Tacobase vs Appwrite

Less Config, More Shipping

Same open-source values. Radically simpler developer experience.

Appwrite is a solid open-source BaaS, but it requires you to set up databases, collections, and attributes before writing any code. tacobase skips all that — just install and start building.

What is Appwrite?

Appwrite is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service platform that provides database, authentication, functions, storage, and messaging. It's self-hostable via Docker and also offers a managed cloud service. While comprehensive, it requires manual setup of databases, collections, and attribute definitions before you can store data.

See the Difference in Code

Compare how common tasks look in Tacobase vs Appwrite

Initialize the Client

Tacobase
import { createClient } from '@tacobase/client'

// Zero config — reads from env
const db = createClient()
Appwrite
import { Client, Databases } from 'appwrite'

const client = new Client()
  .setEndpoint('https://cloud.appwrite.io/v1')
  .setProject('project-id')

const databases = new Databases(client)

Create a Record

Tacobase
// Collection auto-creates on first write
const post = await db
  .collection('posts')
  .create({ title: 'Hello', published: true })
Appwrite
// Requires database + collection created in console
import { ID } from 'appwrite'

const post = await databases.createDocument(
  'database-id',
  'posts-collection-id',
  ID.unique(),
  { title: 'Hello', published: true }
)

Query with Filters

Tacobase
const posts = await db
  .collection('posts')
  .getList(1, 20, {
    filter: 'published = true',
    sort: '-created',
  })
Appwrite
import { Query } from 'appwrite'

const posts = await databases.listDocuments(
  'database-id',
  'posts-collection-id',
  [
    Query.equal('published', true),
    Query.orderDesc('$createdAt'),
    Query.limit(20),
  ]
)

Authentication

Tacobase
await db.auth.signUp({
  email: 'user@example.com',
  password: 'secure123',
})

await db.auth.signIn({
  email: 'user@example.com',
  password: 'secure123',
})
Appwrite
import { Account, ID } from 'appwrite'
const account = new Account(client)

await account.create(
  ID.unique(),
  'user@example.com',
  'secure123'
)

await account.createEmailPasswordSession(
  'user@example.com',
  'secure123'
)

Realtime Subscriptions

Tacobase
const unsub = await db
  .collection('messages')
  .subscribe((e) => {
    console.log(e.action, e.record)
  })
Appwrite
client.subscribe(
  'databases.db-id.collections.messages.documents',
  (response) => {
    console.log(response.events, response.payload)
  }
)

Feature Comparison

How Tacobase stacks up against Appwrite

FeatureTacobaseAppwrite

Setup & DX

Zero-config start
Auto-creating collections
No Docker required (managed)
CLI scaffolding
TypeScript SDK
Works with AI coding tools

Database

Relational database
Document-based database
Realtime subscriptions
Auto-generated REST API
No schema setup required
Complex queries

Auth

Email/password
OAuth providers
Drop-in auth UI
Teams & roles
Magic link / passwordless

Infrastructure

Managed hosting
File storage
Cloud functions
Open source
Self-hostable
Per-tenant isolation
Single-binary deployment

Pricing

Soft tier
Paid from
$7/mo
$15/mo
No credit card for Soft tier

Why Developers Choose Tacobase

No Database IDs to Manage

Appwrite requires you to reference database IDs and collection IDs in every query. tacobase uses simple collection names — just write db.collection('posts') and go.

Auto-Creating Collections

With Appwrite, you must create databases, collections, and define attributes in the console before writing any data. tacobase collections create themselves on first write.

Simpler Architecture

Appwrite self-hosting requires Docker with multiple containers (MariaDB, Redis, etc.). tacobase runs as a single binary. The managed version requires zero setup.

Relational Data

tacobase uses a relational model with proper joins and relations. Appwrite uses a document model that can make complex queries harder to express.

Lower Starting Price

tacobase paid plans start at $7/mo vs Appwrite's $15/mo Pro plan. Get more out of your budget when you're starting out.

Built for Vibe Coding

tacobase is optimized for AI-assisted development. The small API surface means tools like Cursor and Claude generate correct tacobase code reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Tacobase vs Appwrite

How is tacobase different from Appwrite?

Both are open-source BaaS platforms, but tacobase focuses on zero-config simplicity. Appwrite requires you to create databases, collections, and define attributes before storing data. tacobase collections auto-create on first write. tacobase also uses a relational model vs Appwrite's document model.

Is tacobase easier to self-host than Appwrite?

Yes. Appwrite requires Docker with multiple containers (MariaDB, Redis, SMTP, etc.). tacobase is a single Go binary you can deploy anywhere — no Docker, no container orchestration, no dependency management.

Why doesn't tacobase require database IDs like Appwrite?

Appwrite uses a database-collection-document hierarchy where you need to reference database IDs and collection IDs in every query. tacobase simplifies this to just collection names — db.collection('posts') is all you need.

Does tacobase have cloud functions like Appwrite?

tacobase currently focuses on database, auth, realtime, and file storage. For server-side logic, you can use your existing backend framework (Next.js API routes, Express, etc.) alongside tacobase. Cloud functions are on our roadmap.

Can I migrate from Appwrite to tacobase?

Yes. You can export your Appwrite documents and import them into tacobase collections. The SDK migration is straightforward since tacobase's API is simpler — most Appwrite operations map to fewer lines of tacobase code.

Ready to Try Tacobase?

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No credit card required. No setup. Just vibes.