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MongoDB Atlas vs Supabase
Side-by-side comparison of MongoDB Atlas and Supabase.
Quick summary
MongoDB Atlas — Multi-cloud developer data platform. MongoDB Atlas is the managed cloud service for MongoDB with global clusters, search, and vector capabilities.
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.
Feature comparison
| Feature | MongoDB Atlas | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $9/mo | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Engine | MongoDB (NoSQL) | — |
| Branching | No | — |
| Free Tier | M0 cluster 512MB | 500MB DB + 1GB storage |
| Serverless | Yes | — |
| Scale-to-zero | No | — |
| Point-in-time Recovery | Yes | — |
| Auth | — | Yes |
| Storage | — | Yes |
| Database | — | PostgreSQL |
| Realtime | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Edge Functions | — | Yes |
| Row Level Security | — | Yes |
MongoDB Atlas
Multi-cloud developer data platform
Pros
- Flexible document model
- Mature ecosystem
- Atlas Search and Vector Search built-in
Cons
- Can get expensive fast
- Eventual consistency caveats
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
Which should you choose?
Choose MongoDB Atlas if a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Supabase 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, MongoDB Atlas or Supabase?
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. MongoDB Atlas is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is MongoDB Atlas cheaper than Supabase?
MongoDB Atlas starts at $9/mo, while Supabase starts at $25/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from MongoDB Atlas to Supabase?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply MongoDB Atlas-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most database migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is MongoDB Atlas or Supabase open source?
Supabase is open source; MongoDB Atlas is a proprietary managed service.
Does MongoDB Atlas or Supabase have a free tier?
Both MongoDB Atlas and Supabase 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.