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ConvexvsSupabase

Convex vs Supabase ComparisonReactive TypeScript-native backend vs Postgres-powered open source: the BaaS fork developers actually argue about

Supabase launched in 2020 as the open-source Firebase alternative and quickly became the default BaaS for teams who wanted Postgres: familiar SQL, self-hostable, no vendor lock-in on the database layer. Convex is newer and bets on a different abstraction: instead of SQL and REST, you write TypeScript functions that run on the server, and the client subscribes to query results that update automatically. There's no SQL, no ORM, and no manual invalidation, and the database is reactive by default. Convex's model is compelling for apps where real-time sync is a first-class requirement. Supabase wins for everything else, particularly teams who think in SQL and want the option to escape the managed layer.

Head-to-head summary

3
Convex wins
0
Ties
4
Supabase wins

Detailed comparison

Database model
Convex
Document store: TypeScript-first, no SQL, schema defined in TypeScript
Supabase
PostgreSQL: relational, full SQL, joins, views, foreign keys
Real-time reactivity
Convex
Automatic: all queries are live subscriptions by default, no setup required
Supabase
Available: Postgres real-time via logical replication, requires configuration
Type safety
Convex
Excellent: end-to-end TypeScript, queries and mutations are fully typed functions
Supabase
Good: typed via Supabase client generation or Drizzle/Prisma on top
Vendor lock-in
Convex
High: Convex's query model, functions, and reactivity are proprietary
Supabase
Low: open-source, self-hostable, standard Postgres underneath
SQL & familiarity
Convex
None: no SQL, no migrations in the traditional sense
Supabase
Full SQL: team SQL knowledge transfers directly
Consistency guarantees
Convex
Strong: serializable transactions enforced at the platform level
Supabase
Standard Postgres: ACID transactions, but you manage transaction logic
Ecosystem & self-hosting
Convex
Hosted-only: no self-host option, newer and smaller community
Supabase
Open-source: self-hostable via Docker, large and growing community

Our verdict

We recommend: Supabase

Supabase is the better default for most teams. Postgres is a familiar, proven foundation: you can use any ORM, write raw SQL, and self-host if your requirements change. Convex is worth choosing when real-time reactivity is a core product feature, your team is TypeScript-first and wants a fully type-safe backend without ORMs, or you're building a product where Convex's automatic consistency guarantees simplify otherwise-hard problems.

When to choose each

Choose Convex when:

  • Real-time data sync is a core feature: collaborative tools, live dashboards, multiplayer apps
  • Your team is TypeScript-first and wants a fully type-safe backend without learning SQL or managing an ORM
  • You want automatic consistency guarantees without thinking about transaction boundaries
  • You're building a greenfield app and are willing to trade SQL familiarity for the reactive model

Choose Supabase when:

  • Your team knows SQL and wants to leverage that knowledge directly
  • You need the option to self-host or migrate off the managed platform later
  • Your data is relational: users, teams, permissions, orders, and benefits from Postgres joins
  • You're using Prisma, Drizzle, or another Postgres-first ORM and don't want to abandon it

Frequently asked questions

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