PocketBase

PocketBase is an open-source backend in a single executable file, providing a SQLite database with realtime subscriptions via Server-Sent Events, built-in authentication, file storage, and an admin dashboard UI.

website | docs | pricing page | github |

Overview

Category	Realtime
Ecosystem	Language-agnostic
Self-Hostable	Yes
On-Prem	No
Best For	hobby, startup
Last Verified	2026-02-13

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

dx
cost
customization

Weaknesses:

SQLite limitations for high concurrency
Pre-v1.0 stability guarantees

When to Use

Best when:

You need a quick backend for prototyping
You want a single-file deployable backend
You're building small to medium-sized apps

Avoid if:

You require enterprise-scale concurrency
You need strict data consistency at scale

Alternatives

supabase, appwrite, firebase-realtime-database