Use Case / Add a Database
When your app needs to save stuff, you need a database
By Matt Ballek Updated on
Matt's Vibe Tiers
Different strengths, different tiers. Choose a tool to read the full review.
The one I would send most builders to first.
Safer defaults, clearer setup, fewer early regrets.
Strongest overall tools when power matters more than hand-holding.
Interesting tools that might be perfect for the right idea.
How I pick: These picks balance developer experience, beginner friendliness, AI-agent compatibility, scaling headroom, and how likely the data model is to age well.
Quick Picks
Same tools, different starting points. Pick the situation that sounds like yours.
Best all-around default
Supabase is the easiest recommendation when you want Postgres power without a miserable setup curve.
Fastest path for app-backend velocity
Firebase is still great when speed matters, and its newer SQL/search work makes the old NoSQL-only caveat a little less sharp.
Best if you want serverless Postgres
Neon is strong when you want modern Postgres infrastructure without also adopting a giant app platform.
Best for lightweight edge-ish SQLite setups
Turso is increasingly interesting when your app wants SQLite ergonomics, sync, and a distributed deployment story.
Ranked Breakdown
Why each tool made the list, where it fits, and what to read before you choose.
Fast enough to build with AI, but real enough to build something shippable.
The Postgres development platform: database, auth, storage, realtime, and edge functions in one dashboard. A Firebase-like developer experience powered by Postgres and open source building blocks.
Still the fastest path from idea to working app, with improving SQL/search escape hatches when the first data model gets too cramped.
Google’s app development platform for building, shipping, and monitoring web and mobile apps. Batteries-included backend services: databases, auth, hosting, storage, functions, analytics, crash reporting, AI Logic, and more.
A great option when you specifically want modern Postgres infrastructure, branching, and agent-safe database workflows.
Serverless Postgres platform with autoscaling, branching, read replicas, restore history, AI-agent workflows, and modern developer ergonomics. A strong option when you want Postgres infrastructure without adopting a whole all-in-one backend platform.
Best for SQLite-style apps, sync, and lightweight deployment.
Hosted SQLite-style database for apps that want a small, fast database with a cloud deployment path. Interesting when you want something lighter than a full Postgres platform, especially for prototypes, small apps, sync, or many separate lightweight databases.
Best for realtime, reactive, AI-workflow-heavy apps.
Backend platform for apps where data changes should update the UI automatically, without building a lot of custom realtime wiring. Includes a database, server functions, realtime updates, auth integrations, file storage, search, crons, and AI-agent workflow tools.
Best for collaborative, local-first-ish, frontend-driven realtime apps.
Realtime database for apps where users need to see shared data update immediately, like collaborative boards, editors, planning tools, or live workspaces. Includes auth, permissions, storage, presence, cursors, activity, webhooks, admin APIs, and client SDKs so the app can stay synced without a lot of custom backend glue.
Best for self-hosted prototypes and tiny backends.
Open source backend you can run yourself, packaged as one portable app with SQLite, auth, file storage, realtime subscriptions, an admin dashboard, and an API. Great for prototypes, demos, small internal tools, and tiny apps where you want a working backend without signing up for a large managed platform.
A database is where your app starts keeping receipts.
It is not just “a place to store stuff.” It decides:
That is why database decisions feel small at the prototype stage and surprisingly expensive once the app has momentum.
You probably need a real database once your app has:
The database category did not flip upside down, but the direction is clear: database tools are getting more agent-aware.
Supabase is tightening security defaults around which tables are exposed through its Data API. That is a very good thing in an AI-assisted world where a coding agent might happily create five tables while you are getting coffee and then act surprised when permissions matter.
Neon keeps leaning into branching and AI-agent workflows. That makes it a stronger pick when you want each preview, migration, or experimental agent run to have its own Postgres sandbox instead of poking the production database with a broom handle.
Firebase is still the speed pick, but Firestore search/JOIN improvements and SQL Connect momentum make it feel less boxed in. I still would not choose it for every relational SaaS app, but the old warning label is getting smaller.
Turso is the most interesting mover if your app is SQLite-style. Sync, many small databases, and lightweight deployment patterns are real reasons to care. Just do not pick it because the word SQLite makes your brain feel indie and cool. Pick it because the app actually benefits from that approach.
Convex, InstantDB, and PocketBase are joining the watchlist for the same reason: they are not generic “every database problem” answers, and that is the point.
Convex is compelling when the app is fundamentally realtime and reactive. InstantDB is compelling when collaboration and frontend-driven sync are the actual product, not a decorative checkbox. PocketBase is compelling when you want a tiny self-hosted backend that can make a prototype feel real before the infrastructure committee arrives, wearing a tiny badge that says “have we considered Kubernetes?”
Latest Video
These picks balance developer experience, beginner friendliness, AI-agent compatibility, scaling headroom, and how likely the data model is to age well.
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The Postgres development platform: database, auth, storage, realtime, and edge functions in one dashboard. A Firebase-like developer experience powered by Postgres and open source building blocks.
Google’s app development platform for building, shipping, and monitoring web and mobile apps. Batteries-included backend services: databases, auth, hosting, storage, functions, analytics, crash reporting, AI Logic, and more.
Serverless Postgres platform with autoscaling, branching, read replicas, restore history, AI-agent workflows, and modern developer ergonomics. A strong option when you want Postgres infrastructure without adopting a whole all-in-one backend platform.
Hosted SQLite-style database for apps that want a small, fast database with a cloud deployment path. Interesting when you want something lighter than a full Postgres platform, especially for prototypes, small apps, sync, or many separate lightweight databases.
Backend platform for apps where data changes should update the UI automatically, without building a lot of custom realtime wiring. Includes a database, server functions, realtime updates, auth integrations, file storage, search, crons, and AI-agent workflow tools.
Realtime database for apps where users need to see shared data update immediately, like collaborative boards, editors, planning tools, or live workspaces. Includes auth, permissions, storage, presence, cursors, activity, webhooks, admin APIs, and client SDKs so the app can stay synced without a lot of custom backend glue.
Open source backend you can run yourself, packaged as one portable app with SQLite, auth, file storage, realtime subscriptions, an admin dashboard, and an API. Great for prototypes, demos, small internal tools, and tiny apps where you want a working backend without signing up for a large managed platform.
FAQ
Not always, but SQL-backed tools age very well as app complexity increases. Small apps become medium apps faster than people expect.
They optimize for first setup instead of the queries, permissions, and product logic they will need three months later.
Yes, especially when speed matters. You just want to be honest about whether its data model fits what you are building, even though Firebase is adding more SQL and search options than it used to have.
