Side-by-side comparison · Databases & Backend
Convex vs Supabase vs Xano
Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.
Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.
At a glance
Pick it if: People building collaborative or real-time apps with Claude Code who want the backend to just work.
Pick it if: Anyone building an app with AI tools who needs somewhere real to keep user accounts and data.
Pick it if: No-code builders who have hit the limits of their app builder's built-in database.
Overview
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
|---|---|---|---|
| In one line | A 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. | A no-code backend with a visual way to build the logic behind your app. |
| Pricing model | Open source | Open source | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/developer/mo | From $25/mo | $99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Claude Code | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rating breakdown
Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.1 | 4.3Winner | 3.6 |
| Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it. | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| FeaturesHow completely it covers the job it's built for, and how well the pieces fit together. | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them. | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan. | 4.0 | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over. | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
Feature comparison
A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access & platform | |||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | No | No |
| Desktop app | No | No | No |
| Browser extension | No | No | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Teams & business | |||
| Team workspace | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise plan or SSO | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to other apps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source or self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI abilities | |||
| Works with your files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Understands images | No | No | No |
| Makes images | No | No | No |
| Makes video | No | No | No |
| Writes code | No | Yes | Yes |
| Runs agents or automations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learns your brand or style | No | No | No |
| Works in many languages | – | – | – |
| Capabilities score | 8/ 17 | 9/ 17 | 9/ 17 |
Pricing
Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Free Free Learning the tool and building a prototype. |
ProfessionalOur pick $25/developer/mo Products with real users. | ProOur pick From $25/mo Anything real people will use. | EssentialOur pick $99/mo, or $85/mo billed yearly A live app with a small team. | |
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. | Pro $249/mo, or $224/mo billed yearly Agencies and products with heavier traffic. | |
Enterprise Custom Large products with uptime guarantees. | Custom Custom Enterprises with compliance or hosting rules. | ||
| Which plan to pick | Start 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. | Build everything on Free, where the only real limit is the API rate cap. Essential is the plan you launch on. Pro only earns its keep if you're an agency running several client backends in one account. |
Key features
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pros and cons
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
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Who each one is for
| Attribute | Convex | Supabase | Xano |
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Questions people ask
Which is better, Convex, Supabase or Xano?
Supabase scores highest overall in our ratings (Convex 4.1/5, Supabase 4.3/5 and Xano 3.6/5). 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. Xano is best for backends for no-code front ends and visual business logic.
Which is cheaper, Convex, Supabase or Xano?
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. Xano: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $99/mo.
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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