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Head-to-head · Backend as a Service

Appwrite Realtime vs PocketBase

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Appwrite Realtime #2 in Backend as a Service 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Appwrite
PocketBase #4 in Backend as a Service 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit PocketBase

Appwrite Realtime leads on 0 checks, PocketBase on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 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 · 8.5/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresAppwrite Realtime · 4 of 4

Appwrite Realtime scores higher on our rubric for backend as a service: 8.5 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

On database type, Appwrite Realtime gives you Multi-model where PocketBase offers Relational.

Appwrite Realtime is the better fit for open-source realtime application backends. PocketBase is the better fit for small self-hosted apps and prototypes.

  • Appwrite Realtime fits best

    Open-source realtime application backends

  • PocketBase fits best

    Small self-hosted apps and prototypes

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Side by side

Feature Appwrite Realtime 8.5/10 Visit ↗ PocketBase 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 8.2
Ranking #2 in Backend as a Service #4 in Backend as a Service
Best for Open-source realtime application backends Small self-hosted apps and prototypes
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Appwrite Realtime 4/4 · PocketBase 3/4
Serverless functions ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Realtime data ✓ ✓
File storage ✓ ✓
Automatic APIs ✓ ✓
Specs
Database type Multi-model Relational
Authentication methods Not checked yet Social
Free authentication users 75000 users Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • WebSocket subscriptions with channels and event filtering
  • Permissions control which realtime updates clients receive
  • Includes databases, auth, storage, functions, SDKs, and self-hosting
  • Embedded SQLite, REST-style APIs, realtime SSE, and admin UI
  • Authentication includes email/password, OTP, and OAuth2
  • Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, and self-hosted infrastructure
Cons
  • Realtime is part of Appwrite rather than separately priced
  • Free limits projects to one database, bucket, and two functions
  • Enterprise features are reserved for the Enterprise plan
  • Self-hosted deployment requires managing your own infrastructure
  • Backend feature breadth is narrower than broader platforms
  • The project is still under active development and pre-1.0
Our verdict

Appwrite Realtime is a WebSocket-based API for live updates across Appwrite services. It is intended for developers building interactive web, iOS, Android, API, and backend applications that need live data synchronization. Realtime…

Read the review →

PocketBase is an open-source backend for developers building small applications, prototypes, and self-hosted backends. It runs as a portable application or Go framework and combines an embedded SQLite database with collection-based data…

Read the review →
  1. Appwrite RealtimeBackend as a Service 8.5Free plan
  2. PocketBaseBackend as a Service 8.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Appwrite Realtime — where it wins

    • WebSocket subscriptions with channels and event filtering
    • Permissions control which realtime updates clients receive
    • Includes databases, auth, storage, functions, SDKs, and self-hosting

    Where it doesn't

    • Realtime is part of Appwrite rather than separately priced
    • Free limits projects to one database, bucket, and two functions
    • Enterprise features are reserved for the Enterprise plan

  • PocketBase — where it wins

    • Embedded SQLite, REST-style APIs, realtime SSE, and admin UI
    • Authentication includes email/password, OTP, and OAuth2
    • Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, and self-hosted infrastructure

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires managing your own infrastructure
    • Backend feature breadth is narrower than broader platforms
    • The project is still under active development and pre-1.0

More comparisons

All backend as a service comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update