InstantDB vs PocketBase
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?
InstantDB
Realtime client-side database with relational queries
VS
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file
| Feature | InstantDB | PocketBase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,383 | ★ 60,550 |
| First released | 2024 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Firebase | Firebase |
Why pick each one
Choose InstantDB if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.4k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
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 InstantDB or PocketBase better?
PocketBase is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider InstantDB if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are InstantDB and PocketBase free and open-source?
Yes. InstantDB is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and PocketBase under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run InstantDB and PocketBase with Docker?
InstantDB: yes. PocketBase: yes.