Updated for 2026
TiDBvs
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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TiDB
TiDB is a distributed, MySQL-compatible SQL database from PingCAP — built for scale-out OLTP/HTAP and cloud deployments.
Visit TiDBdev-database
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.
Visit SupabaseBasics
| Feature | TiDB | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Company | PingCAP | Supabase |
| Country | United States / China | United States |
| Region / Availability | Self-host / multi-cloud | Multi-region (global) |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | TiDB | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Model | freemium | freemium |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starts at | $0/mo | $25/mo |
| Plan 1 | Open Source / Self-host: Free | Free: Free500 MB database size，1 GB file storage，Unlimited API requests，50,000 monthly active users |
| Plan 2 | TiDB Cloud: Usage-based | 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 | TiDB | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | ✓https://github.com/pingcap/tidb | ✓https://github.com/supabase/supabase |
| Self-host Option | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACID | Distributed ACID transactions | Full ACID via underlying Postgres |
| Index Support | Secondary indexes; TiFlash columnar for analytics | Postgres indexes + pgvector / full-text options |
| Concurrency | High concurrency for distributed OLTP | Strong MVCC concurrency from Postgres |
| Scalability | Horizontal scale-out for HTAP workloads | 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 | Distributed MySQL-compatible SQL for HTAP and cloud-scale OLTP | Postgres-backed BaaS with auth, storage, realtime, and vectors |
Pros & cons
TiDB
- MySQL compatibility with horizontal scale
- Strong for large distributed SQL workloads
- Open-source plus managed TiDB Cloud
- Heavier than single-node MySQL/Postgres
- Ops learning curve for distributed SQL
- Not the simplest hobby database
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 | TiDB | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Privacy | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Value | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Depth | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Ecosystem | 7.5 | 9.0 |
| DX | 7.5 | 9.0 |
- TiDB
- Supabase
FAQ
Is TiDB better than Supabase? (2026)
It depends on workflow. TiDB emphasizes mysql-compatible distributed sql database for htap and cloud-scale workloads. 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 TiDB vs Supabase?
- TiDB: Distributed MySQL-compatible SQL for HTAP and cloud-scale OLTP
- Supabase: Postgres-backed BaaS with auth, storage, realtime, and vectors
What are the main differences between TiDB and Supabase?
- ACID: TiDB (Distributed ACID transactions) vs Supabase (Full ACID via underlying Postgres)
- Index Support: TiDB (Secondary indexes; TiFlash columnar for analytics) vs Supabase (Postgres indexes + pgvector / full-text options)
- Concurrency: TiDB (High concurrency for distributed OLTP) vs Supabase (Strong MVCC concurrency from Postgres)
- Scalability: TiDB (Horizontal scale-out for HTAP workloads) vs Supabase (Managed scale + read replicas; branching for previews)
- Postgres Compatible: TiDB (no) vs Supabase (yes)
How do TiDB and Supabase compare on pricing?
TiDB pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: freemium
- Starting from ~$0/mo
- Plan Open Source / Self-host: Free
- Plan TiDB Cloud: Usage-based
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 TiDB and Supabase offer a free tier?
- TiDB: Has a free tier
- Supabase: Has a free tier
Are TiDB and Supabase open source?
- TiDB: 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.