Why Supabase?
Building a backend from scratch means implementing authentication, database access, file storage, real-time subscriptions, and API endpoints before writing a single line of business logic. Supabase provides all of these as managed services built on PostgreSQL, giving teams a production-ready backend in hours rather than months.
In contrast to proprietary Backend-as-a-Service platforms, Supabase is open source and built on PostgreSQL. Your data lives in a standard database you can query directly, export at any time, or migrate away from without rewriting your application. There is no proprietary query language to learn and no vendor lock-in to worry about.
The pricing model scales reasonably. A generous free tier works for MVPs and small projects. Paid tiers provide predictable costs as usage grows.
Our Approach
We use Supabase as the backend for applications where speed to market matters and the data model fits PostgreSQL well. Authentication uses Supabase Auth with Row Level Security policies that enforce access control at the database level, meaning even direct database access respects permission boundaries.
For real-time features, we subscribe to database changes through Supabase Realtime rather than building WebSocket infrastructure. File uploads go through Supabase Storage with CDN delivery and image transformations configured per bucket. Edge Functions handle server-side logic that cannot run in the browser, such as third-party API calls or sensitive computations.
We pair Supabase with Prisma for type-safe database access when projects need more complex data layer logic than Supabase's auto-generated APIs provide.
Real-World Application
Supabase is part of our recommended stack for SaaS MVPs and internal tools. The combination of authentication, database, and real-time features covers the backend requirements of most early-stage products.
Supabase patterns we implement:
- Row Level Security for multi-tenant data isolation
- Real-time subscriptions for collaborative features
- Storage with CDN for user-uploaded content
- Edge Functions for third-party integrations
- Supabase Auth with social login providers
Projects can launch faster because infrastructure concerns are handled by Supabase's managed platform.
When to Choose Supabase
Supabase is the right choice when your project needs a relational database with authentication, your data model is well-defined, and you want to move fast without managing infrastructure. It works especially well for MVPs, internal tools, and applications where real-time data is valuable.
Consider a custom backend instead if you need complex server-side business logic that does not map to database operations, if you require a non-relational data model, or if your compliance requirements demand infrastructure you fully control. For teams that outgrow Supabase's managed offering, self-hosting remains an option.
Our Track Record
We have shipped production applications on Supabase across SaaS, marketplace, and content platforms. Our Supabase projects leverage Row Level Security for multi-tenant isolation, Realtime for collaborative features, and Edge Functions for integrations with services like Stripe and SendGrid. We handle the full setup from schema design and RLS policy writing to client SDK configuration and production monitoring.
FAQ
Should we use Supabase or Firebase? Supabase for projects that need relational data or want to avoid vendor lock-in. Firebase for projects that need its mobile SDKs, Cloud Firestore's document model, or tight integration with other Google Cloud services. Supabase's PostgreSQL foundation makes complex queries easier than Firebase's NoSQL approach.
How do Row Level Security policies work?
RLS policies are SQL rules that determine who can access which rows. For multi-tenant apps, a typical policy is: auth.uid() = user_id ensuring users only see their own data. We write RLS policies for all tables and test them thoroughly before deployment.
Can we use Prisma with Supabase? Yes. We connect Prisma to Supabase's PostgreSQL database for type-safe queries while still using Supabase Auth and Realtime. This gives us the best of both: Supabase's managed infrastructure and Prisma's developer experience.
What about Supabase for enterprise applications? Supabase's Pro and Team plans work for many enterprise use cases. For strict compliance requirements, Supabase offers dedicated instances and supports self-hosting. We evaluate requirements case-by-case.
Related Solutions
Supabase integrates with our development stack:
- PostgreSQL Solutions - Supabase's underlying database
- Prisma ORM Development - Type-safe queries with Supabase
- Next.js Development - Full-stack applications with Supabase backend
- SaaS Development - Rapid SaaS MVP development
- Startup MVP Development - Fast backend for early-stage products