Backend & data (e.g. Supabase)
What this layer solves
Most apps need durable data, who is logged in, and sometimes files. You can build that on a BaaS (backend-as-a-service), your own API + DB, or serverless functions talking to a database.
Options
| Option | Best for | Tradeoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Supabase | Postgres + auth + storage + realtime; generous free tier | Vendor-specific APIs; learn RLS for real security |
| Firebase | Mobile-first, NoSQL, Google ecosystem | Different data model than SQL |
| Neon | Serverless Postgres — you only pay when the DB is awake and processing queries | You wire auth and APIs yourself |
| PlanetScale / RDS | MySQL or managed Postgres | More traditional pricing model |
| Turso (libSQL) | Edge-friendly SQLite | Different scaling story than big Postgres |
NK Wiki default: Supabase — Postgres, row-level security, auth UI patterns, works well with Next.js.
✶
Nick’s Pick — Neon DB
Neon for serverless Postgres — you only pay for the time the database is “awake” and processing queries. Perfect for projects that don’t have constant traffic. Pairs beautifully with Drizzle ORM and Vercel. If you want the full BaaS experience (auth + storage + realtime), Supabase is still great — but for pure database, Neon’s pricing model is hard to beat.
Outline: Supabase mental model
- Project = database + API + auth host — create in Supabase dashboard .
- Tables — design with migrations; don’t only use the GUI long-term.
- Auth — email magic link, OAuth providers; understand JWT flows at a high level.
- Row Level Security (RLS) — who can read/write which rows — essential before production.
- Client vs service role keys — never expose service role in the browser.
Official links
- Supabase Docs
- PostgreSQL — underlying SQL reference
- Neon Docs — serverless Postgres
When to pick an alternative
- Firebase if you’re all-in on Google and document-style data fits.
- Neon + Drizzle if you want maximal control, SQL-first ORM workflows, and pay-per-query pricing.
- Supabase if you want auth + storage + database all in one dashboard.
Related
- Authentication — auth options including Supabase Auth and Neon Auth
- Stacks & boilerplates — see how database choices fit into full stack combos
Last reviewed: April 2026.