PocketBase vs Fauna
A detailed comparison to help you choose between PocketBase and Fauna.
Quick Verdict
4.5/5
PocketBase
188 reviews
3.8/5
Fauna
339 reviews
PocketBase is rated higher (4.5 vs 3.8). PocketBase is an open source backend consisting of a single executable file with embedded SQLite database, realtime subscriptions, auth, file storage, and an admin dashboard. Fauna is a serverless document database with ACID transactions, native GraphQL API, and global replication. No servers to manage. Unique multi-tenancy model. Ideal for Jamstack and serverless apps.
PocketBase Open-source backend with built-in database and real-time APIs | Fauna Serverless document database with ACID transactions | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.5 (188 reviews)✓ | 3.8 (339 reviews) |
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Starting price | Free | Free tier available |
| Best for | Solo developers and small teams building web/mobile apps who want self-hosted backend simplicity without Firebase costs or vendor dependencies. | Jamstack developers who need a serverless database with GraphQL API and automatic global replication |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tieropen sourceself hostable | free tierapi access |
| Visit PocketBase → | Visit Fauna → | |
PocketBase
Pros
- + Deploy as single executable with zero external dependencies
- + Generate REST and real-time APIs automatically from database schema
- + Manage data and users through built-in admin dashboard
- + Self-hosted and open-source—full control over data and infrastructure
Cons
- - SQLite backend limits horizontal scaling for high-concurrency applications
- - Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Firebase or Supabase
- - Self-hosting requires basic DevOps knowledge for production deployments
Fauna
Pros
- + Serverless — no scaling needed
- + GraphQL API native
- + ACID transactions across global regions
Cons
- - Proprietary FQL query language
- - Pricing can surprise at scale
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