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APIs · head to head

Moov vs PocketBase

Moov logo

Moov

APIs

Payments API with a published rate card covering card acceptance, ACH and instant payouts

From
$500/month
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

  • Only PocketBase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Moov the 500 US dollar monthly minimum makes Moov unattractive below roughly 80,000 dollars a month of card volume, since the minimum rather than the rate becomes your effective price.; PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • They diverge on capability: Moov covers Interchange-plus card acceptance, PocketBase covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Moov and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Moov and PocketBase differ
AttributeMoovPocketBase
Starting price$500/monthFree
Pricing modelPer transaction plus monthly minimumUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, API, iOS, AndroidLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
FoundedUnknown2021

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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 Moov

  • Interchange-plus card acceptance
  • ACH transfers
  • Instant payments
  • Wallets
  • Payment links and invoices
  • Virtual cards
  • Account verification
  • Card account updater

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

Moov

  • A vertical SaaS company embedding payments that needs published unit economics to price its own product before signing anythingnot PocketBase
  • A marketplace paying contractors that wants same-day ACH and instant push-to-card in one API with the cost of each visiblenot PocketBase
  • A platform that must hold balances for end users between collection and payout without becoming a money transmitternot PocketBase
  • A software company moving off a legacy gateway that wants interchange-plus transparency instead of a blended rate that hides interchange increasesnot PocketBase

PocketBase

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

Where each one falls short

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

Moov

  • The 500 US dollar monthly minimum makes Moov unattractive below roughly 80,000 dollars a month of card volume, since the minimum rather than the rate becomes your effective price.
  • The 50 cent monthly charge per active wallet penalises platforms with many end users who transact rarely, and that cost grows with your user base rather than your revenue.
  • United States only, so any platform with international sellers or buyers needs a second provider and a second reconciliation process.
  • At very high volume the published interchange-plus markup is less competitive than a directly negotiated acquiring relationship, so success eventually creates a reason to leave.
  • The ecosystem of prebuilt integrations, plugins and third-party tooling is far smaller than Stripe's, so anything outside the core API, from tax handling to subscription logic, is work you build yourself.

PocketBase

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Moov

$500/month
  • Standard$500/month
    • 500 USD monthly minimum, no setup fee
    • Card online at interchange plus 0.60% and 15c
    • Tap to pay at interchange plus 0.50% and 15c
  • Custom$undefined/month
    • Negotiated rates for high volume
    • Specialised business models
    • Dedicated support

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Moov if

  • You need interchange-plus card acceptance.
  • You work on Web, API, iOS, Android.
  • You also want ach transfers.
Moov review

Choose PocketBase if

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

Questions people ask

Is Moov or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Moov starts at $500/month and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Moov or PocketBase?
PocketBase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $500/month for Moov and Free for PocketBase.
Does Moov or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Moov runs on Web, API, iOS, Android. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use PocketBase for free?
Yes. PocketBase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Moov starts at $500/month.
What is Moov best used for?
Moov is most often used for a vertical saas company embedding payments that needs published unit economics to price its own product before signing anything, a marketplace paying contractors that wants same-day ach and instant push-to-card in one api with the cost of each visible, a platform that must hold balances for end users between collection and payout without becoming a money transmitter, a software company moving off a legacy gateway that wants interchange-plus transparency instead of a blended rate that hides interchange increases. Of those, a vertical saas company embedding payments that needs published unit economics to price its own product before signing anything and a marketplace paying contractors that wants same-day ach and instant push-to-card in one api with the cost of each visible are not what PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Moov do that PocketBase cannot?
Moov covers Interchange-plus card acceptance, ACH transfers, Instant payments, Wallets. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moov: Does Moov publish its prices?

Yes, in unusual detail: interchange-plus card rates, per-transaction ACH and RTP charges, dispute and return fees, and the monthly minimum are all on the pricing page.

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
Moov: What is the monthly minimum?

500 US dollars, with no setup fee. Wallet charges and transaction fees count towards it.

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
Moov: Can I use Moov outside the United States?

No. Moov handles US payments only, though it accepts international cards at an extra 1.5 percent.

Moov: Is Moov a bank?

No. It is a payments platform working with partner financial institutions, so account and settlement arrangements depend on those partners.

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