Supabase vs Firebase for UK SMEs: Which Backend Saves Development Time

Here's the thing about backend services - most UK SMEs pick Firebase because it's Google, then get hit with surprise bills when their app actually takes off.

We've built applications on both platforms for local businesses. A property management company in Manchester saw their Firebase bill jump from £80 to £400 monthly after onboarding just 200 users. Their Supabase equivalent? £15 monthly for the same workload.

But cost isn't everything. The real question is which platform gets your business application live faster and keeps it running smoothly.

Why Backend Choice Matters for UK SMEs

Most business owners think choosing a backend is just technical detail. It's not. Your backend choice affects:

• Monthly running costs as you grow
• How quickly new features ship
• Whether your team can actually use the admin dashboard
• Data compliance with UK regulations

Firebase dominated for years because it was simple and backed by Google. But Supabase launched in 2020 with a compelling pitch: all the convenience of Firebase, with proper SQL databases and transparent pricing.

Firebase vs Supabase: Real-World Performance

The numbers tell a clear story. Supabase consistently delivers better value for growing UK businesses.

Authentication: Where Supabase Wins Big

Authentication setup reveals the biggest difference between these platforms.

Firebase auth requires this complexity:

import { initializeApp } from 'firebase/app';
import { getAuth, signInWithEmailAndPassword } from 'firebase/auth';
 
const firebaseConfig = {
  // 8 different config keys needed
};
 
const app = initializeApp(firebaseConfig);
const auth = getAuth(app);
 
// Then handle auth state changes separately

Supabase keeps it simple:

import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'
 
const supabase = createClient(
  'https://your-project.supabase.co',
  'your-anon-key'
)
 
// Built-in auth with proper TypeScript support
const { data, error } = await supabase.auth.signInWithPassword({
  email: 'user@email.com',
  password: 'password'
})

Database: SQL vs NoSQL Reality Check

Firebase forces you into NoSQL document databases. Sounds modern until you need to:

• Generate customer reports across multiple collections
• Handle complex business queries
• Export data for accounting software
• Let your team query data directly

A tutoring business in Birmingham spent 3 weeks trying to generate student progress reports from Firebase. The same report took 2 hours with Supabase's SQL database.

NoSQL works brilliantly for chat apps and social feeds. It's painful for business applications that need traditional reporting and data relationships.

Pricing Transparency: Supabase's Killer Advantage

Firebase pricing feels designed to confuse. You pay separately for:

• Database reads/writes
• Authentication requests
• Storage bandwidth
• Cloud function invocations
• Hosting bandwidth

A typical UK SME application hits these limits:

| Service | Firebase Monthly Cost | Supabase Equivalent | |---------|---------------------|-------------------| | 50,000 database operations | £40 | Included in £25 plan | | 10,000 auth requests | £15 | Included | | 5GB storage + bandwidth | £35 | Included | | Total | £90+ | £25 |

Supabase pricing is refreshingly honest. You know exactly what you're paying each month.

Developer Experience: Why Teams Prefer Supabase

We've worked with development teams on both platforms. Here's what they consistently tell us:

Supabase advantages:

• SQL database that business stakeholders understand
• Built-in dashboard for non-technical team members
• Better TypeScript support out of the box
• Row Level Security that actually makes sense
• Real-time subscriptions without complex setup

Firebase advantages:

• Larger community and more tutorials
• Deeper Google Cloud integration
• Better offline support for mobile apps
• More third-party integrations

For most UK SME applications, Supabase's advantages matter more.

When Firebase Makes Sense

Don't write off Firebase entirely. It's still the right choice for:

• Mobile-first applications needing offline sync
• Real-time chat or collaboration tools
• Teams already invested in Google Cloud
• Applications with unpredictable, spiky traffic

Migration: Easier Than You Think

Moving from Firebase to Supabase isn't the nightmare you'd expect. We typically complete migrations for UK SMEs within 2-3 weeks:

The business case for migration usually pays for itself within 6 months through reduced hosting costs.

Modern Development Stack Integration

Supabase plays much better with modern development tools UK businesses actually use:

• Next.js: First-class integration with App Router
• Vercel: Deploy and scale automatically
• TypeScript: Generates types directly from your database
• Tailwind CSS: Works seamlessly with Supabase UI components

Firebase requires more custom configuration to work smoothly with this stack.

Data Sovereignty for UK Businesses

Post-Brexit, more UK businesses care about where their data lives. Supabase offers clearer options:

• Choose your specific AWS region (including London)
• Self-host option for complete control
• Transparent data processing locations
• GDPR compliance built into the platform

Firebase data location depends on Google's infrastructure decisions, with less transparency about exactly where your business data resides.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Pick Supabase if you:

• Want predictable monthly costs
• Need SQL reporting and analytics
• Have team members who understand databases
• Plan to integrate with existing business tools
• Care about UK data hosting

Stick with Firebase if you:

• Already have significant Firebase investment
• Build primarily mobile applications
• Need Google Cloud service integration
• Have unpredictable traffic patterns

For 80% of UK SME web applications, Supabase delivers better value and developer experience.

Getting Started

Both platforms offer generous free tiers for testing. Supabase gives you 500MB database and 50MB file storage. Firebase provides 1GB Firestore storage and 10GB hosting bandwidth.

The real test isn't the free tier - it's what happens when your application succeeds and scales to real business usage.

If you're building a new business application or considering migrating from an expensive Firebase setup, we help UK SMEs evaluate and implement the right backend solution. Our web application development service includes full backend architecture planning and implementation.

Looking at your current hosting costs and wondering if there's a better way? Check our pricing for backend evaluation and migration services.