Looking for a Firebase alternative?
Own your backend.
Database, Auth, Realtime, Functions, Storage -- all self-hosted in a single binary. No Google lock-in, no usage-based billing surprises. SQL and NoSQL databases, plus full app deployment.
The honest take: Firebase has excellent SDKs, a mature ecosystem, and tight integration with Google Cloud services like Analytics, Crashlytics, and ML Kit. But if you need SQL databases, want predictable pricing, require data sovereignty, or refuse vendor lock-in, sh0 provides all the same backend capabilities on your own infrastructure.
Feature Comparison
sh0 vs Firebase: backend services, deployment, data ownership, and pricing side by side.
| Feature | sh0 | Firebase |
|---|---|---|
| Database | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis | Firestore (NoSQL) + Realtime Database |
| Auth service | Managed Logto (OIDC, social, MFA) | Firebase Auth (email, phone, social) |
| Realtime subscriptions | Centrifugo (WebSocket + SSE) | Firestore realtime listeners |
| Serverless functions | Managed Deno runtime | Cloud Functions for Firebase |
| File storage | MinIO (S3-compatible) | Cloud Storage for Firebase |
| REST API | PostgREST (auto-generated from tables) | Firestore REST API |
| SQL database support | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB (full SQL) | NoSQL only (Firestore) |
| Email hosting | Stalwart Mail with DKIM/SPF/DMARC | -- |
| App deployment (PaaS) | Full Docker-based deployment | Firebase Hosting (static/SSR only) |
| Self-hosted | Single binary on any Linux VPS | Cloud-only (Google infrastructure) |
| Open source | Licensed binary, standard APIs | Proprietary (deep Google lock-in) |
| Data export | Docker Compose, K8s, AWS ECS export | Manual export, complex migration |
| Built-in AI assistant | 30 MCP tools + 6 specialist agents | Vertex AI integration (separate) |
| One-click templates | 170+ (full-stack apps, databases) | Starter templates (limited) |
| Predictable pricing | Flat monthly fee ($0-$99) | Usage-based (reads, writes, storage) |
| Mobile app | sh0 Manager (iOS & Android) | -- |
Why Developers Switch from Firebase
Common frustrations that drive developers to self-hosted alternatives.
"My Firebase bill is impossible to predict. One viral post doubled my Firestore reads and the bill went from $50 to $400."
sh0 charges a flat monthly fee. No per-read, per-write, or per-function-invocation billing. Your costs are predictable regardless of traffic spikes.
"I built on Firestore but now I need relational queries. Migrating away from Firebase's NoSQL model is a nightmare."
sh0 gives you PostgreSQL (with PostgREST for auto-generated APIs), MySQL, MariaDB, and MongoDB. Use SQL or NoSQL -- your choice. Standard protocols mean zero lock-in.
"Firebase forces me into the Google ecosystem. My data is on Google's infrastructure and I can't self-host it."
sh0 runs on any Linux server you control. Your data stays on your infrastructure. Export to Docker Compose or Kubernetes anytime. No vendor dependency.
What Makes sh0 Different
SQL + NoSQL, Your Choice
Firebase locks you into Firestore (NoSQL). sh0 offers PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB (relational) and MongoDB (NoSQL), with Redis for caching. Pick the right database for each use case.
No Google Lock-In
Firebase ties you to Google Cloud with proprietary APIs and data formats. sh0 uses standard protocols: PostgreSQL, S3, OIDC, WebSocket. Migrate anywhere, anytime.
Full PaaS, Not Just Backend
Firebase Hosting handles static sites and SSR. sh0 deploys any Docker container -- Node.js, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, .NET -- with managed databases, email, and more.
Every Firebase Feature, Self-Hosted
sh0 maps each Firebase service to a best-in-class open-source engine.
Firestore / RTDB --> PostgreSQL + MongoDB
SQL or NoSQL. 5 managed engines with admin UIs.
REST API --> PostgREST
Auto-generated REST API from PostgreSQL tables.
Firebase Auth --> Logto
OIDC-compliant with social login, MFA, and admin console.
Realtime DB --> Centrifugo
WebSocket + SSE with channels, presence, and history.
Cloud Functions --> Deno
TypeScript/JavaScript runtime, HTTP-invokable functions.
Cloud Storage --> MinIO
S3-compatible object storage with web console.
Pricing Comparison
Firebase's pay-per-use model vs. sh0's flat monthly pricing. No surprises, no scaling anxiety.
| Scenario | sh0 | Firebase |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | $0/mo (Free tier, 1 stack) | $0/mo (Spark -- limited) |
| Production app | $19/mo (Pro -- all services) | $25+/mo (Blaze -- pay as you go) |
| Multiple projects | $49/mo (Scale -- unlimited) | Pay per project usage |
| 1M Firestore reads/mo equiv. | Unlimited queries (your server) | ~$0.36/mo + compute |
| Cloud Functions (1M invocations) | Unlimited (your server) | $0.40 + compute time |
Migrate from Firebase in 5 Steps
Replace Firebase services one by one with standard, portable alternatives.
Install sh0
curl -fsSL https://get.sh0.dev | bashSet up your database
Create a PostgreSQL or MongoDB server with one click. If migrating from Firestore, MongoDB preserves your document structure; PostgreSQL with PostgREST gives you a REST API.
Enable Auth and Realtime
Activate Logto (Auth) and Centrifugo (Realtime) from the dashboard. Both follow standard protocols -- OIDC for auth, WebSocket for realtime.
Deploy your application
Connect your Git repository or use sh0 push. Your frontend and backend deploy together on the same server.
Update your client code
Replace Firebase SDK calls with standard HTTP/WebSocket calls. PostgREST, Logto, and Centrifugo all have client libraries for major frameworks.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Firebase if...
- You need Analytics, Crashlytics, and ML Kit integration
- Your app is mobile-first and benefits from Firebase SDKs
- You want zero infrastructure management
- Your usage is low enough that pay-per-use is cheaper
Choose sh0 if...
- You need SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- You want predictable pricing at any scale
- Data sovereignty and vendor independence matter
- You need full app deployment, not just backend services
Your Backend Without Google Lock-In
Install sh0 and get every Firebase feature on your own server. One binary, flat pricing, zero vendor dependency.