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APIs · head to head

PocketBase vs SST

PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SST logo

SST

Cloud

Build full-stack apps on your own infrastructure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain; SST primarily optimized for AWS with Cloudflare support
  • They diverge on capability: PocketBase covers REST API, SST covers Single config file.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PocketBase and SST actually diverge.

Attributes where PocketBase and SST differ
AttributePocketBaseSST
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSDAWS, Cloudflare, Node.js
CategoryAPIsCloud
Founded2021Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 PocketBase

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

Only in SST

  • Single config file
  • Resource linking
  • Local development
  • Multi-cloud support
  • Multiple deployment stages
  • VPC tunneling

What people use each for

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

PocketBase

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

SST

  • Deploying Next.js frontends with serverless backendsnot PocketBase
  • Managing databases and storage alongside application codenot PocketBase
  • Creating staging environments for feature testingnot PocketBase

Where each one falls short

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

PocketBase

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

SST

  • Primarily optimized for AWS with Cloudflare support
  • Learning curve for developers unfamiliar with infrastructure concepts
  • Limited documentation for some advanced use cases

Pricing, plan by plan

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

SST

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SST review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose SST if

  • You need single config file.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js.
  • You also want resource linking.
SST review

Questions people ask

Is PocketBase or SST better?
Neither clearly leads. PocketBase starts at Free and SST at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PocketBase or SST?
PocketBase starts at Free and SST at Free.
Does PocketBase or SST run on more platforms?
PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD. SST runs on AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js.
Can I use PocketBase for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is PocketBase best used for?
PocketBase is most often used for embedded realtime database with rest api, backend-as-a-service for single-file deployments, rapid application development with email/oauth2 authentication, file storage and media attachment management. Of those, embedded realtime database with rest api and backend-as-a-service for single-file deployments are not what SST is typically brought in for.
What can PocketBase do that SST cannot?
PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite. SST covers Single config file, Resource linking, Local development, Multi-cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
SST: Is SST free?

Yes, SST is open source and free. You only pay for cloud resources from AWS and other providers.

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
SST: What cloud providers does SST support?

SST supports over 150 providers through built-in AWS and Cloudflare components, plus Pulumi and Terraform providers.

Source
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Related pages

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