Database & Data Management · head to head
Firebase Realtime Database vs Cloudinary
Firebase Realtime Database
Database & Data Management
Store and sync data in real-time across all clients
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Cloudinary
Database & Data Management
Image and video API for developers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Firebase Realtime Database the no-cost Spark plan caps storage at 1 GB, downloads at 10 GB per month and simultaneous connections at 100; 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
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Firebase Realtime Database and Cloudinary actually diverge.
| Attribute | Firebase Realtime Database | Cloudinary |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web |
| Founded | 2011 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management).
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 Firebase Realtime Database
- Real-time Sync
- Offline Support
- JSON Storage
- Security Rules
- Data Validation
- Multi-platform SDKs
- Scalable
- Firebase Auth
Only in Cloudinary
Nothing recorded that Firebase Realtime Database does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
Cloudinary
No use cases recorded yet. See the Cloudinary review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Firebase Realtime Database
Free- SparkFree
- 1GB storage
- 10GB/month download
- 100 simultaneous connections
- BlazeFree
- Pay as you go
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited connections
Cloudinary
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cloudinary review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Firebase Realtime Database or Cloudinary better?
- Neither clearly leads. Firebase Realtime Database starts at Free and Cloudinary at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Firebase Realtime Database or Cloudinary?
- Firebase Realtime Database starts at Free and Cloudinary at Free.
- Does Firebase Realtime Database or Cloudinary run on more platforms?
- Firebase Realtime Database runs on Web, Ios, Android. Cloudinary runs on Web.
- Can I use Firebase Realtime Database for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Firebase Realtime Database best used for?
- Firebase Realtime Database is most often used for syncing json application state between clients in real time, backing mobile and web apps with offline capable data storage, prototyping realtime features such as presence and chat. Of those, syncing json application state between clients in real time and backing mobile and web apps with offline capable data storage are not what Cloudinary is typically brought in for.
- What can Firebase Realtime Database do that Cloudinary cannot?
- Firebase Realtime Database covers Real-time Sync, Offline Support, JSON Storage, Security Rules.