# 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: 2026-06-11_

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](../support).

## 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.

## Get started

[Download Railbase](../download) · [browse the plugins](../plugins)