Selecting the right backend infrastructure is one of the most consequential engineering decisions for any mobile app. In this technical comparison, we benchmark Google Firebase vs Supabase with objective data on performance, costs, queries, and AI support.
1. Direct Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Google Firebase | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Database Engine | Cloud Firestore (Document NoSQL) | PostgreSQL (Relational SQL with extensions) |
| Complex Queries (JOINs) | Limited. Requires data denormalization | Full native SQL JOINs, views, and triggers |
| Pricing Model | Per document read, write, and delete | Predictable compute and storage tiers |
| AI & Vector Search | Requires external Google Cloud services | Native via pgvector in PostgreSQL |
| Vendor Lock-in | High (Proprietary Google Cloud) | Zero (Open Source, self-hostable anywhere) |
Unsure which backend to choose for your project?
I design scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud architectures tailored to your business.
Chat on WhatsApp (+34 635 121 748)