PocketBase packs an SQLite database, auth, file storage, and a real-time API into a single Go binary — no cluster, no managed-service bill, no vendor console to configure. For small SaaS products and MVPs that don't need Firebase-scale infrastructure, that's often the right trade-off. We build and self-host PocketBase backends for teams who want to own their data and keep the stack simple.
PocketBase trades the scale ceiling of a managed BaaS for simplicity, cost, and full control of your data — a fair trade for most early-stage products.
Database, auth, file storage, and admin UI ship in a single executable — fewer moving parts than a managed BaaS with separate services to wire together.
SQLite file on your own server or volume — no vendor lock-in, no surprise pricing tier when usage grows, straightforward export whenever you need it.
Subscriptions over the built-in API mean live updates without bolting on a separate websocket service or third-party realtime layer.
Runs comfortably on a single small VPS for most MVP-stage workloads — no per-seat or per-request billing while you're validating the product.
Custom business logic, webhooks, and background jobs go directly into PocketBase's hook system when the built-in API isn't enough.
Scoped to what an early-stage product actually needs — not a full platform migration.
Data model, relations, and access rules designed for your app rather than generic starter collections.
Email, OAuth, and role-based access rules configured against PocketBase's built-in auth collections.
PocketBase deployed on your infrastructure of choice, with backups, TLS, and process management set up correctly from day one.
Server-side logic, scheduled jobs, and third-party integrations written in Go or JavaScript hooks.
Wiring PocketBase's JS SDK into your React, Next.js, or mobile frontend, including realtime subscriptions.
Yes, for the workloads it's designed for — small to mid-size SaaS products and MVPs on a single-node deployment. It's not built for horizontally-scaled, high-write workloads, so we assess your expected load before recommending it.
PocketBase suits small, self-hosted projects that want minimal infrastructure and full data ownership. Supabase gives you a managed Postgres-based BaaS with more scale headroom. Firebase suits teams already in Google's ecosystem who want a fully managed, auto-scaling service. We wrote up a fuller technical comparison of PocketBase and Firebase on our blog, and can walk through the trade-offs for your specific case.
Yes. We handle deployment on a VPS or your existing infrastructure, including TLS, process supervision, and environment configuration, so you're not managing the server setup yourself.
Backups are automated snapshots of the SQLite file and uploaded storage, on a schedule that matches your risk tolerance. For scaling, we plan ahead of time whether vertical scaling on a single node is enough or whether it's time to migrate to a heavier backend like Supabase.
Tell us what you're building — we'll tell you honestly whether PocketBase fits and scope a fixed quote.