Appwrite vs Firebase: which is better for self-hosting?

Appwrite is ideal for self-hosting with full control over infrastructure, while Firebase is a managed service with tighter Google Cloud integration. Choose Appwrite if you need open-source flexibility and avoid vendor lock-in, but expect more setup work.

How to set up Appwrite with Kubernetes for production?

Use the provided docker-compose.yml file as a base and adapt it for Kubernetes, as Appwrite's microservices are containerized. Refer to the environment variables docs for customization, but note that production deployment requires additional config for scaling and persistence.

Does Appwrite support GraphQL APIs?

Yes, Appwrite supports GraphQL alongside REST and WebSocket APIs, as mentioned in the Architecture section. This allows flexible querying of resources, though the implementation might not be as feature-rich as dedicated GraphQL services.

Is Appwrite free to use for commercial projects?

Yes, the open-source version is free and self-hostable under BSD license. Appwrite Cloud is in public beta with free usage during beta, but future pricing may apply for managed services.

What runtimes are supported for Appwrite Functions?

Appwrite Functions support 15 runtimes, including Node.js, Python, and PHP, as noted in the README. This allows custom backend logic, but check the docs for specific version support and limitations.

Can I use Appwrite with React Native for authentication?

Yes, Appwrite provides an SDK for React Native with Auth features like email/password, OAuth, and sessions. Follow the quick start guide for React Native to integrate it easily into mobile apps.

Open-Awesome

appwrite

BSD-3-ClauseTypeScript2.0.0Self-Hosted

An open-source, all-in-one development platform providing backend infrastructure and web hosting for web, mobile, and AI applications.

Visit Website GitHub

57.3k stars5.7k forks0 contributors

What is appwrite?

Appwrite is an open-source, all-in-one development platform that provides a complete backend infrastructure and web hosting solution for building web, mobile, and AI applications. It bundles essential services like authentication, databases, storage, serverless functions, messaging, and hosting into a single, integrated platform. It solves the problem of managing a fragmented stack of backend services by offering a unified, self-hostable alternative.

Target Audience

Development teams and individual developers building web, mobile, or AI applications who want a consolidated, production-ready backend without vendor lock-in. It's ideal for those who prefer self-hosting or need a flexible, open-source alternative to commercial BaaS platforms.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Appwrite for its comprehensive, integrated feature set, open-source nature, and self-hosting capability. It offers a unified platform that reduces backend complexity, provides secure and flexible APIs, and allows full control over infrastructure, avoiding vendor lock-in.

Overview

Appwrite® - complete cloud infrastructure for your web, mobile and AI apps. Including Auth, Databases, Storage, Functions, Messaging, Hosting, Realtime and more

Use Cases

Best For

Building full-stack web applications with integrated backend services
Developing mobile apps that require authentication, databases, and file storage
Creating AI applications that need scalable backend infrastructure
Teams wanting a self-hosted alternative to Firebase or Supabase
Projects requiring serverless functions for custom backend logic
Deploying and hosting web applications with seamless backend integration

Not Ideal For

Projects deeply integrated with specialized cloud services like AWS SageMaker or Google Cloud AI
Applications requiring real-time data sync at massive scale beyond basic WebSocket support
Teams with strict data residency needs in regions not covered by Appwrite Cloud
Static or JAMstack sites where backend services add unnecessary overhead

Pros & Cons

Pros

Comprehensive Feature Bundle

Integrates authentication, databases, storage, functions, messaging, and hosting into a single platform, as listed in the README's Products section, reducing backend fragmentation.

Self-Hosting Flexibility

Can be deployed on user-controlled infrastructure via Docker, with one-click setups for cloud providers like DigitalOcean and AWS, offering freedom from vendor lock-in.

Broad SDK Support

Provides SDKs for numerous platforms including Web, Mobile (Flutter, React Native), and Server (Node.js, Python, .NET), easing integration across tech stacks.

Open-Source Transparency

Released under BSD 3-Clause License with active community contributions, allowing customization and auditability without hidden costs.

Cons

Production Self-Hosting Complexity

Microservices architecture requires significant DevOps effort for scaling, monitoring, and securing in production, beyond the basic Docker setup described.

Ecosystem Limitations

Smaller third-party integration ecosystem compared to Firebase or Supabase, potentially limiting plugins and community-driven tools.

Documentation Gaps

Quick starts are provided, but advanced use cases or troubleshooting for edge scenarios may be less covered, relying on community support.

Open Source Alternative To

appwrite is an open-source alternative to the following products:

AWS Amplify

Firebase

Firebase is a Google-backed platform for developing mobile and web applications, providing backend services like authentication, databases, and hosting.

Supabase

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative that provides a PostgreSQL database, authentication, real-time subscriptions, and storage APIs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Tooljet

Open-source foundation of ToolJet AI - the enterprise app generation platform for internal tools, dashboards, business applications, workflows and AI agents. Build visually, from a prompt, or from Claude Code, Codex and Cursor over MCP 🚀

Stars40,862

Forks5,441

Last commit2 hours ago

Appsmith

Platform to build admin panels, internal tools, and dashboards. Integrates with 25+ databases and any API.

Stars40,828

Forks4,757

Last commit7 hours ago

nextcloud

☁️ Nextcloud server, a safe home for all your data

Stars36,747

Forks5,156

Last commit4 hours ago

Symfony

The Symfony PHP framework

Stars31,146

Forks9,866

Last commit12 hours ago

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub