Three managed-database tradeoffs: Postgres (Supabase), document NoSQL (Firebase), and serverless MySQL (PlanetScale).
Choose Supabase if you want Postgres with batteries — auth, storage, edge functions — and the option to self-host later. Choose Firebase when real-time sync and mobile SDKs matter more than relational integrity. Choose PlanetScale when you're committed to MySQL, expect heavy write traffic, and value their developer-experience around schema changes.
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| Attribute | Supabase | Firebase | PlanetScale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Database | Database | Database |
| Pricing Model | freemium | freemium | paid |
| Starting Price | Free / $25/mo | Free | $39/mo |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes | No |
| Open Source | Yes | No | No |
| Platforms | web, postgres, edge | web, iOS, Android | web, api |
Supabase vs Neon vs PlanetScale