Appwrite

YES

Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent.

An open-source backend platform: database, authentication, storage, functions and realtime behind one API, hosted by them or on your own server.

Promptfree, for everyone, and the only version there is

Self-host it, and know what you take on.

RUNNING IT
- Docker Compose brings up the API, the database, the queue and the workers
- It is several containers. Size the machine for that before migrating

WHAT TO SET ON DAY ONE
- Storage backed by an S3-compatible bucket rather than local disk
- Backups of the database and the bucket, restored once as a test
- TLS in front, and the console never exposed publicly without an allow list

THE PERMISSION MODEL
- Appwrite enforces per-document permissions. Understand them before writing data, not after
- A collection with permissive defaults is a data leak waiting for someone to notice

MIGRATING
- Export, import, then verify counts per collection by hand before switching traffic

Include the compose file, the permission defaults and the backup script.

What you lose

A managed instance where authentication, storage and functions are already connected
SDKs for a dozen platforms kept current
Scaling and backups you do not operate

If you would rather not build

Supabase, if Postgres suits you better

The escape hatch

open source · no votes, no paid placement

Appwrite

The product itself, free to self-host with Docker Compose.

appwrite/appwritefree · open source

PocketBase

One binary with SQLite, auth, files and realtime; far simpler to run.

pocketbase/pocketbasefree · open source

Why this verdict

our own opinion · changed only by a person

82/100

Verdict yes at 82. The software is free and complete; the permission model is the part to understand before writing any data.

History

tracked since 10 Aug 2026 · nothing is ever overwritten

Interest · last 30 days

Nothing recorded yet. This chart fills in once the page has visitors, votes or prompt copies — it will not draw a flat line to look busy.

Questions about Appwrite

answered from the record above

Is Appwrite free?

No — the plan we track is $15 a month. Pro at $15 per member per month billed monthly on the cloud; the software is free to self-host.

Can you replace Appwrite by building your own?

YES. Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent. Replacement score 82 out of 100, build time one session. Read what you lose before you decide.

How much does Appwrite cost?

$15 a month on Pro — $180 a year. Recorded 10 Aug 2026.

What do you lose by replacing Appwrite?

A managed instance where authentication, storage and functions are already connected; SDKs for a dozen platforms kept current; Scaling and backups you do not operate. If any of those carry weight for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Appwrite?

Yes: Appwrite, PocketBase. The prompt on this page is for when you want it your way instead.

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