Skip to content
BetterOpenSource

Appwrite vs PocketBase

A side-by-side comparison of two open-source tools to help you choose the right one.

Feature
SummaryA complete backend, self-hosted in minutes.Your backend in a single file.
GitHub stars47K45K
LicenseBSD 3-ClauseMIT
LanguageTypeScriptGo
PricingFree & Open SourceFree & Open Source
Self-hostable
ReplacesFirebase, Auth0Firebase
Rating4.6 / 54.7 / 5

Appwrite features

  • Authentication with many providers
  • Databases and file storage
  • Serverless functions in many languages
  • Realtime and messaging
  • SDKs for web, mobile, and server

PocketBase features

  • Single executable, no dependencies
  • Embedded SQLite database
  • Built-in auth and file storage
  • Realtime subscriptions
  • Admin dashboard and JS/Go SDKs

Appwritepros & cons

Pros

  • One-command self-host
  • Great SDKs and docs
  • Broad language support for functions

Cons

  • Resource needs grow with usage
  • Console can feel busy

PocketBasepros & cons

Pros

  • Incredibly simple to deploy
  • Fast and lightweight
  • Great for prototypes and small apps

Cons

  • SQLite limits very high write loads
  • Single-node by design

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...