It’s difficult to definitively say one is “better” than the other, as each has its strengths and is suited for different use cases. However, I can provide a comparison of their key features and performance to help you make an informed decision:

Performance and Scalability

Appwrite consistently outperformed Supabase in stress tests, especially when scaling up to handle more users[1][4]. For example:

  • On a €5/month self-hosted server, Appwrite handled up to 2,000 users per day comfortably, while Supabase struggled with larger loads[1].
  • On a more powerful €30/month server, Appwrite managed up to 250 simultaneous users, while Supabase hit its limit at only 45 users[1].
  • In breakpoint tests, Appwrite reached 6,800 virtual users, processing 100,000 requests with an average 3-second response time. Supabase reached its breakpoint at 3,000 virtual users, with 59,000 requests and a 6-second average response time[4].

Ease of Use

  • Appwrite offers a smoother self-hosting experience with fewer restrictions and less setup complexity[1][3].
  • Supabase can be more challenging to configure in a self-hosted environment and has some features restricted or limited when self-hosted[1][3].

Features

Both platforms offer similar core features, including authentication, databases, storage, and serverless functions. However, there are some differences:

  • Database: Supabase uses PostgreSQL, while Appwrite uses MariaDB[3].
  • Functions: Appwrite supports over 10 programming languages, while Supabase officially supports only TypeScript[2].
  • Messaging: Appwrite offers built-in messaging features with multiple providers for SMS, email, and push notifications. Supabase lacks these built-in messaging features[2].

Cost-effectiveness

Appwrite appears to be more resource-efficient and cost-effective, especially for self-hosted setups[1][4].

Community and Support

Both platforms have active communities, but Appwrite’s community is noted for its responsiveness[3].

Conclusion

Appwrite seems to be the better choice if you prioritize:

  • Performance and scalability
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Ease of self-hosting
  • Broader language support for serverless functions
  • Built-in messaging features

Supabase might be preferable if you need:

  • PostgreSQL database capabilities
  • Specific features that Appwrite doesn’t offer
  • Cloud-based hosting (as Supabase is better optimized for cloud environments)

Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific project requirements, budget, and preferred development ecosystem.

I’m going to use Supabase for my project because I need PostgreSQL database capabilities and prefer cloud-based hosting. However, I’ll keep an eye on Appwrite for future projects that require its specific strengths.

And also, friends of mine are using Supabase for their projects and are quite satisfied with its performance and features. So, let’s see how it goes for me.

I’ll share my experience with Supabase in a future post, so stay tuned!

Citations