Neon vs Supabase: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Neon Free: 500MB storage, 1 project, limited compute hours. Supabase Free: 500MB storage, 2 projects, 50,000 MAUs (for auth), 1GB bandwidth. Supabase's free tier is more generous in features (auth, storage, edge functions are included). Neon Launch is $19/month; Supabase Pro is $25/month. The architectural difference defines the comparison. Neon is a serverless Postgres platform — it focuses on one thing: branching, instant scaling, and serverless Postgres. Neon's branching model (create a copy-on-write branch of your production database for a PR in seconds) is uniquely valuable for development workflows where testing against real data schemas is important. Supabase is a Backend-as-a-Service built on Postgres — it bundles database, authentication (based on GoTrue), real-time subscriptions, storage (S3-compatible), and edge functions in one platform. Teams that want a Firebase-like developer experience for web and mobile apps find Supabase more productive: one platform covers auth, database, storage, and functions without stitching together separate services. The tradeoff: Supabase's additional services (auth, storage, realtime) add cost complexity and platform lock-in. Teams using Supabase primarily as a Postgres database often find they're paying for features they don't use. Neon's pure-Postgres focus means integrating your own auth (Auth0, Supabase Auth standalone, Stytch), storage (S3, Cloudflare R2), and APIs — more flexibility, more stitching. Decision: full backend platform for web/mobile apps → Supabase. Serverless Postgres with branching for database-only needs or teams with existing auth/storage → Neon.
At a glance
| Neon | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Serverless Postgres with scale-to-zero and branching | Open-source Firebase alternative with Postgres |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Neon | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| PostgreSQL compatible | Yes | No |
| Scale to zero | Yes | No |
| Database branching | Yes | No |
| Autoscaling | Yes | No |
| Point-in-time restore | Yes | No |
| PostgreSQL database | No | Yes |
| Authentication | No | Yes |
| Storage | No | Yes |
| Edge Functions | No | Yes |
| Realtime subscriptions | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
How costs scale
Supabase's pricing curve is steeper — the jump from its entry plan to its top tier is more dramatic than Neon's. If you're a growing team, model the 12-month cost at your projected team size, not just today's. Neon tends to stay more predictable as you add seats or usage.
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Neon means going without PostgreSQL database, Authentication, Storage (which Supabase offers). Choosing Supabase means losing PostgreSQL compatible, Scale to zero, Database branching. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
Neon (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Supabase (201-500 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Neon if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose Supabase if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is Neon or Supabase better?
Supabase scores 88/100 compared to Neon's 82/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Neon excels at ease of use (9/10) while Supabase scores 8/10.
How much does Neon cost compared to Supabase?
Neon starts at free (free tier available). Supabase starts at free (free tier available). Neon is the more affordable option.
Does Neon or Supabase have a free plan?
Yes, both Neon and Supabase offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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