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Mobile Development · head to head

Firebase vs PocketBase

Firebase logo

Firebase

Mobile Development

Google's platform for building web and mobile applications with cloud backend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Firebase spark plan limited to 1 GiB storage, 50,000 daily reads, 20,000 daily writes; PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • They diverge on capability: Firebase covers Real-time Database, PocketBase covers Real-time subscriptions.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Firebase and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Firebase and PocketBase differ
AttributeFirebasePocketBase
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Flutter, C++, UnityLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
CategoryMobile DevelopmentAPIs
Founded19982021

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 Firebase

  • Real-time Database
  • Authentication
  • Google Cloud
  • Cloud functions
  • Cloud Storage
  • Web support
  • Mobile support
  • Cloud support

Only in PocketBase

  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support
  • Self-hosted support

Both cover

  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Firebase

  • Mobile app backend developmentnot PocketBase
  • Real-time data synchronisationnot PocketBase
  • Web application backendnot PocketBase
  • Cross-platform app developmentnot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Firebase
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Firebase
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Firebase
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Firebase
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Firebase
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot Firebase

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)

PocketBase

  • Requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • No built-in hosting provided
  • Community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Firebase

Free
  • SparkFree
    • No-cost usage with daily-refreshing quotas
    • Cloud Firestore: up to 1 GB storage, 20K writes/day, 50K reads/day
    • Cloud Functions: up to 2M invocations/month, 400K GB-seconds/month
  • Blaze$null/variable
    • Pay-as-you-go usage beyond free tier
    • Cloud Firestore: $5/GB after 1 GB, writes beyond 20K/day at overage rates
    • Cloud Functions: $0.40 per million invocations beyond 2M/month, $0.12/GB for outbound networking beyond 5 GB/month

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase 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 authentication.
Firebase review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need real-time subscriptions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want admin ui.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is Firebase or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Firebase starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Firebase or PocketBase?
Firebase starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does Firebase or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Firebase runs on iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, C++, Unity. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use Firebase for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Firebase do that PocketBase cannot?
Firebase covers Real-time Database, Authentication, Google Cloud, Cloud functions. PocketBase covers Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite, Webhooks. Both handle REST API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Firebase: What are Firebase's free tier limits?

Firebase Spark plan includes no-cost daily-refreshing quotas: Cloud Firestore up to 1 GB storage with 20K writes and 50K reads per day; Cloud Functions up to 2M invocations monthly; Cloud Storage 5 GB-months with 100 GB downloads monthly; Hosting 10 GB storage and 360 MB daily data transfer; Realtime Database up to 1 GB storage. No payment method required.

Source
PocketBase: How much does PocketBase cost?

PocketBase is completely free and open-source. It is a self-hosted backend solution with database, authentication, and file storage capabilities at no cost.

Source
Firebase: How much does Firebase Blaze plan cost?

Firebase Blaze is pay-as-you-go beyond free tier limits. Pricing includes Cloud Firestore storage at $5/GB after 1 GB; Cloud Functions $0.40 per million invocations beyond 2M monthly; Cloud Storage $0.026/GB beyond 5 GB; Hosting $0.15/GB beyond 360 MB daily. New eligible customers receive $300 free credit.

Source
PocketBase: Is PocketBase open-source?

Yes, PocketBase is open-source software. You can download, modify, and deploy it yourself at no cost with no licensing restrictions.

Source
Firebase: Which Firebase services are always free regardless of tier?

A/B Testing, Analytics, App Check, Cloud Messaging, and Crashlytics are offered at no cost on both Spark and Blaze plans, with no usage limits stated.

Source
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