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Databases · head to head

CouchDB vs Supabase

CouchDB logo

CouchDB

Databases

Seamless multi-master sync with Apache CouchDB

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Supabase logo

Supabase

Technology

The open source Firebase alternative

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CouchDB append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates; Supabase free tier projects auto-pause after 1 week of inactivity
  • They diverge on capability: CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, Supabase covers PostgreSQL database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CouchDB and Supabase actually diverge.

Attributes where CouchDB and Supabase differ
AttributeCouchDBSupabase
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsDocker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry PiWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDatabasesTechnology
Founded19992020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 CouchDB

  • Multi-master Replication
  • HTTP/JSON API
  • MapReduce Views
  • ACID Semantics
  • Offline-first
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Fauxton UI
  • PouchDB

Only in Supabase

  • PostgreSQL database
  • Auto-generated APIs
  • Authentication & authorization
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Storage
  • Edge functions
  • Vector embeddings
  • Database migrations

What people use each for

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

CouchDB

  • Offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environmentsnot Supabase
  • Multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regionsnot Supabase
  • IoT and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivitynot Supabase

Supabase

  • Web application backends using Postgres plus auto-generated REST/GraphQL APIsnot CouchDB
  • Mobile app backends via Flutter/Swift/Kotlin client librariesnot CouchDB
  • AI applications using vector/embeddings storagenot CouchDB
  • Authentication with 20+ social providers plus email/passwordnot CouchDB
  • File and media storage (S3-compatible with CDN) and realtime sync over WebSocketsnot CouchDB

Where each one falls short

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

CouchDB

  • Append-only storage model may have performance implications for certain workloads with high update rates
  • Requires network synchronisation for cluster data consistency; can introduce latency in multi-master scenarios
  • No explicit support for complex joins; MapReduce queries may be inefficient compared to relational databases

Supabase

  • Free tier projects auto-pause after 1 week of inactivity
  • Free tier hard caps: 500 MB database, 1 GB file storage, 5 GB egress/month, 50,000 monthly active users, max 2 active free projects per organization
  • Pro plan charges usage overages beyond included quotas, e.g. $0.00325 per MAU above 100,000 and $0.125/GB disk above 8 GB
  • SOC2/ISO 27001 certification and HIPAA (add-on) compliance require the $599/month Team plan; not available on the $25/month Pro plan

Pricing, plan by plan

CouchDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CouchDB review.

Supabase

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50,000 MAU
    • 500MB database
    • 5GB egress
  • Pro$25/month
    • 100,000 MAU
    • 8GB disk
    • 250GB egress
  • Team$599/month
    • SOC2 and ISO 27001
    • HIPAA add-on
    • 28-day log / 14-day backup retention
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom limits
    • Dedicated support manager
    • 24/7/365 support

Which should you pick?

Choose CouchDB if

  • You need multi-master replication.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want http/json api.
CouchDB review

Choose Supabase if

  • You need postgresql database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want auto-generated apis.
Supabase review

Questions people ask

Is CouchDB or Supabase better?
Neither clearly leads. CouchDB starts at Free and Supabase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CouchDB or Supabase?
CouchDB starts at Free and Supabase at Free.
Does CouchDB or Supabase run on more platforms?
CouchDB runs on Docker, Windows (x64), macOS, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Raspberry Pi. Supabase runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use CouchDB for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CouchDB best used for?
CouchDB is most often used for offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environments, multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regions, iot and edge computing scenarios with intermittent connectivity. Of those, offline-first applications requiring seamless replication across mobile and server environments and multi-master deployments where data consistency eventually resolves across regions are not what Supabase is typically brought in for.
What can CouchDB do that Supabase cannot?
CouchDB covers Multi-master Replication, HTTP/JSON API, MapReduce Views, ACID Semantics. Supabase covers PostgreSQL database, Auto-generated APIs, Authentication & authorization, Real-time subscriptions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CouchDB: Is Apache CouchDB free to use?

Yes, Apache CouchDB is completely free to download and use. It is open source software licensed under the Apache License 2.0.

Source
Supabase: How much does Supabase cost?

Supabase offers a free tier and three paid plans. Pro starts at $25 per month, Team at $599 per month, and Enterprise requires a custom quote. All pricing is in USD charged monthly.

Source
CouchDB: Can I use CouchDB for commercial purposes?

Yes, the Apache License 2.0 permits commercial use. The license is permissive and does not restrict business applications.

Source
Supabase: What are Supabase's usage overage fees?

Pro plan users pay $0.00325 per monthly active user over the 100,000 included, and $0.125 per GB for database storage exceeding 8 GB per project. Compute instances cost $10 to $3,730+ per month.

Source
CouchDB: Is there a paid support or professional services option?

CouchDB's homepage mentions Professional Services as an available option, but no pricing details or specific service costs are listed. Contact the Apache CouchDB project for more information.

Source
CouchDB: Who handles hosting costs if I use CouchDB?

CouchDB is self-hosted, so you are responsible for your own infrastructure and hosting costs. The software itself is free.

Source
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