Convex vs Manifest
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Manifest
Open-source backend defined from a single YAML file
| Feature | Convex | Manifest |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,604 | ★ 7,541 |
| First released | 2024 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Firebase | Firebase, Supabase |
What are Convex and Manifest?
Convex
Convex is an open-source reactive application backend that combines a database, server functions and realtime sync addressed entirely through TypeScript. The backend can be self-hosted with Docker.
- Reactive database
- TypeScript functions
- Realtime sync
- Self-hostable
Manifest
Manifest is an open-source backend that lets you define a complete REST API, database and admin panel from a single YAML file. It is self-hosted and aimed at rapid backend development.
- Backend from one YAML file
- Auto-generated REST API
- Built-in admin panel
- Self-hostable
Convex vs Manifest: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Convex versus MIT for Manifest. Manifest is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Convex.
Why pick each one
Choose Convex if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 12.6k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Manifest if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 7.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Convex or Manifest better?
Neither is universally better. Convex has the larger community, while Manifest is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Convex and Manifest free and open-source?
Yes. Convex is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Manifest under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convex and Manifest with Docker?
Convex: yes. Manifest: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Convex or Manifest?
Manifest has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Convex. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.