Firebase vs Appwrite in 2026: pick Firebase if you build a mobile app on Google Cloud
Firebase vs Appwrite is Google's managed app backend against an open source platform you can use in the cloud or host yourself. Firebase has a no-cost Spark plan and a pay as you go Blaze plan with daily quotas, such as 50K Firestore reads a day. Appwrite has a Free plan with monthly quotas and a Pro plan from $25 a month.
Facts and prices checked on against the sources listed below.
Quick verdict
Firebase
Starts atPay as you go
Pick Firebase if you build a mobile app on Google Cloud, want Firestore's realtime listeners and offline cache, and prefer paying only for what you use.
Appwrite
Starts atPro $25/mo
Pick Appwrite if you want an open source backend, a fixed Pro price with large included quotas, and the option to self-host later.
Firebase vs Appwrite at a glance
| Feature | Firebase | Appwrite |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Google's app platform: Firestore, Auth, Functions, Hosting and more | Open source backend: auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging, sites |
| Free tier | Spark: 1 GiB Firestore, 50K reads and 20K writes a day, 50K MAU | 2 projects, 500K reads and 250K writes a month, 75K MAU |
| Paid plan | Blaze, pay as you go; Spark quotas stay free | Pro, from $25 a month |
| Database quotas | Per day: 50K reads, 20K writes, 20K deletes | Per month on Pro: 1,750K reads, 750K writes |
| Auth | Free up to 50K MAU; 50 SAML or OIDC MAU | 75K MAU free; 200K MAU on Pro, then $3 per 1,000 |
| Functions | Blaze only: 2M invocations a month free, then $0.40 per million | 750K executions free; 3.5M on Pro, then $2 per million |
| File storage | Blaze only: 5 GB-months free on new buckets | 2 GB free; 150 GB on Pro |
| Hosting | 10 GB storage and 360 MB a day transfer free | Sites included; 5 GB bandwidth free, 2 TB on Pro |
| Open source | No | Yes; self-hosting documented |
Pricing and free tier (checked Nov 2026)
Firebase has two plans. Spark costs nothing and needs no payment method. Blaze is pay as you go: the Spark quotas stay free, and usage above them is billed, mostly at Google Cloud rates. Eligible new Blaze accounts get $300 in free credit. Cloud Firestore (standard edition) includes 1 GiB of stored data, 10 GiB of egress a month, and 50K document reads, 20K writes and 20K deletes a day. Authentication is free up to 50K monthly active users, and 50 for SAML or OIDC. Hosting includes 10 GB of storage and 360 MB of transfer a day. Cloud Functions and Cloud Storage buckets are Blaze only: functions include 2M invocations a month, then $0.40 per million, and new storage buckets include 5 GB-months and 100 GB of downloads a month in three US regions.
Appwrite's Free plan allows 2 projects, 75K monthly active users, 2 GB of storage, 5 GB of bandwidth, 750K function executions, 500K database reads and 250K writes a month. Free projects are paused after 1 week of inactivity. Pro starts at $25 a month and includes 200K MAU, 150 GB of storage, 2 TB of bandwidth, 3.5M executions, 1,750K reads and 750K writes a month, with overage billed (for example $0.060 per 100k reads and $0.10 per 100k writes).
Daily quotas or a monthly plan
Firebase measures Firestore use per day and bills each operation above the free quota. A chatty client that reads the same documents again and again costs more than you might guess, but a quiet app can stay inside Spark.
Appwrite measures use per month. On Pro you pay a fixed fee with large included quotas, get email reminders at 75% and 100% of a limit, and can set a budget cap.
Platform and lock in
Firebase is a Google service. Firestore offers realtime listeners and an offline cache for mobile apps, and SQL Connect adds Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL with a 3-month trial. Appwrite is open source, its docs cover self-hosting, and the cloud version bundles auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging and site hosting.
When to pick Firebase
- You build a mobile app that must keep working offline.
- You already use Google Cloud.
- Your usage is low and fits the free daily quotas.
When to pick Appwrite
- You want a fixed monthly price with included quotas.
- You want an open source backend and the option to self-host.
- You need more free monthly users than Firebase's 50K.
See also Supabase vs Appwrite and Firebase pricing.
FAQ
Is Firebase free?
The Spark plan costs nothing and needs no payment method. It covers Firestore with 1 GiB stored and 50K reads, 20K writes and 20K deletes a day, Auth up to 50K MAU and Hosting with 10 GB of storage. Cloud Functions and Cloud Storage buckets need the Blaze plan, which keeps the same free quotas and bills usage above them.
Is Appwrite free?
Appwrite Cloud has a Free plan with 2 projects, 75K monthly active users, 2 GB of storage, 5 GB of bandwidth and 750K function executions. Free projects are paused after 1 week of inactivity, and you cannot buy more resources on the Free plan.
Which bill is easier to predict?
Appwrite Pro, because it has a fixed price from $25 a month with included quotas and a budget cap you can set. Firebase Blaze bills each read, write and invocation above the free quota, so the bill follows how your app reads data.
Can I self-host Appwrite?
Yes. Appwrite is open source and its docs cover self-hosting. Firebase is a managed Google service only.
Sources, checked November 8, 2026
Prices and plans change often. If something here is out of date, tell us through the contact page.