Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PocketBase.io VS Firebase

Compare PocketBase.io VS Firebase and see what are their differences

PocketBase.io logo PocketBase.io

Open Source backend with realtime database, authentication, file storage and admin dashboard, all compiled in 1 portable executable.

Firebase logo Firebase

Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.
  • PocketBase.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-07

PocketBase is a Go backend (framework and app) that includes:

  • embedded database with realtime subscriptions
  • backed-in files and users management
  • convenient Admin dashboard UI
  • simple REST-ish API

And all of this compiles in a single portable executable.

  • Firebase Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20

PocketBase.io

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
free
Platforms
Web Linux Mac OSX Windows
Release Date
2022 July

PocketBase.io features and specs

  • Realtime database
  • Authentication via email/password
  • Authentuication via OAuth2
  • Files management
  • Admin dashboard

Firebase features and specs

  • Real-time Database
    Firebase offers a real-time NoSQL database that allows for real-time data synchronization across multiple devices. This is useful for applications that require immediate updates, like chat apps or live dashboards.
  • Easy Integration
    Firebase provides easy SDK integrations for Android, iOS, and web platforms. This helps in quick setup and reduces the time needed to get your application running.
  • Scalability
    Firebase services are built on Google's infrastructure, offering robust scalability to handle growing user bases and their corresponding data.
  • Authentication Services
    Firebase includes built-in authentication services, supporting email/password, Google, Facebook, Twitter, and more. This simplifies the process of user management.
  • Backend-as-a-Service
    Firebase provides a suite of tools, such as Firestore, Cloud Functions, and Storage, that allow you to build a comprehensive backend without managing server infrastructure.
  • Free Tier Availability
    Firebase offers a range of free tier options that allow developers to get started without incurring costs, making it appealing for startups and small projects.
  • Cross-Device Sync
    Firebase enables cross-device sync of application data in real-time, which is beneficial for applications where seamless data flow between devices is crucial.
  • Analytics Integration
    Firebase includes Firebase Analytics, a free app measurement solution that provides insights on app usage and user engagement.

Possible disadvantages of Firebase

  • Vendor Lock-In
    Firebase is a proprietary service provided by Google. Depending heavily on it can lead to vendor lock-in, making it difficult to switch to other platforms in the future.
  • Pricing for Large Scale Apps
    While Firebase offers a free tier, the pricing can become expensive for large-scale applications with heavy data and usage requirements, potentially leading to higher costs.
  • Limited Querying Capabilities
    Firebase's real-time database and Firestore come with certain querying limitations compared to SQL databases. Complex queries and joins might be difficult to implement efficiently.
  • Security Rules Complexity
    Configuring security rules for Firebase can be complex and error-prone, which can lead to security vulnerabilities if not handled correctly.
  • Data Migration Challenges
    Migrating data in and out of Firebase can be challenging, especially if you're moving to or from a different database system.
  • Limited Customization
    Because Firebase is a managed service, there is limited ability to customize the backend to meet specific requirements or use cases, unlike self-hosted solutions.
  • Latency Issues
    While Firebase aims to be globally distributed, users may experience latency issues depending on their geographic location in relation to Firebase servers.
  • Feature Parity
    Certain advanced features available in Firebase might not have parity across all platforms (iOS, Android, Web), making consistent cross-platform development more challenging.

Analysis of Firebase

Overall verdict

  • Firebase is generally considered a good option for developers who need a reliable and feature-rich backend solution without the hassle of server management. It is especially praised for its real-time database capabilities and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • Firebase is a comprehensive suite of products that helps developers build, improve, and grow mobile and web applications. It offers a variety of tools and features such as real-time databases, authentication, cloud storage, analytics, and hosting. It is fully managed by Google, which means developers can focus on developing their apps without worrying about backend infrastructure. Furthermore, Firebase integrates easily with other Google services and provides robust user and device analytics.

Recommended for

  • Mobile app developers looking for a scalable backend solution.
  • Startups and small teams who want to minimize infrastructure overhead.
  • Developers who need real-time data synchronization.
  • Projects that would benefit from seamless integration with other Google services such as Google Cloud and Google Analytics.
  • Teams looking to quickly prototype and launch MVPs (Minimum Viable Products).

PocketBase.io videos

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Firebase videos

Is Firebase a Good Long Term Solution?

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PocketBase.io and Firebase)
Developer Tools
11 11%
89% 89
Realtime Backend / API
30 30%
70% 70
App Development
0 0%
100% 100
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare PocketBase.io and Firebase

PocketBase.io Reviews

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Firebase Reviews

10 Top Firebase Alternatives to Ignite Your Development in 2024
It proudly calls itself the “open-source Firebase alternative,” and for good reason. Supabase gives you the power of a PostgreSQL database, authentication, instant APIs, real-time subscriptions, and more – all without the vendor lock-in of Firebase.
Source: genezio.com
Top 7 Firebase Alternatives for App Development in 2024
Data Export:Backup Your Data: Begin by creating backups of all your data stored in Firebase. This ensures you have a safe copy in case anything goes wrong during the migration.Export Data: Use Firebase's data export tools to download your datasets. This can often be done through the Firebase console or via Firebase CLI commands.
Source: signoz.io
Best Serverless Backend Tools of 2023: Pros & Cons, Features & Code Examples
That’s a wrap: 6 best serverless backend for your next project! If you like Firebase, check out Rowy, our Firebase content management system.
Source: www.rowy.io
What is AWS Amplify? - AWS Amplify Alternatives
The Google Firebase feature set includes a wide variety of components, some of which are file storage, application programming interfaces (APIs), cloud hosting, intelligent analytics, and real-time databases.
Source: mindmajix.com
2023 Firebase Alternatives: Top 10 Open-Source & Free
Although Firebase has some limitations, many online web and mobile applications are still running on Firebase. Likewise, BuiltWith confirms that 396,531 live websites on the internet utilize Firebase. Correspondingly, 2953 companies and 32113 developers claim to use Firebase for different tech stacks on StackShare.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Firebase should be more popular than PocketBase.io. It has been mentiond 272 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PocketBase.io mentions (95)

  • Fast, Simple and Open Firebase Alternative: TrailBase
    Nice, something similar built with Golang: https://pocketbase.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 days ago
  • PocketBase: Backend Made Simple
    If you're a solo developer or part of a small team, let me introduce you to one of the best-kept secrets in backend development: PocketBase. - Source: dev.to / 16 days ago
  • PocketBase + React Native
    I have a bit of an obsession with finding the fastest way to launch apps. My goal is to be able to create fully functional MVP's and proofs of concept in less than a day. That means being able to spin up a backend and then implement a frontend as efficiently as possible. For the backend, PocketBase has been my favorite lately. On the frontend I am still trying to find a winner. I like Quasar (VueJS + Capacitor)... - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • Manifest: A 1-file micro-back end
    Are you aware of pocketbase? https://pocketbase.io/ I think it could work for your usecase, even though its generally focused on being a backend. I have had a very nice experience. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Goravel: A Go framework inspired by Laravel
    For quick prototyping I really like https://pocketbase.io/ I am actually using this for a production site that gets 1 million requests per day. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
View more

Firebase mentions (272)

  • Fast, Simple and Open Firebase Alternative: TrailBase
    There is little mention of realtime on the Firebase landing page https://firebase.google.com We likely agree that firebase is superb. But your criticism of using ‘alternative’ is unjust both in terms of the breadth of firebase, and why a competitor might target someone about to choose Firebase. - Source: Hacker News / 5 days ago
  • An upgraded dev experience in Google AI Studio
    Presumably Google AI Studio[1] and Google Firebase Studio[2] are made by different teams with very similar pitches, and Google is perfectly happy to have both of them exist, until it isn't: - AI Studio: "the fastest place to start building with the Gemini API" - Firebase Studio: "Prototype, build, deploy, and run full-stack, AI apps quickly" [1] https://aistudio.google.com/apps [2] https://firebase.google.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 days ago
  • Firebase Cloud Functions: Your Gateway to Serverless Backend Development
    Firebase provides a suite of tools and services designed to streamline the development process, abstracting away complex infrastructure management. Cloud Functions, a key component of the Firebase ecosystem, empowers developers to write and deploy backend code without the burden of provisioning or managing servers. This allows them to focus solely on writing the application logic, freeing up time and resources for... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Build a Simple Grocery Tracker App using Vue JS and Supabase
    Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative that provides a full backend out of the box — including a PostgreSQL database, authentication, file storage, and auto-generated APIs. It’s developer-friendly, easy to set up, and integrates smoothly with frontend frameworks like Vue. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Build a Job Application and Interview App with Next.js, Stream & Firebase
    In this tutorial, you will learn how to build a job application and interviewing platform using Next.js, Stream, and Firebase. This app will allow recruiters to post job openings, review applications, and schedule interviews. Job seekers can also apply for jobs and communicate with recruiters. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PocketBase.io and Firebase, you can also consider the following products

Supabase - An open source Firebase alternative

AppWrite - Appwrite provides web and mobile developers with a set of easy-to-use and integrate REST APIs to manage their core backend needs.

Android Studio - Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA

Manifest.build - We are building the simplest backend in the world. Do you want to embark on this adventure with us?

Socket.io - Realtime application framework (Node.JS server)

Directus - Free and Open-Source Headless CMS