Backend-as-a-Service is no longer just Firebase. The 2026 category includes Postgres-native platforms (Supabase), TypeScript-end-to-end systems (Convex), and the original document-store leader (Firebase). 132 reviewers across mobile-first, web-first, and full-stack TypeScript shops.
Reviewer Cohort
132 verified developers
Weighting
Database fit 25% · SDK quality 20% · Bundled features (auth/storage/realtime) 20% · Pricing scale 15% · Migration risk 20%
Supabase wraps Postgres in a polished BaaS layer with Auth, Storage, Realtime, Edge Functions. The Postgres choice (vs Firestore) means SQL, joins, and RLS policies you can reason about. Self-hostable, open-source, with a generous free tier. For full-stack web apps Supabase has caught up with Firebase and pulled ahead on data-model fit.
Best for
Full-stack web apps, SQL-native data, self-host requirements, B2B SaaS
Where it falls short
Connection pooling has documented edge cases at >5K RPS. Edge Functions on Deno occasionally lag Node ecosystem.
Firebase remains the default for mobile-first apps. iOS, Android, Flutter SDKs are still platform standards. Realtime sync, offline-first, push notifications all in one SDK. The Firestore data model can't be normalized — you live with denormalization forever. Migration off is genuinely painful. Best when mobile is core and the data model fits.
Convex is what TypeScript-end-to-end backend feels like — schema, queries, and mutations in TypeScript with reactive query subscriptions for free. Type inference flows from schema to React hooks. For TypeScript-only teams Convex's DX is genuinely ahead of the category. Trade-off: TS-only (no mobile/Python SDKs), proprietary execution model means migration is real work.
(Supabase self-host — separate from #1 cloud) The OSS path matters. For regulated industries or compliance-driven enterprises self-hosted Supabase (Docker Compose or Helm) is the only realistic BaaS option that runs on your infrastructure. Functionality at parity with cloud; you operate the database, auth, storage, realtime stack yourselves.
Best for
HIPAA, FedRAMP, EU data residency, on-prem-required deployments
Where it falls short
Real ops investment. Cloud features sometimes lag self-host by quarters and vice versa.
(Firebase + Cloud Functions for backend logic — separate from #2) Cloud Functions bring server-side compute alongside Firebase's realtime DB. For mobile teams that need lightweight backend logic without standing up a separate API service, the integration is good. Modern alternatives (Supabase Edge Functions, Convex) provide better DX for the same job, but Firebase's mobile SDK lock-in keeps teams here.
Best for
Mobile teams that need lightweight server logic without separate backend
Where it falls short
Cold starts longer than competitors. Cloud Functions for Firebase has a less ergonomic local dev story than Supabase Edge Functions.
Frequently Asked
Why isn't AWS Amplify in this list?
Amplify is a different shape — closer to a managed AWS deployment toolkit than a coherent BaaS. Teams using Amplify report it as AWS-with-DX-paint, not a focused product. We rank it in our hosting category when reviewers running it cross the threshold for inclusion.
Can I migrate from Firebase to Supabase?
Yes but budget for it — most reviewers reported 6-12 weeks for a non-trivial migration. The data shape rewrite (denormalized Firestore → relational Postgres) is the hard part. SDK swap is mechanical. Worth doing if your data model has outgrown Firestore.
Is Convex production-ready in 2026?
For TypeScript-end-to-end teams that fit its model, yes — reviewers report production deployments at startup scale. For teams needing polyglot SDKs or self-host the answer is no by design. Convex has chosen its niche; pick it knowing the trade-offs.
How do RLS policies in Supabase compare to Firestore Rules?
Both are powerful. RLS policies are SQL — testable, composable, version-controlled in migrations. Firestore Rules are a custom DSL that's also testable but less composable. Most reviewers who've worked with both prefer RLS for the SQL composability and the ability to test policies as part of normal database tests.
