PocketBase
A single-file, open-source backend combining database, authentication, file storage, and real-time capabilities into one executable
- Also known as
- pocketbase
What is PocketBase?
An open-source backend system that combines an embedded database, real-time data synchronization, user authentication, and an administrative interface in a lightweight, easy-to-deploy package.
PocketBase pricing
We don't have PocketBase's full plan breakdown yet (its pricing page resisted automated reading). Here's what we could confirm. Always check live pricing for exact numbers.
What PocketBase does
The capabilities that matter for backend as a service, normalised so it lines up with every alternative. “-” means we haven't confirmed it, not that it's missing.
- Database model
- Sqlite
- Built in auth
- ✓
- Row level security
- -
- File storage
- ✓
- Serverless functions
- -
- Edge functions
- -
- Realtime subscriptions
- ✓
- API style
- Rest
- Offline sync
- -
- Vector AI support
- -
- Self hostable
- ✓
- Deployment model
- Self hostable
- Pricing model
- Free self host
Platform & deployment
Independently observed- CLI
- macOS
- Web
- Linux
- Windows
- Self-hosted
Security & compliance
Known vulnerabilities: 3 (2 in the last 12 months), max severity HIGH sourcea count reflects scale & disclosure, not quality
PocketBase FAQ
Common questions about PocketBase, answered from independent, dated evidence.
What is PocketBase?
An open-source backend system that combines an embedded database, real-time data synchronization, user authentication, and an administrative interface in a lightweight, easy-to-deploy package. It is indexed under Backend As A Service.
Source: https://pocketbase.io
Is PocketBase free to use?
PocketBase is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the MIT licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.
Source: https://pocketbase.io
What platforms does PocketBase support?
PocketBase supports the web, Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.
Source: https://pocketbase.io
Can PocketBase be self-hosted?
Yes. PocketBase can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.
Source: https://pocketbase.io
Is PocketBase open source?
Yes. PocketBase is published under the MIT licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.
PocketBase alternatives
Other backend as a service we track, ranked by the same independent score.
- AppwriteAn open-source backend platform providing integrated cloud services for web, mobile, and AI applicationsmedium · 56%
- Back4AppA cloud-based development platform providing a managed database, APIs, file storage, and executable backend logic.medium · 53%
- XanoA backend-as-a-service platform designed to make AI-generated code trustworthy and production-readymedium · 72%
- FirebaseA Google-backed platform for building, deploying, and managing mobile and web applications with integrated development services.low · 31%
- ConvexA managed backend platform combining database, serverless functions, real-time synchronization, and search in a unified TypeScript environmentmedium · 73%
- NhostAn open-source backend platform offering GraphQL APIs, authentication, storage, and serverless functions as a Firebase alternativemedium · 72%
Compare PocketBase
Side by side against other backend as a service, attribute by attribute, with a source on every value.
The vioscaleAI score: one lens on the evidence
Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for PocketBase, not the verdict.
| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development activity | 59 | 0.12 | 7.1 | ✓ |
| Release cadence | 99 | 0.07 | 6.7 | ✓ |
| Capabilities | 67 | 0.08 | 5.6 | ✓ |
| Stars | 90 | 0.03 | 3.0 | ✓ |
| Security score | 46 | 0.05 | 2.4 | ✓ |
| Dependent projects | 29 | 0.08 | 2.3 | ✓ |
| Integrations | 0 | 0.05 | 0.0 | - |
| Security posture | 5 | 0.09 | 0.0 | - |
| Package downloads | 0 | 0.17 | 0.0 | - |
| Developer Q&A activity | 0 | 0.08 | 0.0 | - |
Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.
All data & sourcesshow ↓
Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.
Activity
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Commits last 30d | 74 | mediumsource · 2026-09-13 · 65% |
Adoption
Content
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Faq | 5 items | mediumsource · 2026-09-10 · 67% |
Features
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | Api style: rest · File storage: Yes · Built in auth: Yes · Pricing model: free-self-host · Self hostable: Yes · Database model: sqlite | mediumsource · 2026-10-14 · 60% |
Language
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Go | highsource · 2026-10-14 · 90% |
License
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spdx | MIT | highsource · 2026-10-14 · 95% |
Pricing
Release
Security
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Disclosure policy | Yes | mediumsource · 2026-08-20 · 60% |
| Scorecard | 4.6 | highsource · 2026-10-14 · 90% |
| Vulnerabilities | Count: 3 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fpocketbase%2Fpocketbase&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 2 · Max severity: HIGH | highsource · 2026-10-14 · 90% |
Is PocketBase the right choice for you?
Tell us the job, the constraints and what you weigh most, and we will rank PocketBase against the rest of the backend as a service we index, using the same dated evidence weighted your way.
Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works
Is this your product?
This profile was built from public sources without asking you. You can take the badge below and use it anywhere, and you can claim the profile to correct anything we got wrong. Both are free, and neither moves PocketBase up or down: nobody can buy rank here, including you.
Take the badge
Live, always current, and free to use on your own site. It shows PocketBase's independent score and links back to this profile.
<a href="https://www.vioscale.ai/software/pocketbase" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://www.vioscale.ai/badge/software/pocketbase.svg" alt="PocketBase, verified on vioscaleAI" width="330" height="76" loading="lazy" />
</a>Markdown, for a README →
[](https://www.vioscale.ai/software/pocketbase)Claim the profile
Verify you control the domain, then point us at the pages that state the facts about PocketBase and add your own description and media. Free, and it does not change the score.
- Correct anything wrong, with evidence
- Point our crawler at the pages that matter
- Write your own description and add media
Not the owner? How vendor profiles work