Appwrite vs PocketBase
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosting platforms (paas) options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Appwrite
Open-source backend platform for building applications
VS
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file
| Feature | Appwrite | PocketBase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | binary, docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 56,800 | ★ 60,550 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Firebase, Supabase | Firebase |
Why pick each one
Choose PocketBase if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 60.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Appwrite or PocketBase better?
PocketBase is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Appwrite if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Appwrite and PocketBase free and open-source?
Yes. Appwrite is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and PocketBase under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Appwrite and PocketBase with Docker?
Appwrite: yes. PocketBase: yes.