Database & Data Management · head to head
Firebase Realtime Database vs Ninox
Firebase Realtime Database
Database & Data Management
Store and sync data in real-time across all clients
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Firebase Realtime Database has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; Ninox paid plans are priced per user starting around 25 euros per month, and offline desktop and mobile access is limited to the higher Business and Enterprise tiers
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Firebase Realtime Database and Ninox actually diverge.
| Attribute | Firebase Realtime Database | Ninox |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web |
| Founded | 2011 | Unknown |
Identical on both: 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 Ninox
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 Ninox
- Backing mobile and web apps with offline capable data storagenot Ninox
- Prototyping realtime features such as presence and chatnot Ninox
Ninox
No use cases recorded yet. See the Ninox 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
Ninox
- Paid plans are priced per user starting around 25 euros per month, and offline desktop and mobile access is limited to the higher Business and Enterprise tiers
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
Ninox
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Ninox 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.
Choose Ninox if
Nothing in the data separates Ninox from Firebase Realtime Database on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Firebase Realtime Database or Ninox better?
- Neither clearly leads. Firebase Realtime Database starts at Free and Ninox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Firebase Realtime Database or Ninox?
- Firebase Realtime Database has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Firebase Realtime Database and On request for Ninox.
- Does Firebase Realtime Database or Ninox run on more platforms?
- Firebase Realtime Database runs on Web, Ios, Android. Ninox runs on Web.
- Can I use Firebase Realtime Database for free?
- Yes. Firebase Realtime Database has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ninox starts at On request.
- 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 Ninox is typically brought in for.
- What can Firebase Realtime Database do that Ninox cannot?
- Firebase Realtime Database covers Real-time Sync, Offline Support, JSON Storage, Security Rules.