Supabase vs WorkOS

Side-by-side comparison of Supabase and WorkOS.

By Bilal Almukhtar Edited by Sofia DraganovLast updated April 20, 2026

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.

WorkOS — Enterprise-ready features with just a few lines of code. WorkOS provides SSO, SCIM, audit logs, and directory sync — the B2B enterprise features SaaS apps need.

Feature comparison

Feature	Supabase	WorkOS
Pricing model	Freemium	Paid
Starting price	$25/mo	$125/connection
Free tier	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	No
Auth	Yes	—
Storage	Yes	—
Database	PostgreSQL	—
Realtime	Yes	—
Free Tier	500MB DB + 1GB storage	1M MAU
Self-hosted	Yes	No
Edge Functions	Yes	—
Row Level Security	Yes	—
MFA	—	Yes
SAML/SSO	—	Yes
Pre-built UI	—	No
Social Login	—	Yes
Organizations	—	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

Visit Supabase →

WorkOS

Enterprise-ready features with just a few lines of code

Pros

Best-in-class SSO/SCIM
Generous free tier for startups
Enterprise-focused

Cons

Per-connection pricing adds up
Overkill for B2C apps

Visit WorkOS →

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 WorkOS if a free tier is important for your stage, and you need production-grade features and are ready to pay.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Supabase or WorkOS?

There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Supabase is the safer default because Supabase is open source, which means you can self-host and avoid vendor lock-in. WorkOS is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.

Is Supabase cheaper than WorkOS?

Supabase starts at $25/mo, while WorkOS starts at $125/connection. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.

Can I migrate from Supabase to WorkOS?

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 WorkOS open source?

Supabase is open source; WorkOS is a proprietary managed service.

Does Supabase or WorkOS have a free tier?

Both Supabase and WorkOS 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.

More Backend as a Service comparisons

All Supabase alternatives →All WorkOS alternatives →