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Appwrite vs Firebase

Self-host swap-in for Firebase. · Self-host Firebase · Appwrite on os-alt

Appwrite is one of the open-source self-host replacements for Firebase — license BSD-3-Clause, 10min docker-compose (single-command install) to stand up, and $10 vps for a small app; the stack pulls a few containers (server, mariadb, redis, influxdb). Compare against Firebase's Free Spark tier; Blaze starts at $0 and scales by reads/writes/storage — easy to hit $50-200/mo on a real app below.

Appwriteopen-sourceFirebasepaid SaaS
CategoryBackend-as-a-service (auth + DB + storage + realtime)Backend-as-a-service (auth + DB + storage + realtime)
License / pricingBSD-3-ClauseFree Spark tier; Blaze starts at $0 and scales by reads/writes/storage — easy to hit $50-200/mo on a real app
Starting price$0 self-host$25/user/mo
GitHubappwrite/appwrite ★ 56.1k · last commit todayaliveclosed source
Setup time10min docker-compose (single-command install)SaaS — sign up + bill
Monthly cost$10 VPS for a small app; the stack pulls a few containers (server, MariaDB, Redis, InfluxDB).from $25/user/mo (Free Spark tier; Blaze starts at $0 and scales by reads/writes/storage — easy to hit $50-200/mo on a real app)

Switching from Firebase to Appwrite

Auth: Appwrite has a Firebase migration tool in the console — provide your service account JSON and it imports users with hashes. Firestore: the same migration tool reads collections and creates Appwrite databases / collections / documents. Storage: import via the same flow, or use `appwrite storage create-bucket` + a script that downloads from Firebase and uploads via the CLI.

Good fit for
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.

Other open-source self-host alternatives to Firebase

  • Supabase
    Apache-2.020min docker-compose (the official self-host bundle)$10-20 VPS — Postgres + GoTrue + PostgREST + Realtime + Storage in one stack.
  • Pocketbase
    MIT5min — single Go binary + SQLite$5 VPS handles low-to-medium traffic; SQLite + WAL is surprisingly far-reaching.

In a terminal? npx os-alt firebase prints Firebase's self-host options — how the CLI works →

FAQ

Is Appwrite a free alternative to Firebase?

Yes — Appwrite is open source under BSD-3-Clause. Self-host cost: $10 VPS for a small app; the stack pulls a few containers (server, MariaDB, Redis, InfluxDB).. Firebase starts at $25/user/mo (Free Spark tier; Blaze starts at $0 and scales by reads/writes/storage — easy to hit $50-200/mo on a real app).

How long does Appwrite take to set up vs Firebase?

Self-hosting Appwrite: 10min docker-compose (single-command install). Firebase is a hosted SaaS — sign up and you're in.

What is Appwrite good at, and what is it weak at?

Good fit for: 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..