Appwrite vs Pocketbase
Self-host pick — both replace Firebase (Backend-as-a-service (auth + DB + storage + realtime)).
Both Appwrite and Pocketbase self-host as a replacement for Firebase (Backend-as-a-service (auth + DB + storage + realtime)). Pick Appwrite if you want a BSD-licensed codebase (BSD-3-Clause); pick Pocketbase for MIT (MIT). Both run in roughly the same cost bracket — $10 vps for a small app; the stack pulls a few containers (server, mariadb, redis, influxdb) vs $5 vps handles low-to-medium traffic; sqlite + wal is surprisingly far-reaching.
| Appwriteopen-source | Pocketbaseopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | BSD-3-Clause | MIT |
| Setup time | 10min docker-compose (single-command install) | 5min — single Go binary + SQLite |
| Monthly cost | $10 VPS for a small app; the stack pulls a few containers (server, MariaDB, Redis, InfluxDB). | $5 VPS handles low-to-medium traffic; SQLite + WAL is surprisingly far-reaching. |
| GitHub | appwrite/appwrite | pocketbase/pocketbase |
| Replaces | Firebase | Firebase + 1 other |
Good fit for
Appwrite
Apps that want the Firebase shape (multi-DB, auth, storage, functions, realtime) preserved as closely as possible.
Weak at:Multi-container stack is heavier than Pocketbase; the Functions runtime is its own thing — Cloud Functions code does not port directly.
Pocketbase
Solo / small team apps where a single-binary, no-ops backend matters more than horizontal scale.
Weak at:SQLite ceiling — works for tens of thousands of users, not millions; realtime is via WebSocket but lacks Firestore's offline-first cache.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli firebase prints Firebase's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Appwrite or Pocketbase?
Appwrite: 10min docker-compose (single-command install). Pocketbase: 5min — single Go binary + SQLite.
What does each cost to run?
Appwrite: $10 VPS for a small app; the stack pulls a few containers (server, MariaDB, Redis, InfluxDB).. Pocketbase: $5 VPS handles low-to-medium traffic; SQLite + WAL is surprisingly far-reaching.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Appwrite and Pocketbase replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Firebase.