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Nhost vs Turso
Side-by-side comparison of Nhost and Turso.
Quick summary
Nhost — Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL. Nhost is an open-source backend platform combining PostgreSQL, Hasura GraphQL, authentication, and storage.
Turso — SQLite for production. Turso is a distributed SQLite database built on libSQL, offering edge replicas and a generous free tier.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Nhost | Turso |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/mo | $29/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Auth | Yes | — |
| Storage | Yes | — |
| Database | PostgreSQL | — |
| Realtime | Yes | — |
| Free Tier | Yes | 500 databases, 9GB |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Edge Functions | Yes | — |
| Row Level Security | Yes | — |
| Engine | — | SQLite (libSQL) |
| Branching | — | No |
| Serverless | — | Yes |
| Scale-to-zero | — | Yes |
| Point-in-time Recovery | — | Yes |
Nhost
Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL
Pros
- GraphQL-first via Hasura
- Postgres + open source
- Good developer experience
Cons
- Smaller community
- GraphQL learning curve
Turso
SQLite for production
Pros
- Edge replicas close to users
- Very generous free tier
- Low latency reads
Cons
- SQLite limits write scale
- Newer tool, less tooling
Which should you choose?
Choose Nhost if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Turso 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, Nhost or Turso?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Turso is the safer default because Turso has a larger community and more third-party integrations, which often translates to better long-term support. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Nhost cheaper than Turso?
Nhost starts at $25/mo, while Turso starts at $29/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Nhost to Turso?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Nhost-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 Nhost or Turso open source?
Yes, both Nhost and Turso are open source and can be self-hosted.
Does Nhost or Turso have a free tier?
Both Nhost and Turso 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 Turso. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.