Softwr

APIs · head to head

PocketBase vs Sanity

PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sanity logo

Sanity

APIs

Headless CMS with real-time collaborative editing and structured content APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain; Sanity free plan limited to 10,000 documents and 100GB assets
  • They diverge on capability: PocketBase covers REST API, Sanity covers Content API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PocketBase and Sanity actually diverge.

Attributes where PocketBase and Sanity differ
AttributePocketBaseSanity
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSDWeb
Founded20212011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 PocketBase

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

Only in Sanity

  • Content API
  • Collaborative editing
  • Structured content
  • Third-party services
  • GROQ query language
  • Cloud support
  • JavaScript SDK support

Both cover

  • Webhooks

What people use each for

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

PocketBase

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

Sanity

  • Headless CMS for structured content managementnot PocketBase
  • Collaborative content editing with real-time multiplayer supportnot PocketBase
  • API-driven content delivery with GROQ query languagenot 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

Sanity

  • Free plan limited to 10,000 documents and 100GB assets
  • Free plan supports only public datasets
  • Growth plan capped at 50 seats maximum
  • Private datasets, scheduled drafts, and comments/tasks require paid plans
  • Annual billing unavailable for Growth plan; Enterprise-only

Pricing, plan by plan

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Sanity

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 20 seats
    • 2 public datasets only
    • 10,000 documents included
  • Growth$15/month
    • Up to 50 seats per seat
    • 2 private or public datasets
    • 25,000 documents included
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Custom seats
    • Custom datasets
    • Custom document limits

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 Sanity if

  • You need content api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want collaborative editing.
Sanity review

Questions people ask

Is PocketBase or Sanity better?
Neither clearly leads. PocketBase starts at Free and Sanity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PocketBase or Sanity?
PocketBase starts at Free and Sanity at Free.
Does PocketBase or Sanity run on more platforms?
PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD. Sanity runs on Web.
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 Sanity is typically brought in for.
What can PocketBase do that Sanity cannot?
PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite. Sanity covers Content API, Collaborative editing, Structured content, Third-party services. Both handle Webhooks.

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
Sanity: What does the Sanity Free plan include?

The Free plan includes up to 20 seats, 2 public datasets, 10,000 documents, 1 million API CDN requests per month, and 2 permission roles.

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
Sanity: How much does Sanity Growth plan cost per user?

The Growth plan costs $15 per seat per month, with up to 50 seats, and includes 25,000 documents, 1 million API CDN requests, and 5 permission roles.

Source
Sanity: What is included in Sanity Enterprise pricing?

Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting sales. It includes custom seat limits, custom datasets, Single Sign-On, and dedicated support.

Source
Sanity: Does Sanity offer annual billing discounts?

Annual and invoice payment options are available exclusively for Enterprise customers. Self-serve plans (Free and Growth) use monthly billing only.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on PocketBase

More on Sanity

Keep looking

Other head to heads