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Head-to-head · Backend as a Service (BaaS) Software

Appwrite Realtime vs CloudKit

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Appwrite Realtime #2 in Backend as a Service (BaaS) Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Appwrite
CloudKit #7 in Backend as a Service (BaaS) Software 7.9/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit CloudKit

Appwrite Realtime leads on 1 check, CloudKit on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAppwrite Realtime · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Appwrite Realtime
  • Most featuresAppwrite Realtime · 2 of 4

Appwrite Realtime scores higher on our rubric for backend as a service (baas) software: 8.9 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

Appwrite Realtime offers free plan; CloudKit doesn't.

Appwrite Realtime is the better fit for developers building interactive apps with Appwrite. CloudKit is the better fit for apple-platform apps needing synchronized cloud data.

  • Appwrite Realtime fits best

    Developers building interactive apps with Appwrite

  • CloudKit fits best

    Apple-platform apps needing synchronized cloud data

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Side by side

Feature Appwrite Realtime 8.9/10 Visit ↗ CloudKit 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 7.9
Ranking #2 in Backend as a Service (BaaS) Software #7 in Backend as a Service (BaaS) Software
Best for Developers building interactive apps with Appwrite Apple-platform apps needing synchronized cloud data
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — $99/yr
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Browser extension
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, macOS
Support Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Appwrite Realtime 2/4 · CloudKit 0/4
Managed authentication Not checked yet Not checked yet
Serverless functions ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Realtime data updates Not checked yet Not checked yet
File storage ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Database type Not checked yet Not checked yet
API styles Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployment model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • WebSocket subscriptions support channels and event filtering.
  • Realtime access follows Appwrite resource permissions.
  • Cloud and self-hosting options sit alongside SDKs and backend services.
  • Public, private, and shared databases with bidirectional synchronization
  • CloudKit Console includes schemas, telemetry, logs, and alerts
  • Conflict detection supports client, server, and ancestor record versions
Cons
  • Realtime is part of the broader platform, not a separately priced product.
  • Free includes one database, one bucket, and two functions per project.
  • Pro pricing is not stated on the published plan details.
  • Requires a $99 annual Apple Developer Program membership
  • Offline support is minimal and relies on network connectivity
  • Backend scope is narrower outside Apple-focused applications
Our verdict

Appwrite Realtime is a WebSocket-based API for subscribing to events across Appwrite services. It is aimed at developers building interactive web, mobile, or backend applications that need live data synchronization. Subscriptions can be…

Read the review →

CloudKit is Apple’s cloud data service for applications that need structured storage and synchronization across Apple platforms and the web. It supports public, private, and shared database areas inside iCloud containers, with record-based…

Read the review →
  1. Appwrite RealtimeBackend as a Service (BaaS) Software 8.9Free plan
  2. CloudKitBackend as a Service (BaaS) Software 7.9Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Appwrite Realtime — where it wins

    • WebSocket subscriptions support channels and event filtering.
    • Realtime access follows Appwrite resource permissions.
    • Cloud and self-hosting options sit alongside SDKs and backend services.

    Where it doesn't

    • Realtime is part of the broader platform, not a separately priced product.
    • Free includes one database, one bucket, and two functions per project.
    • Pro pricing is not stated on the published plan details.

  • CloudKit — where it wins

    • Public, private, and shared databases with bidirectional synchronization
    • CloudKit Console includes schemas, telemetry, logs, and alerts
    • Conflict detection supports client, server, and ancestor record versions

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires a $99 annual Apple Developer Program membership
    • Offline support is minimal and relies on network connectivity
    • Backend scope is narrower outside Apple-focused applications

More comparisons

All backend as a service (BaaS) software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update