Convex vs Supabase
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Convex
Open-source reactive backend with a TypeScript database
VS
Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative
| Feature | Convex | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,332 | ★ 107,678 |
| First released | 2024 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Firebase | Firebase |
Why pick each one
Choose Convex if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 12.3k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Convex or Supabase better?
Neither is universally better. Supabase has the larger community, while Convex is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Convex and Supabase free and open-source?
Yes. Convex is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Supabase under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convex and Supabase with Docker?
Convex: yes. Supabase: yes.