Electric SQL vs Nhost: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Electric SQL and Nhost side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Electric SQL
Build fast, modern, collaborative apps with real-time data sync for your existing stack.
Best for you if:
- • You want adds real-time sync without changing existing stack
Nhost
Open-source Firebase alternative
Best for you if:
- • You want open source backend
| At a Glance | Electric SQL | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $25/mo, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Data & Databases Developer Tools | Data & Databases Low-Code Backend |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Compute overage fees beyond included credits |
Choose Electric SQL or Nhost?
Choose Electric SQL if
- You want adds real-time sync without changing existing stack
- You want supports offline-first application development
Choose Nhost if
- You want open source backend
- You want firebase alternative
In-Depth Analysis
Electric SQL
Build fast, modern, collaborative apps with real-time data sync for your existing stack.
Electric SQL's pricing is very fair, offering a robust free open-source option for development and self-hosting.
Strengths
- Pro: Adds real-time sync without changing existing stack
- Pro: Supports offline-first application development
- Pro: Provides sub-millisecond reactivity and instant local writes
- Pro: Offers flexible deployment options including cloud hosting and self-hosting
- Pro: Integrates with a wide range of popular frameworks and platforms
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires familiarity with PostgreSQL for optimal configuration
- Con: Complexity might be high for very simple applications
- Con: Specific pricing details are not fully available on the main page
Key features
Nhost
Open-source Firebase alternative
Nhost's pricing is generous, especially with a free Starter tier that pauses only after a week of inactivity, making it suitable for hobbyists.
Watch out
Compute overage fees beyond included credits
Strengths
- Pro: Open source backend
- Pro: Firebase alternative
- Pro: GraphQL built-in
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Newer platform
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Enterprise features require a paid plan
- Con: Still maturing
Key features
Plans and prices: Electric SQL vs Nhost
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electric SQL |
| electric-sql.com read Oct 5, 2026 |
| Nhost |
| nhost.io/pricing read Oct 24, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Electric SQL pricing and Nhost pricing.
Key Takeaways
Electric SQL
- Choose if you want build fast, modern, collaborative apps with real-time data sync for your existing stack
Nhost
- Choose if you want open-source Firebase alternative
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Nhost starts at $25/mo, billed monthly; Electric SQL has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Electric SQL and Nhost compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Nhost starts at $25/mo, billed monthly; Electric SQL has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Electric SQL and Nhost used for?
Electric SQL: Build fast, modern, collaborative apps with real-time data sync for your existing stack. Nhost: Open-source Firebase alternative.
What does Electric SQL cost vs Nhost?
Electric SQL has no public paid-plan price on file. Nhost's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $25/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 24, 2026.
What's the main difference between Electric SQL and Nhost?
Electric SQL's main strength: adds real-time sync without changing existing stack. Nhost's main strength: open source backend.