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Side-by-side comparison · Databases & Backend

Render 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.

Render

3.9

From $0/mo plus computing

Best overall

Supabase

4.3

From From $25/mo

Comparing 2 tools. Add one more if you like.

At a glance

Pick it if: Builders and small teams who want predictable monthly prices for hosting an app and its database.

Best overallBest value

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

Overview

AttributeRenderSupabase
In one lineSimple hosting for websites, apps and databases, with free static sites.A ready-made database, logins and file storage for apps you build with AI tools.
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$0/mo plus computingFrom $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.

AttributeRenderSupabase
Overall rating3.94.3Winner
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
4.0
4.0
FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
4.0
4.5
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
4.0
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.
3.5
4.0

Feature comparison

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

AttributeRenderSupabase
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 No Yes
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes
Understands images– 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
Works in many languages––
Capabilities score7/ 179/ 17

Pricing

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

AttributeRenderSupabase
Plans

HobbyOur pick

$0/mo plus computing

Personal projects and testing.

Free

Free

Prototypes, side projects and seeing if it suits you.

Pro

$25/mo plus computing

Teams running production apps.

ProOur pick

From $25/mo

Anything real people will use.

Scale

$499/mo plus computing

Teams with governance and compliance needs.

Team

From $599/mo

Companies that need SSO and compliance paperwork.

Enterprise

Custom

Companies that need uptime guarantees.

Enterprise

Custom

Large products with uptime guarantees.

Which plan to pickStay on Hobby and pay only for the services you run. A $7 web service and a $6 database cover most small apps. Move to Pro when a team needs to share the workspace or you want autoscaling and previews.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

AttributeRenderSupabase
Standout features
  • Every kind of service
  • Managed Postgres and Key Value
  • Automatic deploys and previews
  • Autoscaling
  • Workflows and Sandboxes
  • MCP server
  • Postgres database
  • Auth
  • Storage
  • Edge Functions
  • Realtime
  • Official MCP server

Pros and cons

AttributeRenderSupabase
Pros
  • Predictable fixed prices per service
  • Free static sites with no catch
  • Covers websites, APIs, workers, cron jobs and databases
  • Unlimited seats on Pro
  • MCP server for Claude Code
  • 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
  • Free web services sleep and take about a minute to wake
  • Free databases are deleted after 30 days
  • Team plans jump from $25 to $499
  • Bandwidth beyond the included amount costs extra
  • 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

AttributeRenderSupabase
Best for
  • Hosting a backend or API with fixed monthly pricing
  • Free static websites
  • Background workers and scheduled jobs
  • Replacing Heroku
  • 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
  • Agencies
  • Indie builders
  • Indie builders
  • Startups
  • Developers
  • Agencies

Questions people ask

Which is better, Render or Supabase?

Supabase scores highest overall in our ratings (Render 3.9/5 and Supabase 4.3/5). Render is best for hosting a backend or API with fixed monthly pricing and free static websites. Supabase is best for backend for AI-built apps and user logins and permissions.

Which is cheaper, Render or Supabase?

Render: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $0/mo plus computing. Supabase: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at From $25/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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