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Netlify vs Supabase
Side-by-side comparison of Netlify and Supabase.
Quick summary
Netlify — Develop & deploy the best web experiences. Netlify is a web hosting and serverless platform for static sites and Jamstack apps with built-in CDN and forms.
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 | Netlify | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Edge Network | Yes | — |
| Custom Domains | Yes | — |
| Edge Functions | Yes | Yes |
| Bandwidth (free) | 100GB | — |
| Preview Deployments | Yes | — |
| Build Minutes (free) | 300/mo | — |
| Serverless Functions | Yes | — |
| Auth | — | Yes |
| Storage | — | Yes |
| Database | — | PostgreSQL |
| Realtime | — | Yes |
| Free Tier | — | 500MB DB + 1GB storage |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Row Level Security | — | Yes |
Netlify
Develop & deploy the best web experiences
Pros
- Framework-agnostic
- Built-in forms and identity
- Mature plugin ecosystem
Cons
- Build minutes limited on free tier
- Edge functions less powerful than Vercel's
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 Netlify 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, Netlify 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. Netlify is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Netlify cheaper than Supabase?
Netlify starts at $19/mo, while Supabase starts at $25/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Netlify to Supabase?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Netlify-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most hosting & deployment migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Netlify or Supabase open source?
Supabase is open source; Netlify is a proprietary managed service.
Does Netlify or Supabase have a free tier?
Both Netlify 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.