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Side-by-side comparison · Databases & Backend

Convex vs Supabase

Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.

Convex

4.1

From $25/developer/mo

Best overall

Supabase

4.3

From From $25/mo

Comparing 2 tools. Add one more if you like.

At a glance

Pick it if: People building collaborative or real-time apps with Claude Code who want the backend to just work.

Best overallBest valueEasiest to use

Pick it if: Anyone building an app with AI tools who needs somewhere real to keep user accounts and data.

Overview

AttributeConvexSupabase
In one lineA backend that keeps every screen of your app in sync the moment the data changes.A ready-made database, logins and file storage for apps you build with AI tools.
Pricing modelOpen sourceOpen source
Starting price$25/developer/moFrom $25/mo
Free plan Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code Yes Yes

Rating breakdown

Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.

AttributeConvexSupabase
Overall rating4.14.3Winner
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
3.5
4.0
FeaturesHow completely it covers the job it's built for, and how well the pieces fit together.
4.0
4.5
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
4.5
4.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
4.0
4.5
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.5
4.0

Feature comparison

A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.

AttributeConvexSupabase
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes
Mobile app No No
Desktop app No No
Browser extension No No
API access Yes Yes
Teams & business
Team workspace Yes Yes
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes Yes
Connects to other apps Yes Yes
Open source or self-hosted Yes Yes
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes
Understands images No No
Makes images No No
Makes video No No
Writes code No Yes
Runs agents or automations Yes Yes
Learns your brand or style No No
Works in many languages––
Capabilities score8/ 179/ 17

Pricing

Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.

AttributeConvexSupabase
Plans

Free and Starter

Free, then pay as you go

Side projects and small teams getting started.

Free

Free

Prototypes, side projects and seeing if it suits you.

ProfessionalOur pick

$25/developer/mo

Products with real users.

ProOur pick

From $25/mo

Anything real people will use.

Business and Enterprise

From $2,500/mo

Larger companies with compliance and scale needs.

Team

From $599/mo

Companies that need SSO and compliance paperwork.

Enterprise

Custom

Large products with uptime guarantees.

Which plan to pickStart on Free. Move to Professional when you launch, mainly for daily backups and the bigger limits. Business is a big jump aimed at teams of 50 or more, so most readers will never need it.Build on Free. Switch to Pro the day you share the app with anyone outside your team, mostly so the project stops pausing. Team is a big jump that only makes sense once a client or auditor asks for SSO or a SOC 2 report.

Key features

AttributeConvexSupabase
Standout features
  • Reactive database
  • Everything in TypeScript
  • Scheduled functions and workflows
  • File storage, search and vector search
  • Official MCP server and AI docs
  • Open source and self-hostable
  • Postgres database
  • Auth
  • Storage
  • Edge Functions
  • Realtime
  • Official MCP server

Pros and cons

AttributeConvexSupabase
Pros
  • Live updates built in rather than bolted on
  • One language end to end, so AI coding tools make fewer mistakes
  • Scheduled functions and durable workflows included
  • Open source with a self-hosting option
  • Fair pricing for small teams
  • Standard Postgres underneath, so you can leave any time
  • Logins, storage, functions and live updates in one dashboard
  • The widest support across AI app builders and Claude Code
  • Generous free plan for trying things out
  • Open source, with self-hosting if you ever need it
Cons
  • Not SQL, and no easy exit to another database
  • Built for developers; there's no friendly data editor for non-technical staff
  • Per-developer pricing penalises bigger teams
  • Smaller community than Supabase or Firebase
  • Free projects pause after a week of inactivity
  • Usage charges on Pro can be hard to predict as traffic grows
  • Access rules and SQL still take some learning for non-technical people
  • The jump from Pro to Team is steep

Who each one is for

AttributeConvexSupabase
Best for
  • Collaborative and multiplayer apps
  • Live dashboards
  • Apps built mostly by Claude Code
  • Chat and AI agent backends
  • Backend for AI-built apps
  • User logins and permissions
  • File and image storage
  • Apps that need a real database
You'll find it used by
  • Developers
  • Startups
  • Claude Code users
  • Indie hackers
  • Indie builders
  • Startups
  • Developers
  • Agencies

Questions people ask

Which is better, Convex or Supabase?

Supabase scores highest overall in our ratings (Convex 4.1/5 and Supabase 4.3/5). Convex is best for collaborative and multiplayer apps and live dashboards. Supabase is best for backend for AI-built apps and user logins and permissions.

Which is cheaper, Convex or Supabase?

Convex: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $25/developer/mo. Supabase: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at From $25/mo.

Which is easier to use, Convex or Supabase?

Supabase rates highest for ease of use in our scores. Anyone building an app with AI tools who needs somewhere real to keep user accounts and data.

How we compare

Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.

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