Convex vs Supabase: Picking the Right Full-Stack Platform for Your Project
When you’re evaluating backend platforms, you need clarity on features, pricing, ecosystem, and future-proofing. In this guide, you’ll discover how Convex and Supabase stack up on core capabilities, open-source philosophy, AI/ML support, compliance, performance, migration paths—and more. By the end, you’ll know which platform fits your next web or mobile app.
What Are Convex and Supabase?
Convex is a batteries-included, full-stack development platform with a reactive data model designed for real-time synchronization, created for collaborative applications. Supabase is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service built around PostgreSQL, focused on traditional web and mobile use cases.
Core Feature Comparison
Both platforms cover database, authentication, functions, and hosting—but they take different approaches.
Core Service | Supabase | Convex |
|---|---|---|
Database | PostgreSQL (ACID guarantees) | Reactive document model |
Authentication | Built-in auth services | Built-in Convex auth |
Functions | Edge Functions | JavaScript/TypeScript SDK-based serverless functions |
Hosting | Static hosting | Integrated full-stack hosting |
Architecture & Data Model
Supabase uses PostgreSQL at its core, so you write SQL and enjoy ACID guarantees on every query.
Convex employs a reactive programming paradigm with a document-style data model, syncing state across clients in real time.
Feature | Supabase | Convex |
|---|---|---|
Core technology | PostgreSQL | Reactive engine |
Data model | Relational SQL | Document-style |
Real-time synchronization | Optional via subscriptions | Built-in reactive sync |
Open Source vs. Closed Source
Supabase is fully open source, encouraging community plugins and contributions.
Convex is closed source, trading community extensibility for a tightly controlled developer experience.
Open source ensures our ecosystem can grow organically and adapt over time.
– Supabase team based on our review of their open source philosophy.
Pricing Models
Supabase charges per service usage (database row compute, storage, bandwidth)
Convex bills based on compute operations and storage volume
Extensibility & Integrations
Your platform should meet your framework and edge-computing needs.
Supabase offers Edge Functions for low-latency, global serverless code.
Convex provides first-class JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs on npm, with plans for Rust and Dart clients.
Advanced AI/ML Workflows
If you’re building AI-powered features, here’s how each stacks up:
Convex has built-in RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) components and hybrid ranking functions, simplifying search and LLM integration. Learn more about the Retrieval-Augmented Generation approach.
Supabase can integrate with external AI services via edge functions, but lacks native RAG tooling.
Schema Management & Migrations
How you evolve your database matters over time.
Supabase uses SQL-based migrations you’re likely familiar with (Flyway schema migration guidelines) and a dashboard to track changes.
Convex takes a code-centric approach: define your schema in code, and migrations run automatically on deploy, similar to Prisma’s code-first migration system.
Data Privacy & Compliance
Enterprises often need GDPR, SOC 2, or HIPAA compliance.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the EU’s framework for data protection (official text).
SOC 2 (Service Organization Controls) standards are defined by the AICPA.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is enforced by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Supabase publishes its compliance commitments and offers enterprise plans with SOC 2 and GDPR support. Convex maintains strict data-protection standards and outlines its security controls in its documentation.
Performance & Scalability
Real-world benchmarks highlight differences under heavy load:
Convex can sustain sub-50 ms read/write latency at 5,000 concurrent connections.
Supabase, powered by PostgreSQL replicas, handles large analytics queries efficiently but can see 100–200 ms p99 latencies under similar loads.
Platform | Concurrent connections | Average latency | p99 latency |
|---|---|---|---|
Convex | 5,000 | <50 ms | <50 ms |
Supabase | 5,000 | ~80 ms | 100–200 ms |
Migration Paths from Firebase
Moving off Firebase? Both platforms offer guides:
Supabase provides a Firebase-to-PostgreSQL migration tool.
Convex has a step-by-step Firebase migration guide.
The Final Verdict
Now that you’ve seen how Convex and Supabase compare across real-time sync, open vs. closed source, AI support, compliance, performance, and migrations, you’re ready to choose:
Pick Convex if you need a turnkey, reactive backend with first-class collaboration and AI features.
Pick Supabase if you want open-source freedom, SQL familiarity, and edge-compute extensibility.
Armed with these insights, you can confidently select the platform that aligns with your project’s scale, tech stack, and compliance requirements. Good luck building!
