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Most buyers should pick Supabase.
Choose Neon for serverless Postgres that scales to zero, copy-on-write database branches and Databricks’ AI Gateway. Choose Supabase for a portable Postgres database, self-hosting and a wider named framework and service ecosystem. Neon’s paid plans bill by usage, while Supabase starts at $25 per month for Pro, with compute and overages adding to the bill. Compare the included limits and the cost of the managed services your app will use before choosing.
01Side by side
| Neon | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Usage-based CU-hours, storage and add-ons | Plans plus compute, resource overages and add-ons |
| Free tier | 100 projects; 100 CU-hours per project monthly | 50,000 MAUs; 2 active projects; pauses after inactivity |
| Open source and license | Open-source status and license not published | Open-source; exact license not named |
| Self-hosting | Self-hosting option not published | Self-hosting supported |
| API and SDKs | AI Gateway API; client SDKs not named | REST APIs; JavaScript client; React example |
| Integrations | Better Auth, S3 storage, Databricks AI Gateway | React, Flutter, Stripe, Vercel, OpenAI, LangChain |
| Deployment model | Serverless Postgres; branches; scales to zero | Managed Postgres with Edge Functions and Realtime |
| Platforms | Web | Web and mobile |
Neon Choose Neon if
- Choose Neon if you need serverless Postgres that scales to zero.
- Choose Neon if isolated copy-on-write branches are central to development.
- Choose Neon if Databricks AI Gateway fits your stack.
Supabase Choose Supabase if
- Choose Supabase if portable Postgres and self-hosting matter.
- Choose Supabase if you need its REST APIs and JavaScript client.
- Choose Supabase if your stack uses its named framework integrations.
02Pricing at real usage
Neon’s Free plan includes 100 projects, 100 CU-hours per project monthly, 1 GB per project and up to 2 CU. Launch is usage-based, with $15/month listed as typical spend—not a fixed subscription—and charges $0.106 per CU-hour plus $0.35 per GB-month of database storage. Scale lists typical spend of $701/month. Branches, Functions, storage and transfer can add charges.
Supabase Free includes 50,000 monthly active users, 500 MB database, 5 GB egress and 1 GB file storage; projects pause after a week inactive. Pro starts at $25/month, with 100,000 MAUs, 8 GB disk and 250 GB egress. Compute is separate, though paid plans include $10 in credits; larger compute, storage, egress and MAU overages raise bills.
03API, SDKs and integration
Neon combines serverless Postgres with Better Auth, Functions, S3-compatible Object Storage and a Databricks-powered AI Gateway. Its homepage links to docs but does not name client SDKs or a CLI. Check the docs for your framework and connection pattern before standardizing on it.
Supabase exposes instant REST APIs for each project and a JavaScript client, @supabase/supabase-js; its homepage shows a React example using createClient. It also lists React, Next.js, Flutter, Expo and React Native, plus integrations with Stripe, Vercel, OpenAI, Hugging Face and LangChain. Supabase bundles Realtime, Edge Functions, file storage, Auth, vector tools, cron and queues. Neon emphasizes branching and Databricks’ AI Gateway. Check SDK support and API behavior for your target runtimes.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Supabase describes its database as 100% portable Postgres and supports self-hosting. Its product pages identify it as open source but do not name a license, so check the current repository license before adopting or modifying code. A portable database can reduce migration friction, but Auth, Storage, Edge Functions, Realtime and platform APIs still need replacement or compatibility work if you leave.
Neon is Postgres and adds managed Auth, Functions, Object Storage and an AI Gateway; it is part of the Databricks Platform. Neon does not publish an open-source license or self-hosting option. Before committing to either platform, ask for documented export paths for database contents, identities, files, function code and branch-specific data. SQL portability alone does not cover those services.
Questions people ask
Is there anything better than Supabase?
It depends on the architecture. Neon may fit better if serverless Postgres, scale-to-zero compute and database branching are priorities. Supabase may fit better if you need self-hosting, a portable Postgres database and its listed framework integrations. Compare the services you plan to use and their usage costs, not just the base plan.
What is Supabase?
Supabase is a Postgres-based backend platform. It combines a portable Postgres database with authentication, file storage, Edge Functions, Realtime and ready-to-use REST APIs. The platform also lists tools for vectors, scheduled jobs and message queues, and supports self-hosting.
What are the pros and cons of Supabase?
Supabase combines portable Postgres with Auth, Storage, Edge Functions, Realtime and REST APIs, and it supports self-hosting. Its Free plan has usage limits, and projects pause after a week inactive. Pro starts at $25 monthly, with separate compute costs and overages that can increase the bill.
Do any big companies use Supabase?
Supabase says it is trusted by fast-growing companies worldwide, but its homepage does not name specific large customers. Neon says it is part of the Databricks Platform; that does not establish which companies run Neon. For procurement, ask vendors for named customer references relevant to your workload.