Convex wants a subscription.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Convex, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Convex vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs paid
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase | open source | Apache-2.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 108k | Convex vs Supabase → |
| Appwrite | open source | BSD-3-Clause | Local or hosted | ★ 57k | Convex vs Appwrite → |
| Nhost | open source | MIT | Local or hosted | ★ 9.3k | Convex vs Nhost → |
| Convex Self-Hosted | free | FSL-1.1-ALv2 | Self-host | ★ $0 forever | Convex vs Convex Self-Hosted → |
The picks
3 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Supabase
open sourceApache-2.0Local or hosted108kaug 2026Database, functions, realtime, files, and auth in one self-hosted stack; SQL replaces Convex's document model.
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.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedcliself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted Supabase project, or the official Docker Compose stack; `supabase start` runs the local stack
- setup
- Self-hosting is not 'just Postgres': the Compose stack needs many secrets and services, plus SMTP, object storage, TLS, backups, observability, and coordinated upgrades.
- your data
- Relational 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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Appwrite
open sourceBSD-3-ClauseLocal or hosted57kaug 2026Auth, database, storage, realtime, and functions behind one polished console; the Compose file is doing a lot.
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.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Hosted Appwrite Cloud signup, or the official Docker installer/Compose stack
- setup
- The 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.
- your data
- Self-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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Nhost
open sourceMITLocal or hosted9.3kaug 2026Postgres plus GraphQL, auth, storage, functions, and realtime; closer to Firebase than most Firebase alternatives.
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.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedcliself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted Nhost project, or Nhost CLI/Docker for local and self-hosted deployments
- setup
- Self-hosting means operating PostgreSQL, Hasura, authentication, storage, functions, networking, secrets, email, and upgrades rather than one small binary.
- your data
- Application 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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Convex Self-Hosted
freeFSL-1.1-ALv2Self-hostThe actual Convex backend and reactive function runtime on your own server; auth still comes from an external provider.
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.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Docker Compose for the Convex backend and dashboard
- setup
- The 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.
- your data
- Database 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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Convex open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Convex?+
The top free alternative to Convex is Supabase (open source, Apache-2.0). Database, functions, realtime, files, and auth in one self-hosted stack; SQL replaces Convex's document model. Other popular Convex replacements include Appwrite, Nhost, Convex Self-Hosted.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Convex?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Convex, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Supabase (Apache-2.0), Appwrite (BSD-3-Clause), Nhost (MIT), Convex Self-Hosted (FSL-1.1-ALv2).
Should I vibe-code or build my own Convex clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Convex is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). 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.
What is the catch when switching from Convex to Supabase?+
Supabase 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.
