Software · head to head
Appwrite vs Firebase
Appwrite
Software
Open-source Backend as a Service with REST API and SDKs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Firebase
Software
Google's platform for building web and mobile applications with cloud backend
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Appwrite smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase; fewer third-party integrations and extensions; Firebase spark plan limited to 1 GiB storage, 50,000 daily reads, 20,000 daily writes
- They diverge on capability: Appwrite covers Database, Firebase covers Real-time Database.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Appwrite and Firebase actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Appwrite
- Database
- Multiple SDKs
- File storage
- Docker support
- Self-hosted support
- Kubernetes support
Only in Firebase
- Real-time Database
- Google Cloud
- Cloud Storage
- Web support
- Mobile support
Both cover
- REST API
- Authentication
- Cloud functions
- Cloud support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Appwrite
- API Developmentnot Firebase
- API Gatewaynot Firebase
- API Testingnot Firebase
- API Documentationnot Firebase
- Microservicesnot Firebase
Firebase
- Mobile app backend developmentnot Appwrite
- Real-time data synchronisationnot Appwrite
- Web application backendnot Appwrite
- Cross-platform app developmentnot Appwrite
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Appwrite
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase; fewer third-party integrations and extensions
- Analytics, crash reporting, and A/B testing not included (Firebase includes these)
- Requires infrastructure management for self-hosted deployments; not fully managed like Firebase Cloud
- Mobile app support not as mature as Firebase's native iOS/Android SDKs
Firebase
- Spark plan limited to 1 GiB storage, 50,000 daily reads, 20,000 daily writes
- Spark plan restricts to 100 concurrent database connections
- Spark plan limits Firebase Studio to 3 workspaces maximum
- Document size capped at 1 MiB per document
- Transaction time limited to 270 seconds with 60-second idle expiration
- Maximum 100 databases per project (increase requires support request)
Pricing, plan by plan
Appwrite
Free- Cloud FreeFree
- 75K MAU
- 10GB storage
- Unlimited projects
- Cloud Pro$15/month
- More storage
- Priority support
Firebase
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Firebase review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Appwrite if
- You need database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker.
- You also want multiple sdks.
Choose Firebase if
- You need real-time database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, C++, Unity.
- You also want google cloud.
Questions people ask
- Is Appwrite or Firebase better?
- Neither clearly leads. Appwrite starts at Free and Firebase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Appwrite or Firebase?
- Appwrite starts at Free and Firebase at Free.
- Does Appwrite or Firebase run on more platforms?
- Appwrite runs on Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker. Firebase runs on iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, C++, Unity.
- Can I use Appwrite for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Appwrite best used for?
- Appwrite is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Firebase is typically brought in for.
- What can Appwrite do that Firebase cannot?
- Appwrite covers Database, Multiple SDKs, File storage, Docker support. Firebase covers Real-time Database, Google Cloud, Cloud Storage, Web support. Both handle REST API, Authentication, Cloud functions, Cloud support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Appwrite: Can Appwrite be self-hosted?
Yes. Appwrite is fully open-source and self-hosted with a single Docker command. Self-hosting is completely free with no feature restrictions, unlike the managed Appwrite Cloud.
SourceAppwrite: What is Appwrite Cloud's pricing?
Appwrite Cloud offers a free tier with unlimited projects, 75K monthly active users, and 10GB storage with no time limit. Pro plan starts at $15/month per organization member. Scale plan at $599/month includes dedicated resources and SOC 2 compliance.
SourceAppwrite: What programming languages does Appwrite support?
Appwrite provides SDKs for 15+ languages including JavaScript, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin, Python, Ruby, PHP, .NET, and more, offering more language flexibility than Firebase.
SourceAppwrite: What backend services does Appwrite provide?
Appwrite includes Auth (with multi-factor auth), Databases, Storage (with compression and encryption), Serverless Functions, Messaging, Realtime subscriptions, and Sites (for hosting static and full-stack apps).
SourceAppwrite: Does Appwrite include real-time capabilities?
Yes. Appwrite's Realtime service covers all platform services by default through WebSocket subscriptions, enabling real-time updates across databases, functions, and messages.
SourceAppwrite: How does Appwrite compare to Firebase on costs?
Appwrite offers better cost predictability. Firebase's pay-per-read/write model can lead to unexpected bills with runaway queries, while Appwrite's self-hosted model only requires paying for your own infrastructure with completely predictable costs.
Source