PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file — embedded database, auth, file storage, and admin dashboard
About PocketBase
PocketBase is an open-source backend built as a single Go executable that bundles an embedded SQLite database with real-time subscriptions, user authentication (email/password and OAuth2), file storage (local or S3-compatible), and a polished admin dashboard. With 40,000+ GitHub stars, it lets developers spin up a complete backend on any server in seconds — no external dependencies, no Docker, no database setup. Extend it with Go or JavaScript hooks for custom business logic.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Entire backend in a single executable — zero external dependencies, runs on any \u00245/month VPS
- Completely free and open-source under MIT License with 40K+ GitHub stars
- Built-in auth, real-time database, file storage, and admin dashboard eliminates need for multiple services
- Setup takes seconds — download the binary, run it, and your backend is live
- Extensible via Go or JavaScript hooks for custom business logic without forking the project
- Beautiful admin dashboard for managing data, users, and settings without writing code
- Official JavaScript and Dart SDKs for web and Flutter integration
Cons
- Primarily a single-developer project (bus factor of one) which raises long-term sustainability questions
- SQLite-based so not suited for write-heavy workloads or applications requiring horizontal scaling
- Still pre-v1.0 — full backward compatibility not guaranteed between releases
- No built-in cloud functions or serverless compute like Firebase or Supabase offer
- Vertical scaling only — a single server must handle all traffic with no clustering support
- Smaller ecosystem and fewer integrations compared to established BaaS platforms
Key Features
Single-Binary Deployment
Entire backend packaged as one Go executable — download, run, and you have a production-ready server with zero dependencies
Embedded SQLite Database
Built-in database with schema builder, CRUD API, filtering, sorting, and full-text search — no external database needed
Real-Time Subscriptions
WebSocket-based real-time data streaming broadcasts every database change instantly to connected clients
Authentication System
Built-in email/password and OAuth2 authentication supporting Google, GitHub, Facebook, GitLab, and more
File Storage
Attach files to database records with automatic thumbnail generation — store locally or on any S3-compatible service
Admin Dashboard
Beautiful web-based admin UI for managing collections, records, users, files, and application settings
REST API
Auto-generated RESTful API for all collections with filtering, pagination, and record-level access rules
Extensible with Hooks
Add custom business logic via Go or JavaScript hooks that intercept application events and API requests
Pricing
- Full backend in one binary
- Embedded SQLite database
- Real-time subscriptions
- Auth (email + OAuth2)
- File storage (local or S3)
- Admin dashboard
- REST API
- Go/JS hooks
- MIT License
- Community support
Best For
MVP and Prototype Backend
Spin up a complete backend in seconds for rapid prototyping without provisioning databases or auth services
Side Projects and Hobby Apps
Run a full-featured backend on a cheap VPS with zero ongoing costs beyond hosting
Internal Tools and Dashboards
Build internal apps with the admin dashboard for data management and built-in auth for access control
Real-Time Collaboration Apps
Leverage WebSocket subscriptions for chat, live dashboards, and collaborative editing features
Mobile App Backend
Use official Dart SDK for Flutter apps or JS SDK for React Native with auth, storage, and real-time sync
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