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It's a split decision.
Choose Xano if your team wants AI agents, XanoScript or an editor to build APIs and MCP servers under shared rules, with workflow tests and versioned releases. Choose Supabase if your application fits a Postgres-first design and you want built-in auth, storage, realtime, REST APIs and edge functions. Both offer self-hosting options. Supabase has a published open-source identity and a JavaScript client; Xano emphasizes governed builds and provides a free tier with a strict API request limit.
01Side by side
| Xano | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Workspace tiers; $99 monthly Essential, with paid add-ons. | Project tiers; $25 Pro, with metered compute and overages. |
| Free tier | 100,000 records; 1 GB watermarked images; 10 requests/20 seconds. | 50,000 MAUs; 500 MB database; 5 GB egress; pauses when inactive. |
| Open source and licence | Does not describe the platform as open source. | Open source; confirm component licences before deployment. |
| Self-hosting | Enterprise plan includes self-hosting options. | Self-hostable Postgres-based platform. |
| API and SDKs | Build APIs and MCP servers; SDK details are not listed. | REST APIs; JavaScript client; framework integrations. |
| Integrations | Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, Kubernetes, Postgres, Redis, Docker. | React, Next.js, Flutter, Expo, Stripe, Vercel, OpenAI. |
| Deployment model | Stage immutable releases; promote versions and roll back instantly. | Hosted backend services; deploy edge functions globally. |
| Platforms | Web. | Web and mobile. |
Xano Choose Xano if
- Choose Xano if you need shared rules for engineers and AI agents.
- Choose Xano if workflow tests and release rollback are central requirements.
- Choose Xano if you need an API and MCP server builder.
Supabase Choose Supabase if
- Choose Supabase if your application is built around portable Postgres.
- Choose Supabase if you need built-in auth, storage and realtime.
- Choose Supabase if you want the listed web and mobile integrations.
02Pricing at real usage
Xano’s Free plan costs $0 and includes 100,000 database records, 1 GB of watermarked image storage and 10 API requests per 20 seconds. Essential is $99 monthly or $85 per month with annual billing; Pro is $249 monthly or $224 annually. Those plans increase included workspaces, seats and storage. Listed add-ons include a $180 monthly CPU and Autoscale boost, and $5–$10 monthly for additional database and media storage. Supabase Free includes 500 MB of database, 5 GB of egress and 1 GB of file storage, but pauses after one inactive week. Pro starts at $25 monthly; Team is $599. Paid-plan overages include $0.00325 per additional monthly active user and $0.09 per GB of egress. Compute is separately priced, with $10 monthly credits on paid plans.
03API, SDKs and integration
Xano provides an API Builder and MCP Builder for apps and agents. Teams can build with AI agents, XanoScript or the editor, then test workflows in the UI or with a CLI command. The homepage lists autogenerated OpenAPI docs and integrations with Claude, Cursor and ChatGPT agents, plus Kubernetes, Postgres, Redis, Docker and GitHub and GitLab CLI. It does not list a client SDK or supported programming languages. Supabase centers its integration on a full Postgres database, with ready-to-use REST APIs and built-in Auth, Row Level Security, storage, realtime and Edge Functions. Its homepage shows the JavaScript client, @supabase/supabase-js, in a React example, and lists React, Next.js, Flutter, Expo and React Native. It also names Stripe, Vercel, OpenAI, Hugging Face and LangChain. Supabase documents deploying Edge Functions with its CLI; the homepage links to its docs.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Supabase describes its platform as open source and self-hostable. Its database is full Postgres and described as 100% portable, which gives teams a familiar route for moving database data. That does not by itself remove migration work for Auth, Storage, Edge Functions, Realtime or application code built around Supabase APIs. Check the licence for the specific components you deploy. Xano’s homepage does not describe the platform as open source. Its Custom plan lists self-hosting options, but the homepage does not detail export formats or migration tooling. Xano’s listed stack includes Postgres, Redis, Docker and Kubernetes, but that does not establish that application logic or data can be moved without conversion. Before choosing either platform, map the data and services your application depends on, and ask Xano about export paths if portability is a requirement.
Questions people ask
Which is better, Xano or Supabase?
Neither is a universal fit. Xano is aimed at teams that want to govern how engineers and AI agents build, test and deploy backends. Supabase fits teams that want a Postgres database with built-in authentication, storage, REST APIs, realtime and edge functions. Pick based on your architecture and operating requirements.
Can I self-host Xano or Supabase?
Both list self-hosting options. Xano includes self-hosting options on its Custom plan. Supabase describes itself as self-hostable and centers its platform on portable Postgres. Check the relevant deployment requirements and support terms with each vendor before planning production operations.
Which is cheaper for a production app?
Supabase Pro starts at $25 per month; Xano Essential starts at $99 monthly, or $85 per month with annual billing. Those starting prices do not settle total cost: Supabase lists compute and usage overages, while Xano lists paid add-ons for compute, storage and security.
Can I use Supabase with React?
Yes. Supabase’s homepage shows a React example using the @supabase/supabase-js client and lists React among its integrations. The project also exposes ready-to-use REST APIs, so teams can integrate through those APIs rather than relying only on the JavaScript client.