PocketBase
Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent.
A backend in one file: SQLite, authentication, file storage, realtime subscriptions and an admin interface, in a single binary you drop on a server.
Run it, and respect the single-writer model. WHY THIS IS ON THE LIST - It is free. It is here because it replaces several paid backends outright RUNNING IT - One binary, one data directory, behind a reverse proxy with TLS - systemd unit with restart on failure. That is the whole deployment THE CONSTRAINT TO UNDERSTAND - SQLite has one writer. Reads scale; writes serialise - For most applications this is fine well past the point people assume. Measure before assuming otherwise BACKUPS - The data directory is everything. Nightly copy off the machine, and use the built-in backup so the database is consistent - Never copy a live SQLite file with cp RULES - Collection rules are the security model. Write them before the first record, and test them as an unauthenticated user Include the systemd unit, the backup job and the rule tests.
What you lose
- Nothing in fees; it is free. What you take on is the server and the backup
- Horizontal scaling, which SQLite in one process does not offer
- A hosted option, since there is not one
If you would rather not build
- Supabase, if you need Postgres
- SQLite plus your own server, which is the same idea unbundled
The escape hatch
open source · no votes, no paid placement
PocketBase
$0The product itself: one binary with database, auth, files and realtime.
pocketbase/pocketbasefree · open source
Directus
$0A similar admin-and-API layer over Postgres or MySQL instead.
directus/directusfree · open source
Why this verdict
our own opinion · changed only by a person
92/100
Verdict yes at 92, and it costs nothing. The one thing to understand is the single-writer model, and the one thing to get right is a consistent backup.
History
tracked since 10 Aug 2026 · nothing is ever overwritten
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 PocketBase
answered from the record above
Is PocketBase free?
No — the plan we track is $0 a month. Free and open source with no hosted tier; the cost is the server you run it on.
Can you replace PocketBase by building your own?
YES. Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent. Replacement score 92 out of 100, build time one session. Read what you lose before you decide.
How much does PocketBase cost?
$0 a month on Free — $0 a year. Recorded 10 Aug 2026.
What do you lose by replacing PocketBase?
Nothing in fees; it is free. What you take on is the server and the backup; Horizontal scaling, which SQLite in one process does not offer; A hosted option, since there is not one. If any of those carry weight for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to PocketBase?
Yes: PocketBase, Directus. The prompt on this page is for when you want it your way instead.
Related entries
same category first, most replaced first
Coolify
Appwrite
Turso
UpstashEvery week, something stops being worth paying for.
New verdicts, prices that moved, entries added. One email a week. Unsubscribe in one click.
free forever · no tracking pixel · every prompt stays free on the site