Updated for 2026
MySQLvs
Supabase
Not sure which fits your workflow in 2026? Compare pricing, features, and trade-offs — then switch tools below to explore more options in this category.
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MySQL
MySQL is the classic open-source relational database — a default choice for SQL apps, CMS stacks, and managed cloud offerings.
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Supabase
Supabase is an open-source BaaS platform launched in 2020 by Supabase Inc. It entered GA in 2024 and has become a top backend choice for the AI era and Vibe Coding. A Postgres-first platform with auth, storage, realtime, and vector capabilities—often seen as an open-source Firebase alternative.
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| Feature | MySQL | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 1995 | 2020 |
| Company | Oracle | Supabase |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Region / Availability | Self-host / multi-cloud | Multi-region (global) |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | MySQL | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Model | open-source | freemium |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starts at | $0/mo | $25/mo |
| Plan 1 | Community: Free | Free: Free500 MB database size，1 GB file storage，Unlimited API requests，50,000 monthly active users |
| Plan 2 | Enterprise: Commercial support | Pro: $25/moFor production applications with the power to scale. 100 GB file storage，100,000 monthly active users，8 GB disk size per project |
| Plan 3 | — | Team: $599/moDesigned for team collaboration, it adds features such as single sign-on, backup control, and industry authentication. |
Feature checklist
| Feature | MySQL | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | ✓https://github.com/mysql | ✓https://github.com/supabase/supabase |
| Self-host Option | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACID | Full ACID with InnoDB | Full ACID via underlying Postgres |
| Index Support | B-tree, full-text, spatial; covering indexes | Postgres indexes + pgvector / full-text options |
| Concurrency | Strong row-level locking / MVCC-style reads | Strong MVCC concurrency from Postgres |
| Scalability | Vertical + replicas; clustering / Group Replication | Managed scale + read replicas; branching for previews |
| SQL Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Postgres Compatible | ✗ | ✓ |
| Serverless Database | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Search | ✗ | ✓ |
| Realtime | ✗ | ✓ |
| Built-in Auth | ✗ | ✓ |
| Blob / File Storage | ✗ | ✓ |
| Edge Compatible | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI SQL / NL Query | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Schema Assist | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Agent / MCP | ✗ | ✓ |
| Team Collaboration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Use Case | Classic OLTP relational database for web apps and CMS backends | Postgres-backed BaaS with auth, storage, realtime, and vectors |
Pros & cons
MySQL
- Ubiquitous skills and tooling ecosystem
- Battle-tested for OLTP web workloads
- Easy to self-host or buy managed MySQL
- Not Postgres-compatible
- Fewer modern branching/serverless DX features than Neon-class hosts
- Advanced features often need careful ops
Supabase
- Full Postgres with rich SQL ecosystem
- Auth, storage, realtime in one platform
- Self-host or managed cloud
- Operational complexity grows with scale
- Edge latency depends on region choice
- Not the lightest option for tiny apps
Dimension scores
Editorial 0–10 scores across shared dimensions — higher is better for that axis.
| Dimension | MySQL | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 8.5 |
| Value | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Depth | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Ecosystem | 9.5 | 9.0 |
| DX | 8.0 | 9.0 |
- MySQL
- Supabase
FAQ
Is MySQL better than Supabase? (2026)
It depends on workflow. MySQL emphasizes the world’s most popular open-source relational database for web and app backends. Supabase emphasizes open-source firebase alternative built on postgres with auth, storage, and realtime. Use the feature checklist above for your stack.
Which use cases fit MySQL vs Supabase?
- MySQL: Classic OLTP relational database for web apps and CMS backends
- Supabase: Postgres-backed BaaS with auth, storage, realtime, and vectors
What are the main differences between MySQL and Supabase?
- ACID: MySQL (Full ACID with InnoDB) vs Supabase (Full ACID via underlying Postgres)
- Index Support: MySQL (B-tree, full-text, spatial; covering indexes) vs Supabase (Postgres indexes + pgvector / full-text options)
- Concurrency: MySQL (Strong row-level locking / MVCC-style reads) vs Supabase (Strong MVCC concurrency from Postgres)
- Scalability: MySQL (Vertical + replicas; clustering / Group Replication) vs Supabase (Managed scale + read replicas; branching for previews)
- Postgres Compatible: MySQL (no) vs Supabase (yes)
How do MySQL and Supabase compare on pricing?
MySQL pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: open source
- Starting from ~$0/mo
- Plan Community: Free
- Plan Enterprise: Commercial support
Supabase pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: freemium
- Starting from ~$25/mo
- Plan Free: Free
- Plan Pro: $25/mo
- Plan Team: $599/mo
Always verify current prices on the vendor site before buying.
Do MySQL and Supabase offer a free tier?
- MySQL: Has a free tier
- Supabase: Has a free tier
Are MySQL and Supabase open source?
- MySQL: yes
- Supabase: yes
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Related alternatives
Disclaimer:Not Financial or Investment Advice, Educational/Dev Tool Comparison Only. Information may change; always verify pricing on the vendor site before purchasing.