As a Flutter developer, choosing the right backend service is crucial for your application’s success. Appwrite and Supabase have emerged as popular Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) options, each with its strengths and limitations. This comparison will help you decide which is better suited for your Flutter projects.

Overview

Appwrite is an open-source, self-hosted BaaS that provides APIs for common application requirements like authentication, databases, file storage, cloud functions, and more.

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative that combines PostgreSQL, authentication, instant APIs, edge functions, realtime subscriptions, and storage.

Integration with Flutter

Appwrite

• Official SDK: Appwrite offers a dedicated Flutter SDK with comprehensive documentation.
• Integration Ease: 4.5/5 – Straightforward integration with well-documented examples.
• Flutter-specific Features: Purpose-built with mobile developers in mind, including Flutter.
• Community Resources: Growing collection of Flutter-specific tutorials and examples.

Supabase

• Official SDK: Provides a Flutter SDK with good documentation.
• Integration Ease: 4/5 – Good integration experience with clear documentation.
• Flutter-specific Features: Good Flutter support, though less Flutter-centric than Appwrite.
• Community Resources: Strong community with increasing Flutter-specific resources.

Key Features Comparison

Feature	Appwrite	Supabase
Database	Document-based database	PostgreSQL (SQL-based)
Authentication	Email/password, OAuth providers, phone auth	Email/password, OAuth providers, phone auth
Storage	File storage with permissions	Object storage with public/private buckets
Realtime	Realtime subscriptions and database events	Realtime database changes using PostgreSQL
Functions	Cloud functions	Edge functions
APIs	REST and GraphQL (beta)	REST and GraphQL (via PostgREST)

Pricing

Appwrite

• Free Self-hosted: Completely free if self-hosted
• Cloud Offering:
• Free Tier: Generous free tier with:
  • 5GB database storage
  • 5GB file storage
  • 1M function executions
  • 50GB bandwidth
• Pro Plan: Starting at $49/month with:
  • 100GB database storage
  • 100GB file storage
  • 10M function executions
  • 500GB bandwidth
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger needs

Supabase

• Free Self-hosted: Completely free if self-hosted
• Cloud Offering:
• Free Tier: Includes:
  • 500MB database
  • 1GB file storage
  • 2GB bandwidth
  • 50,000 monthly active users
• Pro Plan: Starting at $25/month with:
  • 8GB database
  • 100GB file storage
  • 250GB bandwidth
  • Unlimited users
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger organizations

Pros and Cons for Flutter Development

Appwrite

Pros:

1. Flutter-centric approach: Designed with mobile developers in mind
2. Simplicity: Easy to set up and use, especially for developers new to backend services
3. Comprehensive SDK: Full-featured Flutter SDK with good documentation
4. Self-hosted option: Complete control over your data and infrastructure
5. Document database: Familiar for developers coming from Firebase
6. Generous free tier: More resources in the free tier compared to Supabase

Cons:

1. Newer platform: Less mature than some alternatives
2. Smaller community: Fewer community resources compared to Supabase
3. Limited SQL capabilities: Not ideal if your project requires complex SQL queries
4. Self-hosting complexity: Requires more DevOps knowledge for production self-hosting

Supabase

Pros:

1. PostgreSQL power: Full SQL capabilities with a mature database engine
2. Larger community: More community resources and support
3. Database migrations: Better support for schema migrations
4. Row-level security: Powerful security policies at the database level
5. SQL familiarity: Great for developers who prefer SQL over NoSQL
6. PostgreSQL extensions: Access to powerful extensions like PostGIS

Cons:

1. SQL learning curve: Steeper learning curve for developers not familiar with SQL
2. Less intuitive for mobile-first: Database-centric approach might be less intuitive
3. Less generous free tier: More limited resources in the free tier
4. Complex security rules: Row-level security can be more complex to implement properly

Use Case Recommendations

Choose Appwrite if:

• You’re a Flutter developer new to backend services
• You prefer a document-based database similar to Firebase
• You want a simple, intuitive dashboard
• Your project needs generous free tier resources
• You prefer a mobile-first approach to backend services

Choose Supabase if:

• You have SQL experience or prefer SQL databases
• Your project requires complex database queries
• You need powerful database features like joins, views, or functions
• You plan to scale to a large application with complex data relationships
• You want to leverage PostgreSQL extensions

Implementation Examples for Flutter

Appwrite Flutter Implementation Example

// Initialize Appwrite
final client = Client()
  .setEndpoint('https://your-appwrite-endpoint.com/v1')
  .setProject('your-project-id');

// Initialize services
final account = Account(client);
final database = Databases(client);
final storage = Storage(client);

// Authentication
Future<void> createAccount(String email, String password) async {
  try {
    await account.create(
      userId: ID.unique(),
      email: email,
      password: password,
    );
    await login(email, password);
  } catch (e) {
    print('Error: $e');
  }
}

// Database operations
Future<void> createDocument(Map<String, dynamic> data) async {
  try {
    await database.createDocument(
      databaseId: 'your-database-id',
      collectionId: 'your-collection-id',
      documentId: ID.unique(),
      data: data,
    );
  } catch (e) {
    print('Error: $e');
  }
}

Supabase Flutter Implementation Example

// Initialize Supabase
final supabase = SupabaseClient(
  'https://your-supabase-url.supabase.co',
  'your-supabase-anon-key',
);

// Authentication
Future<void> signUp(String email, String password) async {
  try {
    await supabase.auth.signUp(
      email: email,
      password: password,
    );
  } catch (e) {
    print('Error: $e');
  }
}

// Database operations
Future<void> insertData(Map<String, dynamic> data) async {
  try {
    await supabase
      .from('your_table')
      .insert(data);
  } catch (e) {
    print('Error: $e');
  }
}

// Realtime subscriptions
void subscribeToChanges() {
  supabase
    .from('your_table')
    .stream(['id'])
    .eq('user_id', supabase.auth.currentUser?.id)
    .listen((data) {
      print('New data: $data');
    });
}

Conclusion

For Flutter developers, both Appwrite and Supabase offer compelling features, but they cater to different preferences and requirements:

Appwrite is more approachable for Flutter developers who want a Firebase-like experience with document databases and a mobile-first approach. Its intuitive design and generous free tier make it particularly suitable for smaller to medium-sized Flutter applications or for developers who are new to backend services.

Supabase is better suited for Flutter developers who value SQL capabilities and relational database features. It’s a stronger choice for applications with complex data requirements, relationships, and query needs. It’s also more mature with a larger community.

The decision ultimately depends on your specific project requirements, team expertise, and scaling plans. Many Flutter developers find that Appwrite offers a smoother initial experience, while Supabase provides more powerful database capabilities for complex applications.