You've likely noticed Firebase's limitations when building beyond basic features, and you might be wondering what alternatives can handle more sophisticated realtime and scaling needs. In this post, we’ll cover the top Firebase alternatives, from SQL-based backends to enterprise-scale options, and then show you how to add collaboration features like presence, comments, and live cursors on top of any backend.
The truth is, while Firebase works great for simple data sync, it falls short when you need multiplayer presence, contextual comments, or advanced collaboration features that modern users expect.
TLDR:
Firebase alternatives like Supabase and Appwrite offer better cost predictability and good realtime features
Self-hosted options (Parse Server, PocketBase) eliminate vendor lock-in but require infrastructure expertise
Most alternatives handle basic data sync but lack sophisticated collaboration features like live cursors, you’ll need to build these yourself or use a dedicated SDK (see end of this guide)
Choose based on your needs: Supabase for SQL, Appwrite for self-hosting, Amplify for AWS integration
Why Developers Are Moving Away from Firebase in 2025
Firebase's realtime database was new and exciting when it launched, but developer needs have evolved far beyond simple data synchronization. The biggest pain point? Cost unpredictability as your app scales.
Teams are hitting Firebase's pricing walls faster than expected. What starts as a few dollars monthly can balloon to thousands as your user base grows, with little warning or control over the escalation.
But cost isn't the only issue. Firebase's realtime features feel limited when you need things like live cursors, presence indicators, collaborative editing, or contextual commenting. These require sophisticated infrastructure that goes well beyond Firebase's basic data sync.
Supabase: The Open Source PostgreSQL Alternative
Supabase has become a good Firebase successor. Built on PostgreSQL, Supabase stands out for its deep integration with row-level subscriptions, complex query filters, and the ability to trigger updates from Postgres functions using familiar SQL syntax.
Pricing transparency is another major win. Supabase's pricing model is straightforward and predictable, unlike Firebase's usage-based surprises. You know exactly what you're paying for database storage, API requests, and bandwidth.
The developer experience feels familiar to Firebase users but with more power under the hood. Edge functions handle serverless logic, while the dashboard provides clear insights into database performance and active subscriptions.
Appwrite: Self Hosted Firebase Alternative
Appwrite stands out as the most complete self-hosted Firebase alternative available in 2025. It's completely open source and designed to run in your own infrastructure within Docker containers.
Appwrite’s strength is its self-hosting simplicity. It gives you granular subscriptions to collections, documents, and even fields, along with file and function events, all delivered over WebSockets for instant updates.
Multi-language support is exceptional. While Firebase focuses heavily on JavaScript, Appwrite provides SDKs for Flutter, React Native, iOS, Android, and server-side languages. This makes it perfect for teams building across multiple tech stacks.
AWS Amplify: Enterprise Scale Firebase Alternative
AWS Amplify targets enterprise teams that need Firebase functionality with AWS-level scalability and security. Amplify’s biggest advantage is its deep AWS integration. It uses AppSync’s GraphQL subscriptions to handle massive concurrent connections with global scaling out of the box.
This GraphQL-first model lets you combine multiple data sources, apply complex filters, and even trigger updates from Lambda functions giving you more control than Firebase. This flexibility is important for enterprise applications with sophisticated realtime requirements.
The complexity is major though. Amplify requires understanding AWS services, GraphQL schemas, and IAM permissions. It's definitely not a beginner-friendly option, but the power and scalability are incredible.
Feature | Firebase | AWS Amplify |
Realtime Method | WebSocket | GraphQL Subscriptions |
Scaling | Automatic | Automatic + Manual Control |
Data Model | NoSQL | GraphQL + Multiple Sources |
Enterprise Features | Limited | Full Suite |
Back4App: Low Code Firebase Alternative
Back4App takes a different approach by focusing on ease of use without sacrificing live data capabilities. Built on Parse Server, it offers a spreadsheet-like interface for managing your database along with live query subscriptions.
The live querying functionality is intuitive. You can set up realtime subscriptions through the dashboard or code, with automatic GraphQL and REST API generation. This makes it accessible to teams with different technical expertise.
Parse Server: The Original Open Source Alternative
Parse Server deserves recognition as the original open-source Backend-as-a-Service that inspired many current alternatives. It's matured a lot since Facebook open-sourced it, with solid realtime features and a thriving community.
Parse Server’s live query support is battle-tested, automatically updating clients when objects change and gives you full control (since you host it yourself). The implementation is straightforward and reliable, making it perfect for teams that want proven technology.
Complete customization is Parse's biggest strength. Since you control the entire server, you can modify anything from database schemas to realtime subscription logic. This level of control is impossible with hosted alternatives.
The community ecosystem is impressive. Years of development have produced extensive documentation, plugins, and integrations. Finding solutions to common problems is usually straightforward.
Nhost: GraphQL First Firebase Alternative
Nhost positions itself as the GraphQL-native Firebase alternative, powered by Hasura for automatic GraphQL API generation. Nhost leverages Hasura’s GraphQL engine for efficient subscriptions and precise data updates.
The developer experience is excellent for teams already familiar with GraphQL. You get automatic schema generation, realtime subscriptions, and powerful query features without writing backend code. It's like having a GraphQL expert on your team.
Hasura integration provides advanced features like role-based access control, custom business logic through actions, and event triggers. This makes Nhost suitable for complex applications that need more than basic CRUD operations.
Backendless: Visual Development Firebase Alternative
Backendless takes a unique approach by combining powerful realtime features with visual development tools. You can build complex realtime applications without writing extensive backend code, making it accessible to teams with limited backend expertise.
Backendless includes a full pub/sub messaging system, built-in push notifications, and data sync across multiple clients without needing to write heavy backend code. This covers most realtime use cases without custom development.
Visual development tools are surprisingly powerful. You can create complex business logic, design database schemas, and set up realtime subscriptions through drag-and-drop interfaces. This dramatically reduces development time for many applications.
PocketBase: Lightweight Realtime Alternative
PocketBase represents the minimalist approach to Firebase alternatives. It's a single executable file that provides a complete backend with realtime subscriptions, making it perfect for smaller applications or teams that want maximum simplicity.
PocketBase uses Server-Sent Events for database subscriptions, avoiding WebSocket complexity while still handling thousands of concurrent connections on modest hardware.
Go-based architecture makes PocketBase incredibly efficient. It can handle thousands of concurrent connections on modest hardware, making it cost-effective for applications that don't need massive scale but still require realtime features.
Self-hosting is trivial. You literally download one file, configure your database schema through the admin interface, and you have a complete backend running. This simplicity is refreshing compared to complex alternatives.
Choosing the Right Firebase Alternative for Your App
The right solution depends on your data model, scaling needs, and team expertise:
SQL + Realtime: Supabase is strong with PostgreSQL and realtime subscriptions.
Control & Compliance: Appwrite or Parse Server offer self-hosted flexibility with realtime support.
Enterprise on AWS: Amplify shines with deep AWS integration and GraphQL scalability.
Collaboration Apps: If you’re building multiplayer features like presence, comments, or live cursors, you’ll still need to build those on top of your chosen backend. In the next section, we’ll show you how to shortcut that with a collaboration SDK.
Adding Collaboration Features on Top of Your Backend
One of the most common use cases we see once teams choose their backend is adding realtime collaboration. Users expect presence indicators, live cursors, contextual comments, and even real-time video collaboration inside your app, but building these from scratch can take months.
This is where Velt comes in.
Velt provides 25+ pre-built collaboration components that work with any backend (Supabase, Appwrite, Amplify, etc.) and integrate in about 10 lines of code.
Features include:
Realtime presence indicators and live cursors
Video huddles
Velt powers collaboration for teams handling hundreds of millions of comments and terabytes of data every month, while supporting React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, and vanilla JS. Self-hosting options are available for teams with compliance or data residency requirements.
Instead of spending months building presence systems and collaborative infrastructure, Velt lets you ship collaboration in days.
FAQ
What's the main difference between Supabase and Firebase for realtime features?
Supabase is built on PostgreSQL and offers realtime subscriptions with complex queries and relationships, while Firebase uses NoSQL with simpler data synchronization. Supabase also provides more predictable pricing compared to Firebase's usage-based surprises.
How do I choose between self-hosted and cloud-hosted Firebase alternatives?
Choose self-hosted options like Appwrite or Parse Server if you need complete data control, have compliance requirements, or want to avoid vendor lock-in. Go with cloud-hosted solutions like Supabase or Nhost if you prefer managed infrastructure and faster setup times.
Can I add advanced collaboration features to any Firebase alternative?
Yes, but most alternatives only provide basic realtime data sync, so you'll need to build features like live cursors, presence indicators, and contextual commenting from scratch or integrate specialized collaboration SDKs that provide these features out of the box.
When should I consider moving away from Firebase to an alternative?
Consider switching if you're experiencing unpredictable cost scaling, need SQL database relationships, require self-hosting for compliance, or want advanced collaboration features beyond basic data synchronization that Firebase doesn't natively support.
Final thoughts on Firebase alternatives for modern development
Choosing the right Firebase alternative comes down to your team’s needs. Supabase is a great choice if you want SQL and powerful realtime subscriptions, Appwrite works well if you need a self-hosted solution, and Amplify is ideal for teams already invested in AWS who need enterprise-grade scalability.
No matter which backend you choose, most stop at basic realtime sync. If your app needs multiplayer features like presence, live cursors, or contextual comments, you’ll need to build those yourself or add a collaboration layer like Velt to let you ship features in days rather than months.
