Best Forge Alternatives in 2026
The top Forge alternatives are Supabase, Appwrite Realtime and Convex: 15 backend as a service our editors would look at instead of Forge, in our ranking order.
Forge: Forge gives developers a visual relational backend with generated REST and GraphQL APIs. Where it falls short: external database connectivity is limited to MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Switching from Forge? For most backend as a service buyers the best Forge alternative is Supabase, built for full-featured Postgres BaaS teams. On a budget, basefyio starts at $20/mo. Appwrite Realtime offers the most free authentication users (75000 users).
Why People Look for a Forge Alternative
- External database connectivity is limited to MySQL and PostgreSQL
- Documented team roles are limited to admin, editor and viewer
- Its scope centers on relational data and generated APIs
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallSupabase9.2
Full-featured Postgres BaaS teams
Visit Supabase - Lowest pricebasefyio7.2
Paid plans from $20/mo
Visit basefyio - Best free optionSupabase9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Supabase - Most free authentication usersAppwrite Realtime8.5
75000 users
Visit Appwrite Realtime
All 15 Forge Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forFull-featured Postgres BaaS teams
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.5
A full-featured Postgres BaaS with APIs, auth, realtime, storage, and self-hosting.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Supabase -
Best forOpen-source realtime application backends
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.5
A broad open-source backend platform with permission-aware realtime subscriptions.
- Serverless functions
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Appwrite -
Best forTypeScript realtime application development
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.5
A strong fit for TypeScript teams building realtime applications with an adaptable backend.
- Serverless functions
- Realtime data
- File storage
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Convex -
Best forSmall self-hosted apps and prototypes
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.5
A focused, self-hosted backend for small apps and prototypes.
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
- File storage
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit PocketBase -
Best forSelf-hosted multi-platform backends
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.5
A flexible self-hosted backend with broad APIs, offline data, and mobile SDK coverage.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Parse Platform -
Best forAffordable MongoDB-based application backends
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.5
An affordable MongoDB-based backend with APIs, realtime features, and containers.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Back4app -
Best forGraphQL-first Postgres applications
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.5
A capable GraphQL-first backend with PostgreSQL, realtime APIs, and a free starting tier.
- Serverless functions
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Nhost -
Best forNo-code teams building complex backends
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.5
A broad no-code backend for teams that need APIs, data, logic, and operations in one platform.
- Serverless functions
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Xano -
Best forVisual web and mobile app builders
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 6.5
A broad visual backend for building web and mobile apps without traditional server infrastructure.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Backendless -
Best forAI-native self-hosted backends
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.5 vs 6.5
A self-hostable AI backend combining Postgres, application services, and agent workflows.
- Realtime data
- File storage
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Powabase -
Best forTeams wanting Postgres BaaS with edge functions
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.4 vs 6.5
Postgres, auth, storage and edge functions, with free and paid plans.
- Serverless functions
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit InsForge -
Best forGraphQL teams needing serverless functions
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.3 vs 6.5
A low-code GraphQL backend with relational data, functions, auth, and real-time subscriptions.
- Serverless functions
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit 8base -
Best forSQL and NoSQL projects needing self-hosting
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.2 vs 6.5
A multi-model backend with self-hosting, generated APIs, auth, storage, and realtime updates.
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
- File storage
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit basefyio -
Best forOpen-source API and realtime platforms
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.1 vs 6.5
A broad open-source backend for teams that want APIs and realtime features on their own infrastructure.
- Automatic APIs
- Realtime data
- File storage
7.1/10★★★★☆Try Conduit Platform -
Best forEnterprise-authenticated realtime backends
- Better than Forge:
- Editor score 7.0 vs 6.5
A self-hosted backend for enterprise authentication, realtime data and multi-protocol APIs.
- Realtime data
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Kuzzle
Forge Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Forge?
Supabase: #1 in our Backend as a Service ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A full-featured Postgres BaaS with APIs, auth, realtime, storage, and self-hosting.
Is there a free alternative to Forge?
Yes. Supabase, Appwrite Realtime, Convex, PocketBase and Parse Platform have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Forge?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, basefyio starts lowest, at $20/mo.
Why do people look for Forge alternatives?
External database connectivity is limited to MySQL and PostgreSQL; Documented team roles are limited to admin, editor and viewer; Its scope centers on relational data and generated APIs.
Which Forge alternative has the most free authentication users?
Appwrite Realtime, with 75000 users.
How do I switch from Forge?
Export your data from Forge (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Forge.
How to Switch from Forge
- Export your data from Forge (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Forge.
Forge vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Database type | Authentication methods | Realtime data | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Forge | Yes | Relational | 6.5 | |||
| 1 | Supabase | Yes | $25/mo | Relational | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | Appwrite Realtime | Yes | Multi-model | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 3 | Convex | Yes | Multi-model | Social | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 4 | PocketBase | Yes | Free | Relational | Social | Yes | 8.2 |
| 5 | Parse Platform | Free | 8.0 | ||||
| 6 | Back4app | Yes | $5/unit/mo | 7.9 | |||
| 7 | Nhost | Yes | $25/mo | Relational | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 8 | Xano | Yes | $85/mo | Relational | Social | Yes | 7.7 |
| 9 | Backendless | Yes | $15/unit/mo | 7.6 | |||
| 10 | Powabase | Yes | $25/mo | Relational | Social | Yes | 7.5 |
| 11 | InsForge | Yes | $240/yr | Relational | Passwordless | Yes | 7.4 |
| 12 | 8base | Yes | $25/mo | Relational | Enterprise | Yes | 7.3 |
| 13 | basefyio | Yes | $20/mo | Multi-model | Social | Yes | 7.2 |
| 14 | Conduit Platform | Free | Multi-model | Social | Yes | 7.1 | |
| 15 | Kuzzle Backend | Free | Document | Enterprise | Yes | 7.0 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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