreSQL's robust ecosystem. Supabase also offers Row-Level Security (RLS), allowing fine-grained access control directly within the database.

Firestore vs. PostgreSQL: Which is Better for Your Project?

Firestore: Ideal for applications with unstructured data or those requiring flexible, scalable NoSQL solutions. Its real-time capabilities make it suitable for collaborative applications.
PostgreSQL: Best for projects that require complex querying, transactional integrity, and a structured schema. Developers familiar with SQL will find PostgreSQL's relational model advantageous.

Verdict: Choose Firestore for flexibility and real-time synchronization; opt for PostgreSQL when data integrity and complex queries are paramount.

4. Real-Time Capabilities: Firebase's Simplicity vs. Supabase's Flexibility

Real-time updates are essential for applications requiring live data synchronization. Both Firebase and Supabase offer real-time capabilities, but they differ in implementation.

Firebase Real-Time: Both Realtime Database and Firestore provide seamless real-time data synchronization. Developers can set up listeners to automatically update the client-side UI when data changes, simplifying the development process.
Supabase Real-Time: Supabase leverages PostgreSQL's replication features to offer real-time capabilities. It uses a publish/subscribe system, sending change events (insert, update, delete) to clients. Developers have more control over state management but need to handle UI updates manually.

Verdict: Firebase offers a more straightforward approach to real-time data synchronization, making it ideal for applications where simplicity is key. Supabase provides greater flexibility and control, suitable for developers who require customized real-time functionalities.

5. SDK and Development Experience: Maturity vs. Modern Flexibility

Both platforms provide SDKs to facilitate development, but their approaches differ.

Firebase SDK: Offers mature, feature-rich SDKs tailored for client and server environments. However, the separation between client and admin SDKs can complicate server-side rendering (SSR) scenarios, requiring distinct implementations for client and server operations.
Supabase SDK: Provides an isomorphic SDK, meaning the same codebase can run on both client and server. This design simplifies SSR and is well-suited for modern development environments, including edge computing platforms like Cloudflare Workers and Deno.

Verdict: Supabase's isomorphic SDK offers greater flexibility for modern development practices, particularly in SSR and edge computing contexts. Firebase's SDKs are robust but may require additional considerations for server-side applications.

6. Local Development and Self-Hosting: Flexibility vs. Convenience

The ability to develop locally and self-host services can significantly impact development workflows and deployment strategies.

Local Development:
- Firebase: Provides a comprehensive local emulator suite, allowing developers to simulate Firebase services on their local machines. While feature-rich, it may lack transparency into underlying processes.
- Supabase: Offers a Docker-based local development environment, complete with an intuitive admin UI. This setup provides greater visibility and control over the development environment, though it is continually evolving.
Self-Hosting:
- Firebase: Does not support self-hosting; users are reliant on Google's infrastructure for all services.
- Supabase: Being open-source, Supabase allows teams to self-host their backend services, offering complete control over infrastructure, security configurations, and compliance requirements.

Verdict: Supabase stands out for teams seeking self-hosting capabilities and greater control over their development environment. Firebase offers a polished local development experience but lacks self-hosting options.

When to Choose Firebase in 2025

Consider Firebase if:

Mobile App Development: You're building a mobile application and require integrated services like Crashlytics or push notifications.
NoSQL Database Preference: You prefer a NoSQL database structure for flexibility with unstructured data.
Seamless Real-Time Updates: Your application demands real-time data synchronization with minimal client-side management.
Managed Services: You seek a fully managed backend solution with minimal infrastructure oversight.

When to Choose Supabase in 2025

Supabase is advantageous if:

Relational Database Requirements: Your project benefits from a relational database with SQL capabilities, ensuring data integrity and supporting complex queries.
Isomorphic Development: You require an SDK that functions uniformly across client and server environments, facilitating SSR and edge computing.
Self-Hosting Needs: You desire the ability to self-host your backend services for enhanced security, compliance, or customization.
Open-Source Alignment: You value open-source solutions and wish to contribute to or benefit from community-driven development.

Conclusion: Firebase vs. Supabase – Which BaaS Fits Your Project?

Both Firebase and Supabase are robust Backend-as-a-Service platforms in 2025, each offering unique strengths. Firebase provides a mature, comprehensive ecosystem ideal for mobile applications and projects favoring NoSQL databases with seamless real-time capabilities. Supabase presents a modern, open-source alternative, leveraging PostgreSQL for relational data needs, offering flexibility through isomorphic SDKs, and supporting self-hosting for greater control.

Your choice between Firebase vs. Supabase should align with your project's specific requirements, your team's expertise, and your priorities regarding data management, development flexibility, and infrastructure control. Evaluate your needs, experiment with both platforms, and select the one that best supports your application's goals. Both platforms offer solid foundations for building modern, scalable applications.

Cheers,
Vlad