Stack
PocketBase
An open source backend that ships as one Go binary: SQLite, auth, file storage, realtime, and an admin UI.
What it actually does
PocketBase is a self-hosted, open source backend distributed as a single Go binary. Run it and you get a SQLite database, authentication with OAuth2, file storage, realtime subscriptions, and an admin dashboard, with no external dependencies to install.
For a cost-obsessed solo founder the appeal is that the software is free forever and the only bill is a small VPS, roughly $4 to $6/mo on Hetzner or DigitalOcean. Your data is a plain SQLite file on your own server, which is the strongest exit story in this category.
The costs are operational and maturity-related. You are the ops team for backups, TLS, monitoring, updates, and security patching, with no managed hosting or support contract, and it is pre-1.0 software (v0.39.x) run as a volunteer project that still ships breaking changes between releases.
PocketBase vs its main rivals
The tools people actually weigh against PocketBase: Supabase, Appwrite, Firebase. Same criteria for every column, including where PocketBase loses.
| PocketBase |  Supabase |  Appwrite |  Firebase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing & access | ||||
| Free tier | UnknownAll (OSS) | Unknown500 MB | Unknown2 GB | Unknown1 GiB, no pause |
| Starting price | $0 (+VPS) | $25/mo | $25/mo | $0 PAYG |
Operations | ||||
| Managed hosting included | NoSelf-host only | YesYes | YesCloud | YesYes |
| Managed backups / TLS / updates | NoDIY | YesManaged | YesManaged | YesManaged |
Database engine | ||||
| SQLite | YesYes | NoPostgres | NoDocument | NoNoSQL |
| Relational SQL | YesSQLite | YesPostgres | UnknownLimited | NoNo |
Bundled services | ||||
| Built-in auth (OAuth2) | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes |
| File storage | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes |
| Realtime subscriptions | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes |
| Admin dashboard | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes |
Portability | ||||
| Data as portable file | YesSQLite file | UnknownPG dump | UnknownExport | NoExport API |
- Total software cost is $0 forever; the only bill is a small VPS, around $4 to $6/mo
- One binary with zero dependencies bundles auth, realtime, file storage, and admin dashboard, deployable in minutes
- Data is a plain SQLite file on your own server, the strongest exit story in this list
- You are the ops team: backups, TLS, monitoring, updates, and patching are all on you, with no support contract
- Pre-1.0 software (v0.39.x) run as a volunteer project, still shipping breaking changes between releases
- SQLite on a single VPS has no built-in high availability or horizontal scaling story
Pay less for it
5 ways foundThere is no paid tier; the only recurring cost is the server you run it on
A Hetzner or DigitalOcean instance at $4 to $6/mo runs it comfortably for a small app
Pair with Litestream to stream SQLite backups to low-cost object storage instead of a managed backup service
New-account credits from cloud hosts can cover the first months of the server outright
Supabase — If you would rather not run a VPS at all, Supabase's free tier gives a managed backend at $0 until you outgrow it
StackTracker tracks what you actually pay for PocketBase and every other tool, flags overpayment, and shows the dollars you would save by switching.
Is it the right tool for you
- You are comfortable running and maintaining a VPS yourself
- You want a full backend for the price of a coffee per month
- Full data ownership and a clean exit story matter to you
- You do not want to own backups, TLS, and patching → use Supabase
- You need high availability or horizontal scale → use PlanetScale
Track what PocketBase and the rest of your stack cost
StackTracker adds up every subscription, plus your hours, so you see the real number.
Prices and limits last verified 2026-07-20.