Last reviewed: 2026-07-10
Free database hosting is useful for prototypes, portfolios and learning, but the products are not interchangeable. Neon is serverless Postgres, Supabase adds an application backend around Postgres, Firebase is a document database ecosystem, and PlanetScale targets MySQL-compatible workflows.
Use Neon for a focused free PostgreSQL database with standard SQL compatibility.
Use Supabase when you also need auth, storage, realtime and generated APIs.
Use Firebase for mobile and web apps built around Firestore's document model.
Choose by data model and lifecycle first, then compare free storage and inactivity rules.
Best pure Postgres
Best for
Django, Node.js, serverless apps and SQL learning
Neon provides standard serverless Postgres, scale-to-zero compute and a Free plan without a card.
Best Postgres app backend
Best for
Apps needing SQL, authentication, storage, realtime and APIs together
Supabase combines a Postgres database with auth, storage, edge functions and generated APIs.
Best mobile document database
Best for
Realtime mobile and web apps using Firebase Authentication and Hosting
Firestore integrates tightly with client SDKs, security rules and the Firebase ecosystem.
Best MySQL-compatible workflow
Best for
Teams specifically needing Vitess-based MySQL compatibility
PlanetScale provides a managed database workflow designed around branching and scalable MySQL infrastructure.
Choose PostgreSQL when you need relational constraints, joins and broad framework compatibility. Choose Firestore when the application naturally uses documents, client SDKs and realtime listeners. MySQL-compatible services make sense when the code or team already depends on that ecosystem.
Neon is the cleanest general-purpose database choice in this set. Supabase is more than a database and can replace several backend components, but that convenience creates a wider platform decision. Firebase is excellent when its client-first model fits; migrating a deeply integrated app to SQL later is a real project.
Compare storage, compute hours, egress, connections, project count, inactivity behavior, backups and region availability. Use connection pooling for serverless functions, enforce row-level or application authorization, and keep migrations in version control.
Export a backup before any free-tier deadline and test restoring it. A database is only free while the operational risk remains acceptable.
Realtime chat pattern built from Supabase's Postgres, Auth and Realtime platform rather than a standalone maintained demo repository.
Deploy free to
Archived Next.js subscription starter with Stripe, Supabase and Vercel deploy, now superseded by the newer Next.js SaaS Starter.
Neon NEW Neon Inc. Neon is serverless Postgres. Neon separates storage and compute to offer autoscaling, branching, and bottomless storage.
Free tier
100 projects, 100 CU-hours/month per project, 0.5GB storage/project
Paid from $15/mo · Multi-region
Supabase NEW Supabase Inc. Supabase is an open source Firebase alternative with Postgres, Auth, instant APIs, Edge Functions and Realtime subscriptions.
Free tier
500MB database, 1GB storage, 2GB bandwidth
Paid from $25/mo · Multi-region
Firebase Google Firebase is Google's mobile and web application development platform that helps you build, improve, and grow your app.
Free tier
Spark plan with generous limits
Pay-as-you-go · Multi-region
PlanetScale PlanetScale Inc. PlanetScale is the world's most advanced serverless MySQL platform. Build faster with branching, non-blocking schema changes, and more.
No free tier
Neon is a strong default for plain PostgreSQL. Supabase is better when the app also needs auth, storage and realtime. Firebase fits a document-oriented mobile or web architecture.
Neon advertises a no-card Free plan. Requirements can change, so confirm signup conditions and quotas on the provider's current pricing page.
Some scale compute to zero and wake on connection; others pause inactive projects. Test reconnection behavior and never treat a free plan as an uptime guarantee.
Only for low-risk workloads with tested backups and an upgrade plan. Customer data needs predictable retention, restore procedures, monitoring and support.
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