Gel vs InstantDB
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Gel | InstantDB |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,170 | ★ 10,521 |
| First released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Firebase, Supabase | Firebase |
What are Gel and InstantDB?
Gel
Gel, formerly EdgeDB, is an open-source database built on PostgreSQL that combines a strongly typed schema with a powerful query language. It can be self-hosted as the data layer for application development.
- Graph-relational model
- Typed schema and migrations
- Built on PostgreSQL
- Modern query language
InstantDB
Instant is an open-source realtime database that gives apps offline-first relational queries and instant sync. The backend server can be self-hosted to keep app data on your own infrastructure.
- Realtime sync
- Relational queries
- Offline support
- Self-hostable backend
Gel vs InstantDB: key differences
Gel is written in Python, while InstantDB is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Gel versus AGPL-3.0 for InstantDB. Gel is the more established project (first released 2019), while InstantDB arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Gel if…
- Strongly typed schema
- Built on PostgreSQL
- Built-in migrations
Watch out for
- New query language to learn
- Smaller ecosystem than SQL
Choose InstantDB if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.5k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Gel or InstantDB better?
Neither is universally better. Gel has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gel and InstantDB free and open-source?
Yes. Gel is licensed under Apache-2.0 and InstantDB under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gel and InstantDB with Docker?
Gel: yes. InstantDB: yes.