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Firebase vs Nhost
Comparing two backend as a service platforms on pricing, features, free tier, and trade-offs.
Quick summary
Firebase — Google's app development platform. Firebase is Google's mobile and web app development platform offering realtime database, authentication, hosting, and serverless functions.
Nhost — Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL. Nhost is an open-source backend platform combining PostgreSQL, Hasura GraphQL, authentication, and storage.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Firebase | Nhost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | Pay as you go | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Auth | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | Yes | Yes |
| Database | Firestore (NoSQL) | PostgreSQL |
| Realtime | Yes | Yes |
| Free Tier | Spark plan (generous) | Yes |
| Self-hosted | No | Yes |
| Edge Functions | Yes | Yes |
| Row Level Security | No | Yes |
Firebase
Google's app development platform
Pros
- Battle-tested at massive scale
- Excellent mobile SDKs
- Deep Google Cloud integration
Cons
- Vendor lock-in with Firestore
- Costs can surprise you at scale
- NoSQL-only data model
Nhost
Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL
Pros
- GraphQL-first via Hasura
- Postgres + open source
- Good developer experience
Cons
- Smaller community
- GraphQL learning curve
Which should you choose?
Choose Firebase if a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Nhost 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, Firebase or Nhost?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Nhost is the safer default because Nhost is open source, which means you can self-host and avoid vendor lock-in. Firebase is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Firebase cheaper than Nhost?
Firebase starts at Pay as you go, while Nhost starts at $25/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Firebase to Nhost?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Firebase-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 Firebase or Nhost open source?
Nhost is open source; Firebase is a proprietary managed service.
Does Firebase or Nhost have a free tier?
Both Firebase and Nhost 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 Firebase. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.