# Alternatives to Appwrite Appwrite is an open-source backend-as-a-service that bundles a database, authentication, file storage, realtime, serverless functions, and messaging behind REST/GraphQL APIs and client SDKs, available as Appwrite Cloud or fully self-hosted. Appwrite ranks #2 of 10 in Backend-as-a-service, with an Alt Score of 96. It is licensed under BSD-3-Clause, open source with paid hosting from $25/mo and available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Web. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/appwrite/ Category: Backend-as-a-service ## Overview - **Who it's for**: Developers and teams who want an open-source backend they can either self-host with Docker or run on Appwrite Cloud, as a Firebase/Supabase-style alternative for web, mobile, and server apps. - **What you get**: A managed database, built-in authentication, file/object storage, serverless functions, realtime subscriptions, and messaging, all exposed through REST, GraphQL, and Realtime WebSocket APIs with official client and server SDKs. - **How it works**: Appwrite runs as a BSD-3-Clause licensed backend server that you deploy via Docker (self-hosted) or use through Appwrite Cloud's Free/Pro/Enterprise plans; access is controlled with permission-based roles at the table and row level, and apps integrate through Appwrite's SDKs or directly over its REST/GraphQL/Realtime protocols. ## Profile - **License**: BSD-3-Clause (verified 2026-07-13) - **Pricing model**: OSS + paid hosting (verified 2026-07-13) - **Starts at**: $25/mo (verified 2026-07-13) - **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [Supabase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/supabase.md) | 100 | Apache License 2.0 | Web | | 2 | [AWS Amplify](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aws-amplify.md) | 93 | Apache-2.0 | Web, iOS, Android | | 3 | [Convex](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/convex.md) | 89 | FSL-1.1-Apache-2.0 | Web, Linux | | 4 | [InstantDB](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/instantdb.md) | 85 | Apache-2.0 | Web, iOS, Android | | 5 | [Back4app](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/back4app.md) | 81 | ? | Web, iOS, Android | | 6 | [Firebase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/firebase.md) | 81 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android | | 7 | [Parse Platform](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/parse-platform.md) | 81 | Apache-2.0 | iOS, macOS, Android, Web | | 8 | [Xano](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/xano.md) | 81 | Proprietary | ? | | 9 | [PocketBase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pocketbase.md) | 78 | MIT License | Linux, Windows, macOS, Web | Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/ ## Feature comparison Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified). | Backend-as-a-service checklist | Appwrite | Supabase | AWS Amplify | Convex | InstantDB | Back4app | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | OSS + paid hosting | OSS + paid hosting | Usage-based | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | | Starts at | $25/mo | $25/mo (Pro) | Free | $25/developer/month | $30/mo | $15/mo | | License | BSD-3-Clause | Apache License 2.0 | Apache-2.0 | FSL-1.1-Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 | ? | | Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Web | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Linux | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | | Managed database | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Auth built in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | | File / object storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Realtime subscriptions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Serverless / edge functions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | | Auto-generated APIs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Partial | | Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | | Client SDKs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Row-level security | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | | Vector / AI support | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | | Free tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ## Sources Sources for Appwrite. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **License**: BSD-3-Clause — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met” - **Pricing model**: OSS + paid hosting — (verified 2026-07-13) - Note: Appwrite is 100% open source (self-hostable via Docker) and also offers Appwrite Cloud with Free/Pro/Enterprise paid tiers. - Quote: “Self-host or go Cloud Build the way you want. Pick between self hosting or cloud.” - **Starts at**: $25/mo — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Pro Most popular From $25 /month For production applications that need powerful” - **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web — (verified 2026-07-13) - Note: Self-hosting runs via Docker on any Docker-supported OS (Windows/macOS/Linux); Web covers the Appwrite Console and Appwrite Cloud (hosted, browser-based). - Quote: “This guide will walk you through installing Appwrite on your server using Docker. Appwrite is designed to run on any operating system that supports Docker.” - **Managed database**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Appwrite Databases let you store and query structured data. Databases provide high-performance and scalable data storage for your key application, business, and user data.” - **Auth built in**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Authenticate users securely with multiple login methods like Email/Password, SMS, OAuth, Anonymous, Magic URLs, and more.” - **File / object storage**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Store documents, media, and user uploads with encryption, compression, and on-the-fly image transformations.” - **Realtime subscriptions**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “The Appwrite Realtime allows you to listen to any Appwrite events in realtime using the Realtime service.” - **Serverless / edge functions**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Deploy and scale serverless functions with seamless integration, multi-language support, and zero server management.” - **Auto-generated APIs**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Note: REST, GraphQL, and Realtime APIs are automatically exposed for every resource without writing server code. - Quote: “Appwrite supports multiple protocols for accessing the platform, including REST, GraphQL, and Realtime. Every endpoint available through REST is available through GraphQL, except for OAuth.” - **Self-hostable**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “This guide will walk you through installing Appwrite on your server using Docker.” - **Open source**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Appwrite is a 100% open source project, giving you the flexibility and support you need to get your project started.” - **Client SDKs**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Client libraries for integrating with Appwrite to build client-based applications and websites.” - **Row-level security**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Note: Permission-based row security (Appwrite's own 'Row Security' feature with read/create/update/delete roles per row), not SQL RLS policy syntax. - Quote: “Row level permissions are only applied if Row Security is enabled in the settings of your table. Enable row level permissions by navigating to Your table > Settings > Row security.” - **Vector / AI support**: Partial — (verified 2026-07-13) - Note: No native vector database/search; achieved by calling third-party vector DBs (Pinecone, Weaviate, Milvus, Qdrant, Chroma, Upstash) from Appwrite Functions. - Quote: “Appwrite integrates with vector databases through Functions, allowing you to index your data and perform similarity searches.” - **Free tier**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-13) - Quote: “Appwrite Cloud provides a Free plan to all developers to start building with Appwrite.” --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/