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Convex vs Supabase

Two backend platform options for database. When each fits, what it costs, who moves from one to the other, and what makers who chose it say.

ConvexBackend platformllms.txtCLI
SupabaseBackend platformllms.txtMCPCLIIn Bolt, Lovable, v0
Ask your AI about this, with this page as the source:ChatGPT ↗Claude ↗Perplexity ↗

Which fits you

Choose Convex if
  • You're building a live, collaborative app entirely in TypeScript

Use it whenYou want queries that update the UI live without writing sync code.

Trade-offIts own data model and query API rather than SQL.

Choose Supabase if
  • You want the database, auth and file storage in one project, and plain SQL you can take elsewhere

Use it whenYou want one service for most of the backend and a SQL database you can take with you.

Trade-offAuth, storage and database in one vendor makes leaving harder later, and free projects pause after a week without activity.

At a glance

ConvexSupabase
Used by50 makers' products · 9 open-source projects563 makers' products · 75 open-source projects
Cost at default usagedatabase size 8 GB, data transfer 50 GB, document or row reads 10 million reads, document or row writes 2 million writes$29/mo Professional$25/mo Pro
Moved to it on GitHubpull requests since Oct 202450 from Supabase19 from Convex
Downloads1.3M/wk5.5× vs npm25.4M/wk+96% vs npm
PricingFree tier; paid plans by usage and seats. · paid from $25 per developer/moFree tier (inactive projects pause); paid plans per project plus usage. · paid from $25/mo
Free tierYesYes
Open sourceYes · self-hostableYes · self-hostable
Incidents, 90 daysfrom its status page6 (3 major)50+ (16 major)

Cost as you grow

At 0.5 GB Supabase costs less ($0 vs $0.56); from about 1 GB Convex does ($1.90 vs $25); from about 8 GB Supabase does ($25 vs $29).

$0$50$200$500$1,0000.51582050100500
SupabaseConvexx: database size (GB), other usage scaled with it; held at 730 hours (compute hours per month) · cheapest usable plan at each point, list prices · try your own numbers
The numbers, plan by plan
Database sizeConvexSupabase
0.5$0.56 Free / Starter$0 Free
1$1.90 Free / Starter$25 Pro
5$19 Free / Starter$25 Pro
8$29 Professional$25 Pro
20$44 Professional$27 Pro
50$157 Professional$36 Pro
100$354 Professional$70 Pro
500$1,934 Professional$345 Pro

From each vendor's pricing page: Convex, Supabase.

Who moves from one to the other

Public pull requests on GitHub since Oct 2024 whose title says "Convex to Supabase" or the reverse — real code changes, by developers in general rather than makers only.

Supabase → Convex50 PRs
All matching pull requests on GitHub ↗
Convex → Supabase19 PRs
All matching pull requests on GitHub ↗

What makers say

Makers on using it for database, from Product Hunt and Starter Story interviews, each linked to the source. Products with a page of their own and fuller notes first.

On Convex
This real-time database for TypeScript is a game-changer. It seamlessly integrates with my application, providing real-time data synchronization and making development a breeze.
BloxGPT, the makerSep 2026 ↗
Convex backend-as-a-service that provided real-time databases, authentication, and API services. It enabled to build and scale applications quickly without managing server infrastructure.
Super BNA, the makerSep 2026 ↗
Love their UI, their reactivity is insanely good. Was initially with supabase, but have shifted to convex now. Also don't like writing SQL, so Convex was a no-brainer.
PayPing, the makerSep 2026 ↗
28 more on the Convex page →
On Supabase
One Postgres with RLS on every table is the reason a solo founder can ship contracts, invoices and a client portal without a backend team. Auth, storage and realtime came for free.
Accordio AI, the makerSep 2026 ↗
Supabase made it dead simple to manage db and the best part is that we can connect it to Claude for product analysis without having to set up Posthog or other event tracking tools.
Clico, the makerSep 2026 ↗
For powering our backend and database. Managing user uploads and conversion jobs efficiently is critical, and Supabase's real-time capabilities keep everything running smoothly! 🔥
Segwise, the makerSep 2026 ↗
402 more on the Supabase page →

Loved and watch-outs

Themes that recur in makers' words and Hacker News comments, each linked to what it summarises.

Convex
Most loved
  • Real-time sync is built in, so dashboards, comments and leaderboards update for every user without refreshes or extra plumbing. PHHN
  • Database, server functions and auth in one service replace a whole backend stack for a one-person team. PHPH 2HN
  • Everything is TypeScript with schema validation, giving strong typing from the database to the UI and no SQL to write. PHHN
Watch-outs
  • It works unlike a conventional database; joins are written imperatively in JavaScript and SQL-oriented tools integrate awkwardly. HNHN 2
  • It does not work offline, and optimistic updates must be written by hand. HN
On Product Hunt: 5.0★, 53 reviews · mentioned most: real-time data synchronization, developer experience, fast performance
Supabase
Most loved
  • One project covers Postgres, auth, storage and realtime, so a solo founder ships without stitching vendors or hiring a backend team. PHPH 2PH 3PH 4
  • It is real Postgres with SQL, row-level security and pgvector rather than a proprietary store. PHPH 2PH 3PH 4
  • Open source and self-hostable, which reduces vendor lock-in. PHPH 2HNPH 3
Watch-outs
  • Row-level security policies are hard to get right, so many apps end up exposing data publicly. HNHN 2HN 3HN 4
  • Reliability has been shaky for some, and it is not really built for self-hosting in practice. HN
  • Per-project billing adds up for developers running many small side projects. HN
On Product Hunt: 5.0★, 899 reviews · mentioned most: authentication features, easy setup, PostgreSQL integration · complaints: documentation gaps

Who uses each

Convex50 makers' products
a0.devBloxGPTbrag.fastBrewBrutal VerdictCandle (YC F24)CheapFeedbackCherry BlossomClawcastClipwingConduitDataGems+38 more
Supabase563 makers' products
1-bit.day21sta0.devAccordio AIAdventoryAident AIAirbook AIAISA (aisa.to) AI Fluency AssessmentAlaiAlmanacAlpaca ChatAmara+551 more
Used by both — often one replacing the other, or each for a different part of the product
a0.devStrixSlashspace AI

What makers pair each with

With Convex
Frontend Framework
Authentication
Transactional Email
LLM API
With Supabase
Frontend Framework
Transactional Email
Hosting
LLM API

Neither quite right?

See the whole database decision →
FirebaseBackend platformMobile apps that need offline sync and client-side SDKs.vs Supabase →
NeonManaged databaseServerless Postgres that scales to zero, with a branch per preview deploy.vs Supabase →
PlanetScaleManaged databaseApps that expect heavy scale and want zero-downtime schema changes.vs Convex →vs Supabase →
TursoManaged databaseSQLite at the edge, or one database per customer.vs Supabase →
MongoDBManaged databaseDocument-shaped data and teams already fluent in Mongo.vs Supabase →
PostgreSQLRun it yourselfThe engine behind most of the hosted options above, run on your own server or container for full control and a flat cost.vs Supabase →