Head-to-head · Backend as a Service
Nhost vs PocketBase
Nhost leads on 1 check, PocketBase on 0, 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 scoreNhost · 7.5/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresNhost · 4 of 4
Nhost scores higher on our rubric for backend as a service: 7.5 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.
Nhost offers serverless functions; PocketBase doesn't publish it.
Nhost is the better fit for graphQL-first Postgres applications. PocketBase is the better fit for small self-hosted apps and prototypes.
- Nhost fits best
GraphQL-first Postgres applications
- PocketBase fits best
Small self-hosted apps and prototypes
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Side by side
| Feature | Nhost 7.5/10 Visit ↗ | PocketBase 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #4 in Backend as a Service | #5 in Backend as a Service |
| Best for | GraphQL-first Postgres applications | Small self-hosted apps and prototypes |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | $25/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features Nhost 4/4 · PocketBase 3/4 | ||
| Serverless functions | ✓ (best) | Not published |
| Realtime data | ✓ | ✓ |
| File storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic APIs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Database type | Relational | Relational |
| Authentication methods | Not published | Social |
| Free authentication users | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Nhost is a managed backend platform for developers building web and mobile applications around PostgreSQL and GraphQL. Each project gets a dedicated PostgreSQL database, with automatically generated queries, mutations, and 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 → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Nhost — where it wins
- Generated GraphQL queries, mutations, and realtime subscriptions
- Authentication includes MFA, WebAuthn, OAuth, and magic links
- Local Docker development, Git deployments, storage, and functions
Where it doesn't
- Team pricing rises to $599 per month
- Dedicated clusters are an Enterprise add-on
- GraphQL is central to the platform's API approach
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
- Nhost7.5/10 · Free plan · paid from $25/mo
A capable GraphQL-first backend with PostgreSQL, realtime APIs, and a free starting tier.
Visit NhostFull verdict → - PocketBase7.4/10 · Free plan
A focused, self-hosted backend for small apps and prototypes.
Visit PocketBaseFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update