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AWS API Gateway vs PocketBase

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

Software

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer; PocketBase not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, PocketBase covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and PocketBase differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayPocketBase
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
PlatformsAWS CloudLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
Founded20062021

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 AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot PocketBase
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot PocketBase
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot PocketBase
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot PocketBase
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot AWS API Gateway
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot AWS API Gateway
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot AWS API Gateway
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot AWS API Gateway
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot AWS API Gateway
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot AWS API Gateway

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

PocketBase

  • Not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • Full backward compatibility not guaranteed before v1.0.0 (breaking changes possible with version updates)
  • Pull requests for new features are disabled due to spam concerns (feature contributions limited)

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is AWS API Gateway or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or PocketBase?
AWS API Gateway starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does AWS API Gateway or PocketBase run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AWS API Gateway best used for?
AWS API Gateway is most often used for fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint, rest and http api management with throttling and keys, websocket apis for real-time clients, private apis reachable only inside a vpc. Of those, fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint and rest and http api management with throttling and keys are not what PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that PocketBase cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite.
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