backend-as-a-service (BaaS)
Nhost is an open-source, self-hostable Firebase alternative that gives apps a PostgreSQL database, Hasura-based GraphQL API, auth, storage, and serverless functions.
Same problem, same approach. Swapping one for another is a config change, not a rewrite.
Use it when you want a mature, mainstream Postgres BaaS with managed/self-hosted options and a much larger ecosystem; it is the closest product-class peer to Nhost.
The Postgres development platform. Supabase gives you a dedicated Postgres database to build your web, mobile, and AI applications.
Solves the same problem with a different architecture or at a different layer. Expect to rewrite the integration.
Use it when you want an embeddable BaaS running in your JS framework/edge runtime instead of a standalone Nhost Postgres+Hasura stack.
Lightweight Firebase/Supabase alternative built to run anywhere — incl. Next.js, React Router, Astro, Cloudflare, Bun, Node, AWS Lambda & more.
Use it when you want a self-hosted BaaS with REST-style services, integrated messaging/hosting, and no GraphQL/Hasura dependency.
Appwrite® - complete cloud infrastructure for your web, mobile and AI apps. Including Auth, Databases, Storage, Functions, Messaging, Hosting, Realtime and more
Use it when your app is built/maintained by AI coding agents and needs MCP/AI gateway plus db/auth on the backend rather than Nhost's human-first GraphQL workflow.
The all-in-one, open-source backend platform for agentic coding. InsForge gives your coding agent database, auth, storage, compute, hosting, and AI gateway to ship full-stack apps end-to-end.
Use it when you prefer a cloud-function-first serverless development platform with database/storage over a Postgres/Hasura GraphQL backend.
Laf is a vibrant cloud development platform that provides essential tools like cloud functions, databases, and storage solutions. It enables developers to quickly unleash their creativity and bring innovative ideas to life with ease.
Use it when you want a lighter BaaS on Postgres with functions and AI/MCP features instead of Nhost's Hasura/GraphQL composition.
Open-source backend-as-a-service. Postgres, auth, storage, functions, AI gateway, MCP.
Use it when you need a single-file Go backend with SQLite and admin UI for smaller apps instead of running Nhost's multi-service Docker stack.
Open Source realtime backend in 1 file
Use it when you want a realtime, offline-syncing backend with auth/permissions built for client-centric/AI apps, not SQL/GraphQL.
Instant is the best backend for AI-coded apps. You get auth, permissions, storage, presence, and streams — everything you need to ship apps your users will love.
Use it when you want a battle-tested Node/Express BaaS with Mongo/Postgres and push notifications, and can work with REST/SDK instead of GraphQL.
Parse Server for Node.js / Express
Use it when you are invested in AWS and want AppSync GraphQL/Cognito/S3/Lambda generated from a CLI instead of self-hosting Nhost's stack.
The AWS Amplify CLI is a toolchain for simplifying serverless web and mobile development.
An earlier or more limited way to do the job. Still the right call when you need something small, proven, or CPU-only.
Use it only when you already run a Kubernetes-native GraphQL backend and need auth/database/file modules similar to Nhost; it has had no commits for over two years.
Open source Firebase + Heroku to develop, scale and secure serverless apps on Kubernetes
Use it when your app is static HTML/JS and you need encrypted user auth/database without serverless functions or storage.
Create secure and private web apps using only static JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
These projects were analysed and named nhost among their alternatives. The relationship is not symmetric — how nhost rates them is a separate judgement, made when nhost is analysed in its own right.
calls nhost “choose when you want the same open-source Firebase-alternative model but with Hasura GraphQL instead of PostgREST REST.”
The Postgres development platform. Supabase gives you a dedicated Postgres database to build your web, mobile, and AI applications.
calls nhost “when you prefer a GraphQL-native open-source BaaS.”
Appwrite® - complete cloud infrastructure for your web, mobile and AI apps. Including Auth, Databases, Storage, Functions, Messaging, Hosting, Realtime and more
calls nhost “Choose it when you want GraphQL-native backends via Hasura/Postgres instead of hand-written cloud functions.”
Laf is a vibrant cloud development platform that provides essential tools like cloud functions, databases, and storage solutions. It enables developers to quickly unleash their creativity and bring innovative ideas to life with ease.
calls nhost “choose it when you want GraphQL/Hasura on Postgres instead of PocketBase's REST API and SQLite”
Open Source realtime backend in 1 file
calls nhost “Choose when you want a Firebase-like open-source stack with GraphQL over Postgres plus auth, storage, and serverless functions.”
Parse Server for Node.js / Express
calls nhost “Use when you want a GraphQL-native BaaS with mature auth/db/storage instead of an MCP-first agent interface.”
The all-in-one, open-source backend platform for agentic coding. InsForge gives your coding agent database, auth, storage, compute, hosting, and AI gateway to ship full-stack apps end-to-end.
calls nhost “Choose it for a GraphQL-first Postgres/Hasura backend with auth and functions; it does not give Instant's offline and presence features.”
Instant is the best backend for AI-coded apps. You get auth, permissions, storage, presence, and streams — everything you need to ship apps your users will love.