pgroll vs Supabase: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between pgroll and Supabase comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Supabase wins this matchup. PostgreSQL is our overall Data & Databases pick. PostgreSQL is our free Data & Databases pick. Pick pgroll if you need developer tools.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
pgroll
Perform zero-downtime, reversible schema migrations for PostgreSQL with ease.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Supabase requires payment)
- • You want eliminates downtime during database schema changes
- • You want reduces risk with instant rollback functionality
Supabase
Open source Firebase alternative
Best for you if:
- • You want full PostgreSQL access
- • You want generous free tier
| At a Glance | pgroll | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | Data & Databases |
Rating | - | 4.6/5G2 4.6 · Capterra 5.0 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Free projects pause after 7 days of inactivity: your app goes offline until someone visits it again. Not suitable for any production use, only for development and demos |
Choose pgroll or Supabase?
Choose pgroll if
Perform zero-downtime, reversible schema migrations for PostgreSQL with ease.
- You want a fully free tool (Supabase requires payment)
- You want eliminates downtime during database schema changes
- You want reduces risk with instant rollback functionality
- Your work is developer tools-shaped, not data & databases-shaped
Choose Supabase if
Open source Firebase alternative
- You want full PostgreSQL access
- You want generous free tier
- Your work is data & databases-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
| Feature | pgroll | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.6/5 233 reviews |
| Categories | Developer ToolsData & Databases | Data & DatabasesAPI Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
pgroll
Perform zero-downtime, reversible schema migrations for PostgreSQL with ease.
The pricing for pgroll is exceptionally fair and generous, as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- +Eliminates downtime during database schema changes
- +Reduces risk with instant rollback functionality
- +Simplifies client application deployment by supporting multiple schema versions
- +Easy to integrate with existing PostgreSQL setups
- +Open-source and actively maintained
Weaknesses
- -Requires Go 1.24 or later for source installation
- -Users need to manually configure client applications to use new schema versions
Key features
Supabase
Open source Firebase alternative
Supabase is the open-source Firebase alternative that developers actually want to use, Postgres database, authentication, storage, edge functions, and real-time subscriptions in one platform.
Watch out
Free projects pause after 7 days of inactivity: your app goes offline until someone visits it again. Not suitable for any production use, only for development and demos
Strengths
- +Full PostgreSQL access
- +Generous free tier
- +Open-source and self-hostable
- +Great developer experience
Weaknesses
- -Projects pause on free tier
- -Smaller ecosystem than Firebase
- -Less mature than alternatives
Key features
Pricing: pgroll vs Supabase
| Plan | pgroll | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Open Source | $0 Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $25 Pro |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $599 Team |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on pgroll pricing and Supabase pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
pgroll is free. Supabase is freemium.
Go with: pgroll
Want the highest-rated option?
Supabase is rated 4.6/5. pgroll has no ratings yet.
Go with: Supabase
Value user reviews?
pgroll: no ratings yet. Supabase: 233 reviews (4.6/5).
Go with: Supabase
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
pgroll is free. Supabase is freemium. Go with pgroll if free matters most.
What's your use case?
pgroll is a developer tools tool. Supabase is in data & databases. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Supabase is rated 4.6/5; pgroll has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Supabase
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
pgroll
- Completely free
- Better fit for developer tools
The Bottom Line
Supabase wins this matchup. PostgreSQL is our overall Data & Databases pick. PostgreSQL is our free Data & Databases pick. That said, pgroll is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pgroll or Supabase better?
Supabase is rated in our evaluation. pgroll is free and Supabase is freemium.
What are pgroll and Supabase used for?
pgroll: Perform zero-downtime, reversible schema migrations for PostgreSQL with ease.. Supabase: Open source Firebase alternative.
What does pgroll cost vs Supabase?
pgroll is completely free. Supabase is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.