Backends for a new project in 2026
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
Start with the decision you need to make: data model, authentication and operational responsibility. These tools cover different roles; you do not need to use or purchase them all.
Read the strengths and limitations below. If a tool fails a mandatory requirement, remove it from your shortlist before comparing scores or prices.
Startups and solo developers who want Postgres with auth and ready-made APIs7.8/101. Supabase
Open-source Postgres backend platform, a Firebase alternative. Notable strength: Every project is a dedicated Postgres database usable on its own; the other products are optional. Trade-off: Costs are harder to predict at scale: compute, disk, egress and add-ons are billed separately (for example PITR at 100 USD a month)
Read our full Supabase review
Teams building mobile or web apps that need auth, a realtime database and push notifications without building a backend7.5/102. Firebase
Google's all-in-one backend for mobile and web apps: database, auth, hosting, push. Notable strength: Spark needs no payment method and includes free quotas for Firestore, Authentication (50K MAUs), Hosting and Realtime Database. Trade-off: Cloud Functions, Cloud Storage and App Hosting require Blaze and a Cloud Billing account; budget alerts do not cap spending, and per-service spend caps cover only four services
Read our full Firebase review
Developers wanting a ready-made document database, starting free and scaling up7.6/103. MongoDB Atlas
Managed MongoDB database on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. Notable strength: A permanently free tier plus a low-cost Flex tier. Trade-off: Free tier is 512 MB with 100 ops/sec and auto-pauses after 30 days of inactivity
Read our full MongoDB Atlas review
How we chose
Selected from products with researched profiles, comparing their main purpose, feature scope, plan restrictions and platforms. The order serves different use cases; it is not an exhaustive market survey or a head-to-head test. Prices and policies retain each review’s source-check dates rather than being marked freshly verified when this guide is compiled.
Frequently asked questions
Is this list ordered by overall score?
Not strictly. Each label identifies the need it serves. Choose around the task, ecosystem and plan limits; the score is one supporting signal.
Do I need to pay for every tool?
No. This is a set of options, not a required bundle. Review free and paid limits in each product review, then choose one or a few tools that fit.
Was every price and fact checked again today?
Not automatically. The guide’s compilation date differs from each product’s source-check dates. Linked reviews retain their sources and dates so you can check the evidence.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Comments are readers’ opinions, not content from the AppDuo Editorial Team.