A self-hosted Supabase alternative
Trade a multi-container Postgres stack for one self-hosted binary — with auth, realtime, tenancy and 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 data file — and adds ready business apps.
At a glance
| Supabase | Railbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Database | PostgreSQL (full SQL) | Embedded single-file store (Vault) |
| Self-hosting | Multi-container Docker stack | One binary, one file |
| Auth, realtime, storage, REST | Yes | Yes |
| SQL ecosystem / extensions / pgvector | Yes | — |
| Ready business apps | — | Marketplace: helpdesk, inventory, accounting… |
| 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
- Zero-ops self-hosting: no container orchestration — copy one binary and run it. A backup is a single file.
- Batteries included: auth, multi-tenancy, RBAC, realtime, files, scheduler, mailer and an admin SPA in the box.
- Commercial modules: install a helpdesk, inventory or accounting plugin at runtime instead of building it.
Pick Supabase when Postgres and SQL flexibility are central to your app. Pick Railbase when you want the simplest possible self-hosted backend and ready-to-run business modules over raw database power.
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 data file, no usage metering. Commercial plugins (helpdesk, inventory, accounting, CMS…) are licensed per seat from the marketplace.
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.