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Cloudinary vs Firebase Realtime Database

C

Cloudinary

Software

Image and video API for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Firebase Realtime Database logo

Firebase Realtime Database

Software

Store and sync data in real-time across all clients

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cloudinary paid plans jump from a free tier straight to $224 per month, with usage priced on transformations, storage, and bandwidth credits that consume quickly at scale; Firebase Realtime Database the no-cost Spark plan caps storage at 1 GB, downloads at 10 GB per month and simultaneous connections at 100

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cloudinary and Firebase Realtime Database actually diverge.

Attributes where Cloudinary and Firebase Realtime Database differ
AttributeCloudinaryFirebase Realtime Database
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Cloudinary

Nothing recorded that Firebase Realtime Database does not also cover.

Only in Firebase Realtime Database

  • Real-time Sync
  • Offline Support
  • JSON Storage
  • Security Rules
  • Data Validation
  • Multi-platform SDKs
  • Scalable
  • Firebase Auth

What people use each for

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

Cloudinary

No use cases recorded yet. See the Cloudinary review.

Firebase Realtime Database

  • Syncing JSON application state between clients in real timenot Cloudinary
  • Backing mobile and web apps with offline capable data storagenot Cloudinary
  • Prototyping realtime features such as presence and chatnot Cloudinary

Where each one falls short

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

Cloudinary

  • Paid plans jump from a free tier straight to $224 per month, with usage priced on transformations, storage, and bandwidth credits that consume quickly at scale

Firebase Realtime Database

  • The no-cost Spark plan caps storage at 1 GB, downloads at 10 GB per month and simultaneous connections at 100
  • The Spark plan does not support multiple databases in a project
  • Even on the paid Blaze plan simultaneous connections are capped at 200,000 per database
  • Billing is by data transferred out at $1 per GB plus $5 per GB stored, so chatty clients cost more than the data volume suggests

Pricing, plan by plan

Cloudinary

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cloudinary review.

Firebase Realtime Database

Free
  • SparkFree
    • 1GB storage
    • 10GB/month download
    • 100 simultaneous connections
  • BlazeFree
    • Pay as you go
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited connections

Which should you pick?

Choose Cloudinary if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cloudinary review

Choose Firebase Realtime Database if

  • You need real-time sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want offline support.
Firebase Realtime Database review

Questions people ask

Is Cloudinary or Firebase Realtime Database better?
Neither clearly leads. Cloudinary starts at Free and Firebase Realtime Database at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cloudinary or Firebase Realtime Database?
Cloudinary starts at Free and Firebase Realtime Database at Free.
Does Cloudinary or Firebase Realtime Database run on more platforms?
Cloudinary runs on Web. Firebase Realtime Database runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Cloudinary for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Cloudinary do that Firebase Realtime Database cannot?
Firebase Realtime Database covers Real-time Sync, Offline Support, JSON Storage, Security Rules.
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