Software · head to head
Firebase vs BuildFire
Firebase
Software
Google's platform for building web and mobile applications with cloud backend
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Firebase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Firebase spark plan limited to 1 GiB storage, 50,000 daily reads, 20,000 daily writes; BuildFire standard plan at $165/month is limited to 1 in-app purchase, 1 admin seat and 5GB storage
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Firebase and BuildFire actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Firebase
- Real-time Database
- REST API
- Authentication
- Google Cloud
- Cloud functions
- Cloud Storage
- Web support
- Mobile support
Only in BuildFire
Nothing recorded that Firebase does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Firebase
- Mobile app backend developmentnot BuildFire
- Real-time data synchronisationnot BuildFire
- Web application backendnot BuildFire
- Cross-platform app developmentnot BuildFire
BuildFire
No use cases recorded yet. See the BuildFire review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Firebase
- Spark plan limited to 1 GiB storage, 50,000 daily reads, 20,000 daily writes
- Spark plan restricts to 100 concurrent database connections
- Spark plan limits Firebase Studio to 3 workspaces maximum
- Document size capped at 1 MiB per document
- Transaction time limited to 270 seconds with 60-second idle expiration
- Maximum 100 databases per project (increase requires support request)
BuildFire
- Standard plan at $165/month is limited to 1 in-app purchase, 1 admin seat and 5GB storage
- Unlimited in-app purchases require the $440/month Scale plan
Pricing, plan by plan
Firebase
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Firebase review.
BuildFire
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the BuildFire review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Firebase if
- You need real-time database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, C++, Unity.
- You also want rest api.
Choose BuildFire if
Nothing in the data separates BuildFire from Firebase on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Firebase or BuildFire better?
- Neither clearly leads. Firebase starts at Free and BuildFire at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Firebase or BuildFire?
- Firebase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Firebase and On request for BuildFire.
- Does Firebase or BuildFire run on more platforms?
- Firebase runs on iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, C++, Unity. BuildFire runs on Web.
- Can I use Firebase for free?
- Yes. Firebase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BuildFire starts at On request.
- What is Firebase best used for?
- Firebase is most often used for mobile app backend development, real-time data synchronisation, web application backend, cross-platform app development. Of those, mobile app backend development and real-time data synchronisation are not what BuildFire is typically brought in for.
- What can Firebase do that BuildFire cannot?
- Firebase covers Real-time Database, REST API, Authentication, Google Cloud.