Convex alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
Base de datos, funciones, tiempo real, archivos y autenticación en un solo stack autoalojado; SQL reemplaza el modelo de documentos de Convex.
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Supabase project, or the official Docker Compose stack; `supabase start` runs the local stack
dataRelational data, auth records, and platform metadata live in PostgreSQL; Realtime consumes the Postgres replication stream; object data lives in the configured storage backend with metadata in Postgres; edge-function and migration source stays in project files. Supabase Cloud stores and operates the managed copy.
the catch vs ConvexSupabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.
setupSelf-hosting is not 'just Postgres': the Compose stack needs many secrets and services, plus SMTP, object storage, TLS, backups, observability, and coordinated upgrades.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Autenticación, base de datos, almacenamiento, tiempo real y funciones detrás de una consola pulida; el archivo Compose hace mucho trabajo.
licenseBSD-3-Clause
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Appwrite Cloud signup, or the official Docker installer/Compose stack
dataSelf-hosted Appwrite stores application records in MariaDB, queues and cache in Redis, and uploaded files in Docker volumes or a configured object-storage adapter; functions and build artifacts are managed by the Appwrite worker/executor services. Appwrite Cloud stores the equivalent data in Appwrite's infrastructure.
the catch vs ConvexAppwrite supplies the backend pieces but not Convex's end-to-end reactive TypeScript query model, automatic dependency tracking, transactional functions, or client cache semantics.
setupThe installer is one command, but it expands into a large multi-container platform; production use still needs a domain, TLS, SMTP, storage, backups, and careful version upgrades.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Postgres más GraphQL, autenticación, almacenamiento, funciones y tiempo real; más cercano a Firebase que la mayoría de las alternativas a Firebase.
licenseMIT
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Nhost project, or Nhost CLI/Docker for local and self-hosted deployments
dataApplication and auth records live in PostgreSQL, GraphQL metadata and migrations can live beside the project in version-controlled files, uploaded objects use S3-compatible storage, and serverless-function source remains in the project directory. Nhost Cloud runs those services in Nhost's infrastructure.
the catch vs ConvexNhost's PostgreSQL-and-GraphQL model is conventional and powerful, but it does not reproduce Convex's reactive functions, automatic cache invalidation, or unified TypeScript data model.
setupSelf-hosting means operating PostgreSQL, Hasura, authentication, storage, functions, networking, secrets, email, and upgrades rather than one small binary.
facts verified 2026-08-10
El backend real de Convex y el entorno de ejecución de funciones reactivas en tu propio servidor; la autenticación sigue viniendo de un proveedor externo.
licenseFSL-1.1-ALv2
runsyour server
installDocker Compose for the Convex backend and dashboard
dataDatabase state, scheduled-function state, indexes, and file-storage objects are kept in Convex's internal representation inside persistent volumes controlled by the self-hosted backend; this is not a user-facing SQL database. Application functions remain in the project's source tree and are pushed to that deployment.
the catch vs ConvexThis is Convex's actual runtime, but the subscription savings remove managed scaling, backups, monitoring, upgrades, incident response, and integrated authentication from the package.
setupThe first hurdle is not Docker itself but replacing Convex Cloud's managed envelope: configure instance secrets, a public URL/TLS, external authentication, durable volumes, backups, monitoring, and upgrades.
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
PocketBaseDatabase, realtime, files, and auth fit in one binary, but there is no server-side functions runtime.
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase | Apache-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted, cli | 107,608 | 2026-08 |
| Appwrite | BSD-3-Clause | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 56,789 | 2026-08 |
| Nhost | MIT | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted, cli | 9,266 | 2026-08 |
| Convex Self-Hosted | FSL-1.1-ALv2 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | — | — |
Convex: Managed hosting sells a failure domain, on-call team, network, backups, and capacity planning, not merely a deploy button.
Is there a free alternative to Convex?
Yes: Supabase, Appwrite, Nhost and 1 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Convex?
Our verdict is NO TANTO. Do not mistake the interface for the product. Convex's durable value is infrastructure, uptime, operations, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/convex.
