Tacobase vs Firebase
The Open Source Firebase Alternative
Open source. Predictable pricing. No vendor lock-in.
Firebase gives you a lot of features tied to Google Cloud. tacobase gives you the essentials — database, auth, realtime, storage — without the complexity, the lock-in, or the surprise bills.
What is Firebase?
Firebase is Google's Backend-as-a-Service platform. It offers a NoSQL document database (Firestore), authentication, cloud functions, hosting, and file storage. While feature-rich and well-integrated with Google Cloud, it uses proprietary formats, has a complex pricing model based on reads/writes, and creates significant vendor lock-in.
See the Difference in Code
Compare how common tasks look in Tacobase vs Firebase
Initialize the Client
import { createClient } from '@tacobase/client'
// Zero config — reads from env
const db = createClient()import { initializeApp } from 'firebase/app'
import { getFirestore } from 'firebase/firestore'
const app = initializeApp({
apiKey: "AIza...",
authDomain: "myapp.firebaseapp.com",
projectId: "myapp-12345",
storageBucket: "myapp-12345.appspot.com",
messagingSenderId: "123456789",
appId: "1:123456789:web:abc123"
})
const db = getFirestore(app)Create a Record
// Collection auto-creates on first write
const post = await db
.collection('posts')
.create({ title: 'Hello', published: true })import { collection, addDoc } from 'firebase/firestore'
const docRef = await addDoc(
collection(db, 'posts'),
{ title: 'Hello', published: true }
)Query with Filters
const posts = await db
.collection('posts')
.getList(1, 20, {
filter: 'published = true',
sort: '-created',
})import {
collection, query, where,
orderBy, limit, getDocs
} from 'firebase/firestore'
const q = query(
collection(db, 'posts'),
where('published', '==', true),
orderBy('created', 'desc'),
limit(20)
)
const snapshot = await getDocs(q)
const posts = snapshot.docs.map(
doc => ({ id: doc.id, ...doc.data() })
)Authentication
await db.auth.signUp({
email: 'user@example.com',
password: 'secure123',
})
await db.auth.signIn({
email: 'user@example.com',
password: 'secure123',
})import {
getAuth,
createUserWithEmailAndPassword,
signInWithEmailAndPassword,
} from 'firebase/auth'
const auth = getAuth()
await createUserWithEmailAndPassword(
auth, 'user@example.com', 'secure123'
)
await signInWithEmailAndPassword(
auth, 'user@example.com', 'secure123'
)Realtime Subscriptions
const unsub = await db
.collection('messages')
.subscribe((e) => {
console.log(e.action, e.record)
})import { collection, onSnapshot } from 'firebase/firestore'
const unsub = onSnapshot(
collection(db, 'messages'),
(snapshot) => {
snapshot.docChanges().forEach((change) => {
console.log(change.type, change.doc.data())
})
}
)Feature Comparison
How Tacobase stacks up against Firebase
Setup & DX
Database
Auth
Infrastructure
Pricing
Why Developers Choose Tacobase
Open Source, No Lock-In
tacobase is fully open source and self-hostable. Your data lives in standard SQLite databases you can export anytime. No proprietary formats, no Google dependency.
Predictable Pricing
Firebase's pay-per-read/write model leads to surprise bills. tacobase has flat, predictable pricing starting at $7/mo. Know what you'll pay before you ship.
Relational Data Model
tacobase uses a relational database with proper filtering, sorting, and pagination. No need to denormalize your data or restructure for every new query pattern.
Simpler SDK Surface
Firebase requires importing dozens of functions from different modules. tacobase has a single client with a chainable, intuitive API. Less imports, less boilerplate.
Zero-Config Setup
Firebase needs a config object with 7 fields. tacobase reads from your environment automatically. One install, zero configuration.
AI-Native Development
tacobase's small, predictable API surface is designed for AI coding tools. Cursor, Claude, and v0 can use tacobase correctly without hallucinating complex configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Tacobase vs Firebase
Is tacobase a drop-in replacement for Firebase?
tacobase covers the core Firebase features — database, auth, realtime, and file storage. However, tacobase uses a relational data model instead of Firebase's NoSQL document model. For most apps, this is an upgrade, but if you heavily depend on Firestore's nested document structure or offline-first sync, the migration requires some data restructuring.
Will I get surprise bills with tacobase like Firebase?
No. tacobase uses flat, predictable monthly pricing starting at $7/mo. There are no per-read or per-write charges. You know exactly what you'll pay before you ship, unlike Firebase's pay-per-operation model.
Can I use tacobase without a Google account?
Yes. tacobase is completely independent of Google. You can sign up with any email, self-host on any infrastructure, and export your data at any time. No Google Cloud dependency.
Does tacobase support offline-first like Firebase?
tacobase currently focuses on online-first with realtime subscriptions. If your app requires extensive offline support with automatic sync (like Firebase's Firestore offline persistence), Firebase may be a better fit for that specific use case.
Why choose tacobase over Firebase for a new project?
tacobase offers open-source transparency, a relational data model that scales without denormalization, predictable pricing, zero vendor lock-in, and a simpler SDK surface that works perfectly with AI coding tools. If you're starting fresh, tacobase gets you to production faster with less complexity.
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