Supabase vs Firebase for UK Business Apps: Why Postgres Wins

Firebase used to be the obvious choice for business applications. Google's backend-as-a-service dominated because it was simple, fast to implement, and handled scaling automatically.

But here's the thing - Firebase's pricing model punishes successful UK businesses. And the vendor lock-in makes switching platforms expensive and time-consuming.

We've migrated three UK SMEs from Firebase to Supabase in the past six months. Every single one is paying less and getting more control over their data. Let me show you why.

The Firebase Pricing Problem

Firebase charges per read, write, and delete operation. Sounds reasonable until your customer portal gets busy.

A manufacturing client came to us with a £2,400 monthly Firebase bill. Their inventory management app was making 2.8 million database reads per month. Each time a warehouse worker checked stock levels, Firebase charged them.

Firebase's pay-per-operation model creates unpredictable costs. Success literally costs more money. Your marketing campaign drives more users? Higher database bills. Your team uses the system efficiently? Still higher bills.

Supabase charges a flat monthly rate based on storage and concurrent connections. Predictable costs that don't punish business growth.

Real-Time Features: Where Supabase Shines

Firebase Real-time Database was revolutionary in 2016. But Supabase's real-time subscriptions are more flexible and cost-effective for business applications.

// Supabase real-time subscription
const subscription = supabase
  .channel('orders')
  .on('postgres_changes', 
    { event: 'INSERT', schema: 'public', table: 'orders' },
    (payload) => updateOrderDashboard(payload.new)
  )
  .subscribe()

We built a job tracking system for a plumbing company using Supabase real-time. Engineers update job status on mobile devices, and the office dashboard updates instantly. No polling, no delays, no per-operation charges.

The equivalent Firebase implementation would cost them an extra £180 monthly just for real-time updates.

PostgreSQL vs NoSQL for Business Data

Firebase forces you into NoSQL document storage. Fine for simple apps, problematic for business data with relationships.

UK businesses deal with customers, orders, products, invoices, and staff records. These entities have complex relationships that SQL handles naturally:

• Orders belong to customers
• Invoices reference multiple orders
• Staff members handle specific customer accounts
• Products have suppliers and categories

Firebase requires denormalised data structures and complex client-side joins. You end up duplicating customer data across documents, creating sync issues when addresses change.

Supabase gives you full PostgreSQL with foreign keys, constraints, and ACID transactions. Your accountant will thank you when VAT reporting actually works.

Authentication: Simpler with Better Control

Both platforms handle user authentication, but Supabase's approach fits UK business requirements better.

Firebase Auth integrates well with Google services but creates vendor lock-in. Your user authentication becomes tied to Google's ecosystem permanently.

Supabase Auth supports:

• Email/password with customisable templates
• Magic links (no passwords required)
• OAuth with multiple providers
• Row-level security policies
• GDPR-compliant data handling

We implemented magic link authentication for a consulting firm's client portal. Professionals hate remembering passwords, but love clicking secure links from their email. Two clicks and they're accessing project updates securely.

Development Experience and Modern Tooling

Supabase provides auto-generated TypeScript types for your database schema. Change a table structure, regenerate types, and get compile-time safety across your application.

# Generate TypeScript types from your database
supabase gen types typescript --project-id your-project > types.ts

Firebase requires manual type definitions that drift from your actual data structure. We've debugged countless production issues caused by type mismatches in Firebase applications.

The Supabase dashboard also provides direct SQL access. Need to run a complex report? Write SQL directly instead of figuring out Firebase's query limitations.

Migration Reality: It's Easier Than You Think

Moving from Firebase to Supabase isn't trivial, but it's more straightforward than staying locked into Google's ecosystem long-term.

The manufacturing client's migration took two weeks. Most of that time was spent improving their data structure - moving from duplicated Firebase documents to normalised PostgreSQL tables.

When Firebase Still Makes Sense

Firebase isn't wrong for every use case. Google's platform works well for:

• Prototype applications with uncertain requirements
• Apps that heavily integrate with Google Workspace
• Teams already deep in Google Cloud ecosystem
• Simple applications without complex data relationships

But for established UK businesses building customer portals, booking systems, or operational dashboards, Supabase provides better value and flexibility.

The Vendor Lock-In Reality

Here's what nobody tells you about Firebase: leaving is expensive.

Your data structure becomes optimised for NoSQL documents. Your authentication system integrates with Google services. Your real-time features depend on Firebase-specific SDKs.

Three years later, you're paying £4,000 monthly for a system that would cost £800 on Supabase. But migration seems impossible because everything is Firebase-specific.

Supabase uses standard PostgreSQL and open-source tools. Don't like their hosting? Export your database and run it anywhere. Need custom features? It's PostgreSQL - every developer knows it.

Performance Comparison

Supabase consistently outperforms Firebase for business application workloads. PostgreSQL's query optimisation handles complex business logic better than Firebase's document lookups.

The plumbing company's job dashboard loads customer history 60% faster on Supabase. Complex queries that required multiple Firebase requests now execute in single SQL statements.

Edge caching also works better with Supabase. Their CDN integration means UK users get fast response times without configuring complicated Firebase hosting rules.

Getting Started with Supabase

Create a Supabase project, design your database schema, and start building. The free tier handles most small business requirements without credit card requirements.

For UK SMEs, we typically recommend starting with the Pro plan (£20/month) which includes:

• 8GB database storage
• 100GB bandwidth
• 200,000 monthly active users
• Real-time subscriptions
• Daily backups

Compare that to Firebase's equivalent features costing £200-400 monthly for similar usage patterns.

Making the Switch

If you're building new business applications, choose Supabase unless you have specific Google integration requirements.

If you're stuck on Firebase with rising costs, migration is possible and profitable. Every UK business we've moved is saving money and getting better performance.

Need help evaluating your current Firebase costs or planning a Supabase migration? We specialise in building modern web applications that scale efficiently without breaking budgets. Our automation expertise also helps integrate Supabase with your existing business systems.

Check our case studies for detailed migration examples, or review our transparent pricing for project estimates.

Your business data deserves better than vendor lock-in and unpredictable costs.