In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
Supabase suits apps with structured business data (orders, customers, invoices) because it is a PostgreSQL database with a flat US$25 Pro plan. Firebase suits mobile-first apps with real-time sync and Google services, billed per read, write and download on its Blaze plan. Both offer Singapore regions.
Supabase vs Firebase at a glance
Both are 'backend as a service' platforms: instead of a developer setting up a server, database and login system from scratch, they plug into ready-made building blocks. The choice affects running costs and how hard it is to change developer or platform later.
Supabase
SQL databaseFree; Pro from US$25/month
- PostgreSQL, the widely used open-source relational database
- Tables and relations suit orders, invoices and stock
- Flat plan with included usage, then per-unit overage
- Spend cap on by default on Pro
Best for: Business apps with structured records and reports.
Firebase
Google platformSpark free; Blaze pay-as-you-go
- Firestore NoSQL document database (SQL option via SQL Connect)
- Strong real-time sync and mobile SDKs
- Billed per document read, write, delete and data transfer
- Tight links to Google Cloud and Gemini
Best for: Mobile-first apps with live updates and chat-style data.
Prices here are in US dollars from each vendor's pricing page, approximate and as of October 2026. GST and currency conversion are extra.
Pricing models compared (as of October 2026)
The two bill very differently. Supabase charges a monthly plan with generous included usage. Firebase charges for what the app does, which is cheap for small apps and harder to predict for busy ones.
| Item | Supabase | Firebase |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free plan: 500 MB database, 50,000 monthly active users, 1 GB files; paused after 1 week inactive; 2 projects | Spark plan: Firestore 1 GiB stored, 50K reads and 20K writes a day |
| Paid entry | Pro from US$25/month, including US$10 compute credit (one Micro instance) | Blaze: pay as you go, free quotas still apply |
| User logins | 100,000 monthly active users on Pro, then US$0.00325 each | 50,000 monthly active users free, then Google Cloud Identity Platform rates; phone sign-in billed per SMS |
| Database growth | 8 GB disk per project, then US$0.125/GB | Firestore stored data, reads and writes at Google Cloud rates |
| Data transfer | 250 GB egress, then US$0.09/GB | Firestore 10 GiB/month free, then Google Cloud rates |
See Supabase pricing and Firebase pricing for the full tables. A badly written Firestore query that reads thousands of documents on every page load can cost real money at scale; a Supabase app is more likely to hit its compute size limit first.
Singapore data location
For PDPA purposes you do not have to keep data in Singapore, but many businesses prefer to, and some customers ask. Both platforms let you choose a Singapore location when the project is created.
- Supabase: the regions list includes Southeast Asia (Singapore), code ap-southeast-1.
- Firestore: the locations list includes asia-southeast1, Singapore.
- Firebase Cloud Storage: free quotas on new buckets apply only in three US regions, so storing files in Singapore is billed from the first gigabyte.
- Pick the region at the start. Moving an existing database to another region later means a migration.
Our guide to custom web app development in Singapore covers hosting choices more broadly.
Backups and cost control
This is where small businesses get caught out. Ask your developer how each is handled, in writing.
| Supabase | Firebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic backups | Not on Free; Pro keeps 7 days of daily backups, Team 14 days | Firestore scheduled daily or weekly backups, configurable retention; needs Blaze plan and must be set up |
| Point-in-time recovery | Add-on: US$100/month per 7 days of retention | Available for Firestore (see Firebase PITR docs) |
| Spending limit | Spend cap on by default on Pro; switch off to allow overage | Budget alerts email you but do not stop services; spend caps only for AI Logic, App Hosting, Cloud Functions and Extensions |
Firebase's spend caps page explains that alerts-only budgets do not pause services. Set a budget alert on day one regardless.
Lock-in: how hard is it to leave?
Neither platform traps you completely, but the effort to move differs.
Choose Supabase if
- You want standard SQL data any PostgreSQL developer can work with
- You may move to your own server or another host later
- You need reports and exports into Excel or accounting tools
- Your app is mostly forms, tables, approvals and records
Choose Firebase if
- The app is mobile-first with live updates, such as chat or tracking
- You already use Google Cloud and want one bill
- Your developer has a track record with Firebase security rules
- You want Google's mobile tools: push messages, crash reports, A/B tests
Firestore stores data as documents, not tables, so moving to another database usually means rewriting the data layer. Supabase data is ordinary PostgreSQL that can be exported with standard tools, though app features that rely on Supabase-specific services (auth, storage, edge functions) still need work to move.
Questions to ask a developer who proposes either
You do not need to pick the technology yourself. You do need the answers to these before you sign.
Before you approve the backend
Our guide to choosing an app developer in Singapore covers the contract side, including source code ownership.
Do it yourself or get help?
No-code builders can get a simple internal tool running on either platform, but security rules, backups and cost limits are easy to get wrong, and mistakes expose customer data or create surprise bills.
Our Custom Business App (from S$4,900) starts with a free written scope and fixed quote, builds several modules on one shared database, and is hosted in your own account with source code and data yours. For a single dashboard or portal, our Custom Tool or Dashboard starts at S$1,990. IT Sorted is a Singapore-based team of developers with over 10 years of experience; you pay upfront, send the brief in writing and follow progress on your order page.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on usage. Supabase Pro is a predictable US$25 a month per organisation with large included allowances. Firebase can cost nothing for a small app within its daily free quotas, but busy apps pay per read, write and download, which is harder to predict. Ask your developer for an estimate at your expected volume.
Yes. Supabase offers the Southeast Asia (Singapore) region, ap-southeast-1, and Cloud Firestore offers asia-southeast1 in Singapore. Choose the location when creating the project, because moving an existing database to another region later means a migration. Note that Firebase's free storage quotas on new buckets only apply in certain US regions.
Partly. Budget alerts email you when spending reaches thresholds but do not stop services. Spend cap budgets that pause a service are available only for Firebase AI Logic, App Hosting, Cloud Functions and Extensions. Firestore usage is not covered, so set budget alerts and watch usage.
For most business apps with customers, orders, invoices and stock, a SQL database such as PostgreSQL is easier to report on and export. NoSQL document databases like Firestore are strong for real-time mobile features and flexible data. Many apps would work on either; the developer's experience matters too.
Your business. The project should be created in a company account, with the owner role held by you or a director, and the developer added as a team member. That way you keep the data, backups and billing if you change developer.