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It's a split decision.
Choose MongoDB for document-model applications that need Atlas search, vector search, stream processing or a self-managed MongoDB deployment. Choose Supabase when you want a Postgres database bundled with authentication, file storage, REST APIs, realtime features and edge functions. Both offer free tiers and self-hosting. Supabase has published monthly plan prices and usage overages; MongoDB Atlas bills clusters hourly, with costs varying by tier and usage.
01Side by side
| MongoDB | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Hourly Atlas clusters; monthly invoices | Monthly plans plus metered overages |
| Free tier | 512 MB; up to 100 operations per second | 500 MB database; 50,000 monthly active users |
| Open source and licence | MongoDB licence not stated | Open-source platform; licence name not stated |
| Self-hosting | Self-managed MongoDB available | Supabase can be self-hosted |
| API and SDKs | Document model; single query API | Postgres REST APIs; JavaScript SDK |
| Integrations | Integrates with 100+ technologies | Names React, Stripe, Vercel and others |
| Deployment model | Atlas cloud or self-managed | Hosted backend or self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web | Web and mobile |
MongoDB Choose MongoDB if
- Choose MongoDB if your app's data fits a document model.
- Choose MongoDB if you need Atlas search or vector services.
- Choose MongoDB if you want managed Atlas or self-managed deployment.
Supabase Choose Supabase if
- Choose Supabase if you want Postgres as your application database.
- Choose Supabase if auth, storage and APIs belong in one backend.
- Choose Supabase if your clients include web and mobile apps.
02Pricing at real usage
MongoDB Atlas M0 is free forever and includes 512 MB of storage, 32 MB of sort memory and up to 100 operations per second. Atlas Flex has a $0.011/hour base rate, 5 GB of storage and listed usage costs of $8–$30/month. Dedicated clusters start at $56.94/month. Atlas clusters are billed hourly with monthly invoices.
Supabase Free includes 500 MB of database per project, 5 GB of egress, 1 GB of file storage and 50,000 monthly active users; projects pause after a week of inactivity. Pro costs $25/month and includes 8 GB of disk and 250 GB of egress. On Pro and Team, listed overages include $0.00325 per extra monthly active user, $0.125/GB of disk and $0.09/GB of egress. Compute is an additional cost, with $10/month in credits on paid plans.
03API, SDKs and integration
MongoDB uses a document model with one query API for application data. Its product lineup includes Atlas Database, MongoDB Search, Vector Search and stream processing. Developers can use Compass, a GUI for working with MongoDB data, alongside the documentation and community forums. MongoDB says it integrates with more than 100 technologies. The product details do not name a particular language SDK, so check the current driver documentation for your language and deployment.
Supabase provides ready-to-use REST APIs with each project and documents a JavaScript client, @supabase/supabase-js, with a React example. Its homepage names React, Next.js, Flutter, Expo and React Native, as well as Stripe, Vercel, OpenAI, Hugging Face and LangChain. The platform also combines Auth, Row Level Security, storage, realtime features and Edge Functions. Both products have documentation; Supabase's integration starts from its Postgres API, while MongoDB's centers on its document query API.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
MongoDB is available as Atlas or self-managed software. MongoDB Enterprise Advanced includes a commercial license; the licence for MongoDB Community Edition isn't stated on the product pages. Supabase identifies its platform as open source and supports self-hosting. It describes each project database as 100% portable Postgres.
The database model matters for migration: MongoDB apps use documents, while Supabase apps use Postgres. MongoDB offers Relational Migrator for moving data to MongoDB. Supabase's Postgres portability can help keep the database layer familiar, but its Auth, Storage, Edge Functions and other services are separate parts of the platform. Before committing, ask each vendor how to export data, preserve indexes and related service data, and validate a rollback.
Questions people ask
Is there anything better than Supabase?
It depends on the backend you need. Supabase combines Postgres, Auth, storage, REST APIs, realtime features and Edge Functions. MongoDB is a better fit when the application calls for a document model or Atlas services such as MongoDB Search and Vector Search. Compare the required services and expected usage costs.
Is MongoDB better than Postgres?
Neither is universally better. MongoDB uses a document model and a single query API; Postgres is the database at the center of Supabase. Choose based on how your application represents data and which database features it needs. Supabase also packages backend services around its Postgres database.
What are the top 3 NoSQL databases?
This comparison covers MongoDB, a document database, and Supabase, which is built on Postgres. Supabase is not presented as a NoSQL database. The product details here do not support ranking three NoSQL databases, so compare database categories and requirements before choosing.
Does Supabase use SQL?
Yes. Supabase projects include a Postgres database, and the platform provides a SQL Editor. Supabase also offers REST APIs and a JavaScript client, so applications can use those interfaces rather than sending SQL directly from every client.