1 hour ago
Greetings All!
I've been researching Firebase alternatives for a new project, and after reading countless Reddit threads and documentation, and trying a few myself, it's clear that Firebase is no longer the only obvious choice. It's still a great platform, but concerns about pricing, vendor lock-in, and Firestore's NoSQL model have led many developers to look elsewhere. These are the four alternatives that keep coming up and are still worth using in 2026.
1. Back4App: This Firebase alternative is the one that surprised me the most. It has the "managed backend" experience that many people like about Firebase, but it's built on the open-source Parse platform, so you don't feel trapped in a closed ecosystem. You get authentication, databases, cloud code, file storage, REST APIs, GraphQL, and Live Queries for real-time apps without having to stitch together multiple services.
One thing I also like is that if your project grows, you're not forced into one path. Since it's based on Parse, migrating or even self-hosting later is much easier than with Firebase.
If you're building a startup, SaaS app, or mobile app, I'd definitely put Back4App on the shortlist. Has anyone here used it for production? I'd love to hear long-term experiences.
2. Supabase: I don't think any Firebase alternative list is complete without Supabase. Almost every discussion eventually comes back to one thing: "I just wanted PostgreSQL." So, if your app has complex relationships or reporting, working with SQL feels much more natural than modelling everything in Firestore. Authentication is solid, the dashboard is clean, and the developer experience has improved a lot over the past couple of years.
The only downside I've seen people mention is that costs can rise as projects become larger, but honestly, that's true for almost every managed backend.
3. Appwrite: This CSP seems to have built a loyal community. The biggest selling point is freedom. Especially, if you want cloud hosting? You can.
Also, if you want to host everything yourself? You can do that too.
For developers who don't like vendor lock-in, that's a huge advantage.
I've also noticed many developers recommend Appwrite for side projects because getting started is pretty straightforward.
The only catch is that if you self-host, you're also responsible for maintenance and updates.
However, I am here to know your thoughts on Firebase alternatives. The solid ones that still provide excellent service in 2026.
I've been researching Firebase alternatives for a new project, and after reading countless Reddit threads and documentation, and trying a few myself, it's clear that Firebase is no longer the only obvious choice. It's still a great platform, but concerns about pricing, vendor lock-in, and Firestore's NoSQL model have led many developers to look elsewhere. These are the four alternatives that keep coming up and are still worth using in 2026.
1. Back4App: This Firebase alternative is the one that surprised me the most. It has the "managed backend" experience that many people like about Firebase, but it's built on the open-source Parse platform, so you don't feel trapped in a closed ecosystem. You get authentication, databases, cloud code, file storage, REST APIs, GraphQL, and Live Queries for real-time apps without having to stitch together multiple services.
One thing I also like is that if your project grows, you're not forced into one path. Since it's based on Parse, migrating or even self-hosting later is much easier than with Firebase.
If you're building a startup, SaaS app, or mobile app, I'd definitely put Back4App on the shortlist. Has anyone here used it for production? I'd love to hear long-term experiences.
2. Supabase: I don't think any Firebase alternative list is complete without Supabase. Almost every discussion eventually comes back to one thing: "I just wanted PostgreSQL." So, if your app has complex relationships or reporting, working with SQL feels much more natural than modelling everything in Firestore. Authentication is solid, the dashboard is clean, and the developer experience has improved a lot over the past couple of years.
The only downside I've seen people mention is that costs can rise as projects become larger, but honestly, that's true for almost every managed backend.
3. Appwrite: This CSP seems to have built a loyal community. The biggest selling point is freedom. Especially, if you want cloud hosting? You can.
Also, if you want to host everything yourself? You can do that too.
For developers who don't like vendor lock-in, that's a huge advantage.
I've also noticed many developers recommend Appwrite for side projects because getting started is pretty straightforward.
The only catch is that if you self-host, you're also responsible for maintenance and updates.
However, I am here to know your thoughts on Firebase alternatives. The solid ones that still provide excellent service in 2026.