A self-hosted Supabase alternative
Trade a multi-container Postgres stack for one self-hosted binary that runs your business operations — auth, tenancy and value-priced business modules included.
Updated
Supabase is a powerful, open-source backend built on PostgreSQL. The catch for self-hosters: running it yourself means operating a stack of services (Postgres, GoTrue, PostgREST, Realtime, Storage, Kong, Studio…) via Docker Compose. Railbase takes the opposite bet — one binary, one Vault file for records, and local storage for uploads — and adds marketplace business modules.
At a glance
| Supabase | Railbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Database | PostgreSQL (full SQL) | Embedded NoSQL document store (Vault, not SQL) |
| Self-hosting | Multi-container Docker stack | One binary, one Vault file + upload storage |
| Auth, realtime, storage, REST | Yes | Yes |
| SQL ecosystem / extensions / pgvector | Yes | — |
| Ready business apps | — | Marketplace modules, with availability shown in the catalog |
| Hosting | Cloud + self-host | Self-host (free core) |
When Supabase is the better choice
If you need the full PostgreSQL ecosystem — raw SQL, extensions, pgvector, a managed cloud with autoscaling, and a large catalogue of tooling — Supabase is an excellent, open-source choice. Teams standardised on Postgres will feel at home.
When teams pick Railbase
- Simple self-hosting: one binary, one Vault file, local upload storage — no container orchestration. Run it yourself or with your IT partner, and backups are ordinary file copies.
- Batteries included: auth, multi-tenancy, RBAC, realtime, files, scheduler, mailer and an admin SPA in the box.
- Business modules: install available modules at runtime instead of building every workflow yourself — workflows on shared identity and data, not just tables. Catalog status shows what is released, beta, pilot, or coming soon.
Pick Supabase when Postgres and SQL flexibility are central to your app. Pick Railbase when the backend needs to become an owned business operating system — records, workflows and business modules on one self-hosted platform — not just the simplest place to store data.
Note
Prefer a managed cloud? Supabase offers one today; Railbase is self-host-first. If you'd want hosted Railbase, tell us.
FAQ
Is Railbase a drop-in replacement for Supabase?
No. Railbase covers the same backend essentials — auth, REST API, realtime, file storage, an admin UI — but its data layer is an embedded single-file document store (Vault), not PostgreSQL. SQL queries, Postgres extensions and pgvector don't carry over; collections and access rules do.
Can I self-host Railbase for free?
Yes. The Railbase core is free to self-host: one binary, one Vault file for records, and no usage metering. Business modules are value-priced from the marketplace — company-wide, operator seat, usage, tenant/company or custom, depending on the module.
Does Railbase support realtime subscriptions like Supabase?
Yes. Realtime change events are built into the core and exposed to both the REST/SDK surface and plugins — no separate Realtime service to run.
How do I migrate data from Supabase to Railbase?
Export your Postgres tables to JSON or CSV, then import them into Railbase collections via the admin console or the auto-CRUD REST API. Relational schemas flatten into document collections, so review foreign-key joins first — embedded documents or reference fields replace them.