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It's a split decision.
Choose Firebase for a managed backend spanning mobile, web and game platforms, with authentication, databases, hosting and app monitoring in one platform. Choose Convex for a TypeScript-first backend that combines reactive data, functions, workflows, search and file storage. Firebase’s free Spark tier has daily and monthly quotas; Convex’s free tier includes function-call and storage allowances. Both charge as usage grows, but Convex Professional also has a per-developer fee. The better fit depends on your stack and workload.
01Side by side
| Firebase | Convex | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Blaze has no base fee; usage charges apply. | Professional costs $25 per developer monthly, plus usage. |
| Free tier | Spark includes Firestore, Hosting and Authentication quotas. | Free & Starter includes calls, storage and deployments. |
| API and SDKs | Client platforms plus Admin SDKs and REST APIs. | TypeScript backend functions and reactive database. |
| CLI and docs | Documentation covers Firebase products and integrations. | npm setup commands and agent setup instructions. |
| Integrations | Google services, Slack, Jira, Flutter and more. | Stripe, Resend, Twilio, WorkOS and PostHog. |
| Deployment model | Google-managed application development platform. | Backend platform with deployments and dedicated deployments. |
| Platforms | Android, Apple platforms, web, Flutter, Unity and C++. | Web. |
| Limits and scaling | Free quotas; paid usage is subject to Google Cloud quotas. | Included call and storage allowances; overages are priced. |
Firebase Choose Firebase if
- Choose Firebase if you need Android, Apple, web or game-platform support.
- Choose Firebase if you want Google services and app monitoring together.
- Choose Firebase if you need client SDKs, Admin SDKs and REST APIs.
Convex Choose Convex if
- Choose Convex if your backend and functions should be TypeScript.
- Choose Convex if real-time sync and reactive data are central.
- Choose Convex if you need built-in workflows, search and file storage.
02Pricing at real usage
Firebase Spark costs $0 and includes daily Firestore quotas of 50,000 reads and 20,000 writes, 1 GiB stored, 10 GiB monthly egress, and 50,000 monthly active Authentication users. Excess use stops services until quotas reset. Blaze has a $0 base fee, keeps Spark’s no-cost quotas and adds usage billing; Firestore overages include $0.03 per 100,000 reads and $0.09 per 100,000 writes. Convex Free & Starter costs $0 and includes 1 million function calls, 0.5 GB database storage and 40 deployments for 1–6 developers. Additional calls cost $2.20 per million. Professional is $25 per developer monthly, with 25 million calls, 50 GB database storage and 300 deployments; extra calls cost $2 per million. Both can add costs beyond included usage. Firebase bills by service usage; Convex Professional adds a seat-based charge.
03API, SDKs and integration
Firebase combines managed services accessed from supported client platforms with server-side Admin SDKs and REST APIs. Its client platforms include Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, web, Flutter, Unity and C++. Admin SDKs are supported for Node.js, Java, Python, Go and C#. The platform includes databases, Authentication, Cloud Functions, storage, hosting, monitoring and engagement tools. Its listed integrations include Android Studio, BigQuery, Google Ads, Google AdMob, Google Marketing Platform, Google Play, Looker Studio, Slack, Jira and Flutter, plus Google Cloud, GitHub Actions and Extensions. Convex is built around TypeScript backend functions and a reactive database, with sync, workflows, search and file storage. Its homepage provides npm-based setup instructions, including npm create convex@latest and npx convex commands. Listed integrations include Stripe, Resend, Twilio, WorkOS and PostHog. Firebase has broader language and client-platform coverage; Convex offers a TypeScript-centered backend.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Firebase and Convex do not publish an open-source licence or self-hosting option in their product descriptions. Treat both as hosted-service choices unless the vendors confirm otherwise. Firebase’s managed services include proprietary products such as Firestore, Authentication and Cloud Functions, so replacing them can involve migrating data and rewriting service-specific backend logic. Convex’s reactive database, functions and sync also shape application code around its platform; its review identifies hosted-service lock-in as a consideration. Neither product’s materials describe data-export formats or migration tooling. Before committing, ask each vendor how to export database records, files and indexes, and how to preserve relationships and permissions. Keep application logic and data models documented independently where practical, and estimate migration work against the Firebase services or Convex features your code uses.
Questions people ask
Is Firebase or Convex cheaper?
It depends on workload and team size. Firebase Spark is free within its quotas, and Blaze has no base fee but bills for usage beyond included allowances. Convex Free & Starter is free within its limits; Professional costs $25 per developer monthly, with additional usage charges possible.
Which is better for a TypeScript backend?
Convex is the more direct fit for a TypeScript-first backend: its functions are written in TypeScript, and the platform combines reactive data, sync, workflows, search and file storage. Firebase supports server-side Admin SDKs for Node.js, Java, Python, Go and C#, as well as REST APIs.
Which supports more mobile platforms?
Firebase lists Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, Flutter, Unity and C++ support, alongside web. Convex lists web as its platform. For a backend serving a mobile or game client, Firebase has broader stated platform coverage.
Can I self-host Firebase or Convex?
Neither vendor publishes a self-hosting option in its product description. Both are positioned as backend platforms, and Convex’s review flags hosted-service lock-in. Ask the vendors about deployment control, data export formats and migration support before making either platform central to your application.