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Supabase vs Turso
Side-by-side comparison of Supabase and Turso.
Quick summary
Supabase — The open source Firebase alternative. Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service built on PostgreSQL. It provides authentication, realtime subscriptions, storage, edge functions, and a hosted database.
Turso — SQLite for production. Turso is a distributed SQLite database built on libSQL, offering edge replicas and a generous free tier.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Supabase | Turso |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/mo | $29/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Auth | Yes | — |
| Storage | Yes | — |
| Database | PostgreSQL | — |
| Realtime | Yes | — |
| Free Tier | 500MB DB + 1GB storage | 500 databases, 9GB |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Edge Functions | Yes | — |
| Row Level Security | Yes | — |
| Engine | — | SQLite (libSQL) |
| Branching | — | No |
| Serverless | — | Yes |
| Scale-to-zero | — | Yes |
| Point-in-time Recovery | — | Yes |
Supabase
The open source Firebase alternative
Pros
- Open source and self-hostable
- Standard PostgreSQL — no vendor lock-in
- Generous free tier
- Great DX with auto-generated APIs
Cons
- Cold starts on free tier
- Edge function ecosystem still maturing
Turso
SQLite for production
Pros
- Edge replicas close to users
- Very generous free tier
- Low latency reads
Cons
- SQLite limits write scale
- Newer tool, less tooling
Which should you choose?
Choose Supabase if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Turso if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Supabase or Turso?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Supabase is the safer default because Supabase has a larger community and more third-party integrations, which often translates to better long-term support. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Supabase cheaper than Turso?
Supabase starts at $25/mo, while Turso starts at $29/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Supabase to Turso?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Supabase-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most backend as a service migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Supabase or Turso open source?
Yes, both Supabase and Turso are open source and can be self-hosted.
Does Supabase or Turso have a free tier?
Both Supabase and Turso offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Supabase. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.