PocketBase
FreeOpen-source backend in a single file — realtime database, auth, and file storage
About PocketBase
PocketBase is a single Go binary that ships a complete backend: SQLite database, real-time subscriptions, file storage, authentication with email and OAuth2 providers, and a REST API with auto-generated client SDKs for JavaScript and Dart. Zero external dependencies — download the binary, run it, and you have a working backend in under two minutes. Around 37,000 GitHub stars. The appeal for solo developers and small teams is obvious: no database to set up separately, no Redis, no auth service to configure. It runs on a five-dollar VPS. The critical limitation is that SQLite is the only database and horizontal scaling is not supported — one instance per deployment. Past roughly 10,000 concurrent connections this becomes a real constraint. PocketBase extends through Go hooks for custom server-side logic, or through a JavaScript VM embedded in newer versions. Production teams at real scale tend to graduate from PocketBase to Supabase or a traditional stack, but for projects under moderate load it is genuinely complete and takes minutes to deploy.
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Free (Self-hosted)
- Unlimited everything
- Realtime database
- Built-in auth
- File storage
- Admin UI
Pros
- Single binary — incredibly easy to deploy
- Zero configuration needed
- Built-in auth, files, and realtime
- Perfect for MVPs and side projects
Cons
- SQLite limits horizontal scaling
- Smaller ecosystem than Firebase/Supabase
- Not ideal for high-write workloads
Best For
- Solo developers building side projects who want auth, database, and storage in one binary
- Hackathon and MVP builds where setup speed matters more than scalability headroom
- Flutter and mobile app developers using the first-class Dart SDK
Not Ideal For
- Applications expecting high concurrency or needing to scale across multiple server instances
- Teams requiring a specific database like Postgres for tooling, compliance, or data integrity reasons
Potential Deal Breakers
- SQLite only — no Postgres, no MySQL, no horizontal scaling across multiple nodes
- Single-node architecture: cannot run multiple instances behind a load balancer
- JavaScript extension support is newer and less documented than the Go hooks API
Data & Privacy
Open-source backend in a single file. All data stored in local SQLite database. No cloud dependency, no telemetry. Complete data sovereignty in one binary.
Who Is This For?
Hands-on tested May 2026
Signup Experience
No account required. Download a single 15MB binary and run it. Admin UI appears at localhost:8090 immediately. Collections, auth, and file storage are configured through the visual interface in minutes. No Docker, no dependencies, no configuration files required.
For Home Users
The fastest way to get a full backend running for a personal project. SQLite database, built-in auth, realtime subscriptions, and file storage in a single executable is remarkable for its simplicity. Completely free with no usage limits. Perfect for mobile app prototypes, personal tools, and learning backend development without infrastructure overhead.
For Business Users
Excellent for MVPs and small-to-medium apps where operational simplicity matters. Single-file architecture means deployment is copying one binary. SQLite scales further than most developers expect for read-heavy workloads. Limitations emerge at high write concurrency -- teams with serious scale requirements should plan a migration path to PostgreSQL-backed tools like Supabase. Best for startups that want to move fast before optimizing infrastructure.
Our Verdict
PocketBase is the fastest path from zero to a working backend for small projects. The single-binary approach removes entire categories of setup friction that kill side projects before they launch. The SQLite-only, single-node architecture means you will hit a wall if the project grows significantly — plan the graduation path to Supabase or similar before that becomes urgent.