What is the difference between Supabase and Xata?

Supabase is best for Developers who want a full backend with Postgres at the core, while Xata is best for Developers wanting a serverless database with search built-in. Supabase starts at $25/mo and Xata starts at Free.

Is Supabase or Xata cheaper?

Supabase starts at $25/mo with a free tier. Xata starts at Free with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Xata?

Both Supabase and Xata offer free tiers.

Supabase vs Xata

Supabase is Open-source Firebase alternative providing a Postgres database, authentication, storage, and edge functions, while Xata is serverless database platform with full-text search, analytics, and file attachments on Postgres. The biggest difference up front: Xata is free, while Supabase starts at $25/mo. Supabase is built for developers who want a full backend with postgres at the core, whereas Xata targets developers wanting a serverless database with search built-in.

At a glance

	Supabase	Xata
Best for	Developers who want a full backend with Postgres at the core	Developers wanting a serverless database with search built-in
Starting price	$25/mo	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	✓	—
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	✓	—
Analytics	—	✓
Auth	✓	—
Branching	—	✓
Edge Functions	✓	—
File Attachments	—	✓
Full-Text Search	—	✓
Postgres	✓	—
Realtime	✓	—
Storage	✓	—

Supabase

Strengths

Full Postgres database with SQL access and extensions
Open source with self-hosting option for full control
Built-in auth, storage, and realtime subscriptions
Generous free tier for prototyping and small projects

Weaknesses

Free tier pauses inactive projects after one week
Edge functions are still maturing compared to alternatives
Connection pooling can be tricky at scale
Dashboard can feel overwhelming with many features

Try Supabase → Full review

Xata

Strengths

Includes Full-Text Search as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
Built-in analytics show open rates, click rates, and conversion data in real time
Free 15 GB — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Includes branching alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in database
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Xata → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Xata is completely free (Free 15 GB), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Supabase starts at $25/mo, but Free for 2 projects, pauses after inactivity. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: Supabase offers Auth, Edge Functions and Postgres that Xata lacks. Xata brings Analytics, Branching and File Attachments that Supabase does not have.

Team fit: Supabase is geared toward any size teams, while Xata is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Open source: Supabase is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Xata is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: Supabase's biggest strengths are: full postgres database with sql access and extensions. open source with self-hosting option for full control. Xata's biggest strengths are: includes full-text search as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows. built-in analytics show open rates, click rates, and conversion data in real time.

Watch out for: With Supabase, users commonly note that free tier pauses inactive projects after one week. With Xata, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose Supabase if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers who want a full backend with postgres at the core
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need Auth and Edge Functions
You care about open source with self-hosting option for full control
Your team size fits the any size profile Supabase is designed for

Choose Xata if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting a serverless database with search built-in
Budget is a hard constraint — Xata is free, Supabase is not
You specifically need Analytics and Branching
You care about built-in analytics show open rates, click rates, and conversion data in real time
Your team size fits the small teams profile Xata is designed for