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Head-to-head · Backend as a Service

Convex vs PocketBase

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Convex #3 in Backend as a Service 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Convex
PocketBase #4 in Backend as a Service 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit PocketBase

Convex leads on 0 checks, PocketBase on 1, and 4 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 scoreConvex · 8.4/10
  • Free planboth

Convex scores higher on our rubric for backend as a service: 8.4 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

On database type, Convex gives you Multi-model where PocketBase offers Relational. PocketBase offers automatic apis; Convex doesn't.

Convex is the better fit for typeScript realtime application development. PocketBase is the better fit for small self-hosted apps and prototypes.

  • Convex fits best

    TypeScript realtime application development

  • PocketBase fits best

    Small self-hosted apps and prototypes

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Side by side

Feature Convex 8.4/10 Visit ↗ PocketBase 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 8.2
Ranking #3 in Backend as a Service #4 in Backend as a Service
Best for TypeScript realtime application development 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 Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs Docs
Integrations 10 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Convex 3/4 · PocketBase 3/4
Serverless functions ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Realtime data ✓ ✓
File storage ✓ ✓
Automatic APIs — ✓ (best)
Specs
Database type Multi-model Relational
Authentication methods Social Social
Free authentication users Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Reactive database with TypeScript queries, mutations, and subscriptions
  • Built-in storage, search, scheduling, authentication, and HTTP APIs
  • Free plan plus self-hosted open-source backend option
  • 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
  • Professional starts at $25 per developer per month
  • Business & Enterprise requires a $2,500 monthly minimum
  • Starter costs vary with usage beyond free-tier limits
  • 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

Convex is a backend platform for dynamic applications, with a reactive document-relational database, TypeScript queries and mutations, realtime client subscriptions, serverless actions, scheduled functions, file storage, search,…

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. ConvexBackend as a Service 8.4Free plan
  2. PocketBaseBackend as a Service 8.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Convex — where it wins

    • Reactive database with TypeScript queries, mutations, and subscriptions
    • Built-in storage, search, scheduling, authentication, and HTTP APIs
    • Free plan plus self-hosted open-source backend option

    Where it doesn't

    • Professional starts at $25 per developer per month
    • Business & Enterprise requires a $2,500 monthly minimum
    • Starter costs vary with usage beyond free-tier limits

  • 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