PocketBase vs Tsuru
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?
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file
VS
Tsuru
Extensible open-source application platform
| Feature | PocketBase | Tsuru |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker, source | kubernetes, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 60,550 | ★ 5,299 |
| First released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Firebase | Heroku |
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
Choose Tsuru if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 5.3k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is PocketBase or Tsuru better?
PocketBase is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Tsuru if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are PocketBase and Tsuru free and open-source?
Yes. PocketBase is licensed under MIT and Tsuru under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PocketBase and Tsuru with Docker?
PocketBase: yes. Tsuru: yes.