Start Labs vs Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL
Start Labs is the best Supabase alternative for developers who want composable infrastructure. Supabase is a monolithic BaaS with ~10 features. Start Labs offers 22 independent modules — use just auth, or auth + payments + search + notifications. No 7-day project pause, no vendor lock-in, and coverage for payments, notifications, AI, and search that Supabase doesn't offer.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Start Labs | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Composable modules (pick any combo) | Monolithic platform (use our stack) |
| Modules / features | 22 packages + 11 domain modules | ~10 features |
| Auth | BetterAuth (email, social, MFA, RBAC, orgs) | GoTrue (email, social, phone, SSO) |
| Database | Drizzle ORM (any Postgres) | PostgreSQL (auto-generated REST/GraphQL) |
| Payments | Yes — @startlabs/payments (Stripe) | No (need separate Stripe integration) |
| Notifications | Yes — email, push, in-app, SMS | No |
| Search | Yes — full-text + Meilisearch | Basic Postgres text search only |
| AI gateway | Yes — multi-model routing | No (pgvector for embeddings only) |
| Mobile native | Yes — Expo, first-class | Client SDKs (JS, Flutter, Swift) |
| Open source | Yes — MIT license | Yes — Apache 2.0 |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes (Docker) |
| Free tier pauses | No | Yes — after 7 days of inactivity |
| Realtime | Yes — WebSocket/SSE via Redis pub/sub | Yes — Postgres Changes + Broadcast + Presence |
| Edge functions | Fastify routes (Node.js) | Deno-based Edge Functions |
Pricing comparison
| Tier | Start Labs | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 forever — all packages, no pause | $0 — 500MB DB, pauses after 7 days |
| Starter | $29/mo — managed infra | $25/mo + usage (Pro) |
| Team | $99/mo | $599/mo (Team) |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
| Hidden costs | None — flat pricing | Compute add-ons, egress, PITR, IPv4 billed separately |
When to use each
Choose Start Labs when...
You need more than a database
Start Labs covers payments, notifications, search, AI, queues, and more. Supabase only covers database, auth, storage, realtime, and functions.
You want composable, not monolithic
Use @startlabs/auth without being forced into @startlabs/storage. Supabase is a single platform — all or nothing.
You need Expo-native mobile
Start Labs mobile modules are built on Expo with native UI components, not just client SDKs.
You want a free tier that actually works
Supabase pauses free projects after 7 days of inactivity. Start Labs packages run on your infrastructure, always on.
Choose Supabase when...
You want auto-generated APIs
Supabase's PostgREST and pg_graphql generate REST and GraphQL APIs automatically from your schema. Magical for prototyping.
You need a web dashboard
Supabase Studio provides a SQL editor, table viewer, auth management, and storage browser in one dashboard.
You want battle-tested scale
Supabase manages 1M+ databases with proven infrastructure. Start Labs is pre-launch.
You need database branching
Supabase can copy your database for dev/staging environments at the click of a button.
Frequently asked questions
Is Start Labs a Supabase alternative?
Yes. Both provide backend infrastructure for web and mobile apps. Supabase is a monolithic BaaS (~10 features). Start Labs is composable (22 modules) — you pick exactly what you need. Start Labs also covers payments, notifications, search, and AI that Supabase doesn't.
Can I use Start Labs with my existing Supabase database?
Start Labs uses Drizzle ORM and works with any PostgreSQL database. If your Supabase database is PostgreSQL (it is), you can connect Start Labs modules to it. The migration mainly involves replacing Supabase-specific features (GoTrue auth, Edge Functions) with Start Labs equivalents.
Is Start Labs open source like Supabase?
Yes. All 22 Start Labs packages are MIT-licensed and open source. You can self-host everything on your own infrastructure.
Why not just use Supabase for everything?
Supabase doesn't cover payments (you need Stripe separately), notifications (you need Knock or similar), search (limited to basic Postgres text search), or AI gateway. With Start Labs, one platform replaces Supabase + Stripe + Knock + Algolia + Portkey.
Does the Supabase free tier really pause projects?
Yes. Supabase pauses free-tier projects after 7 days of inactivity. This is their #1 developer complaint. Start Labs packages are npm packages that run on your own infrastructure — they never pause.
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