How it works
Appwrite puts the usual backend pieces behind one API, with SDKs for web, Flutter, Android, Apple platforms and React Native: Auth (email, phone, magic links, OAuth and teams), Databases with permissions on tables and rows, Storage with image resizing, Functions in many languages (Node.js, Python, PHP, Dart, Go and more), Messaging for email, SMS and push, Realtime subscriptions, and Sites for hosting frontends.
The self-hosted version runs as a set of Docker containers on any server, and Appwrite Cloud is the managed service from the same company, which has added native PostgreSQL and MySQL databases. Unlike Supabase, its default database sits behind Appwrite's own API rather than open SQL, which is simpler for beginners and less flexible for complex queries.
Appwrite pros and cons
Pros
- Open source, with the same features self-hosted or in the cloud
- Broad feature set, including messaging and hosting
- SDKs for most platforms and functions in many languages
- Simple permission model that is easy to reason about
Cons
- The default database is not queried with SQL, which limits complex queries
- Self-hosting means running and upgrading many containers
- Smaller community and ecosystem than Firebase or Supabase
When to use Appwrite
Pick it when
- You want a Firebase-style backend that you can also run yourself
- Flutter and mobile apps that want auth, storage and push in one place
Skip it when
- The data needs heavy SQL reporting or joins
Appwrite pricing
Free tier
Free to self-host. Appwrite Cloud has a free plan (two projects, paused after a week of inactivity) and Pro from about $25 a month plus usage.
Appwrite pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Appwrite vs the alternatives
Related terms
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