Tacobase vs Nhost

Skip the GraphQL. Ship Faster.

All the backend power without the GraphQL complexity.

Nhost pairs Postgres with Hasura and GraphQL, giving you power at the cost of complexity. tacobase gives you a relational backend with a simple REST API — no GraphQL, no migrations, no Hasura configuration.

What is Nhost?

Nhost is an open-source Firebase alternative built on Postgres, Hasura (GraphQL engine), and a custom auth service. It provides a GraphQL API, authentication, file storage, and serverless functions. While powerful, it requires knowledge of GraphQL, Postgres migrations, and Hasura permissions to use effectively.

See the Difference in Code

Compare how common tasks look in Tacobase vs Nhost

Initialize the Client

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

// Zero config — reads from env
const db = createClient()
Nhost
import { NhostClient } from '@nhost/nhost-js'

const nhost = new NhostClient({
  subdomain: 'your-subdomain',
  region: 'us-east-1',
})

Create a Record

Tacobase
// Collection auto-creates on first write
const post = await db
  .collection('posts')
  .create({ title: 'Hello', published: true })
Nhost
// Requires Postgres table + Hasura permissions
const INSERT_POST = gql`
  mutation InsertPost(
    $title: String!,
    $published: Boolean!
  ) {
    insert_posts_one(object: {
      title: $title,
      published: $published
    }) {
      id
      title
      published
    }
  }
`

const { data, error } = await nhost.graphql
  .request(INSERT_POST, {
    title: 'Hello',
    published: true,
  })

Query with Filters

Tacobase
const posts = await db
  .collection('posts')
  .getList(1, 20, {
    filter: 'published = true',
    sort: '-created',
  })
Nhost
const GET_POSTS = gql`
  query GetPosts {
    posts(
      where: { published: { _eq: true } }
      order_by: { created_at: desc }
      limit: 20
    ) {
      id
      title
      published
      created_at
    }
  }
`

const { data, error } = await nhost.graphql
  .request(GET_POSTS)

Authentication

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

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

await nhost.auth.signIn({
  email: 'user@example.com',
  password: 'secure123',
})

Realtime Subscriptions

Tacobase
const unsub = await db
  .collection('messages')
  .subscribe((e) => {
    console.log(e.action, e.record)
  })
Nhost
// Requires GraphQL subscription
const SUBSCRIBE_MESSAGES = gql`
  subscription OnNewMessage {
    messages(order_by: { created_at: desc }) {
      id
      content
      created_at
    }
  }
`

// Typically used with a React hook
// or Apollo subscription client

Feature Comparison

How Tacobase stacks up against Nhost

FeatureTacobaseNhost

Setup & DX

Zero-config start
Auto-creating collections
No GraphQL knowledge needed
No SQL migrations
TypeScript SDK
Works with AI coding tools

Database

Relational database
GraphQL API
REST API
Realtime subscriptions
No Hasura required
No schema setup required

Auth

Email/password
OAuth providers
Drop-in auth UI
Magic link
SMS auth

Infrastructure

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

Pricing

Soft tier
Paid from
$7/mo
$25/mo
No credit card for Soft tier

Why Developers Choose Tacobase

No GraphQL Required

Nhost is built on Hasura and requires GraphQL for data operations. tacobase uses a simple, chainable TypeScript API. No query language to learn.

No SQL Migrations

Nhost requires Postgres migrations and Hasura metadata management. tacobase collections auto-create. No migration files, no schema syncing.

Simpler Stack

Nhost runs Postgres + Hasura + custom auth under the hood. tacobase is a single binary with everything built in. Fewer moving parts means fewer things to break.

Lower Entry Price

tacobase paid plans start at $7/mo vs Nhost's $25/mo Pro plan. More value at every tier.

Better AI Compatibility

GraphQL mutations and queries are notoriously hard for AI coding tools to generate correctly. tacobase's REST API is simple enough for AI to get right every time.

Single-Binary Self-Hosting

Self-hosting Nhost means running Postgres, Hasura, and auth services. tacobase is a single Go binary you can deploy anywhere in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Tacobase vs Nhost

Do I need to know GraphQL to use tacobase?

No. tacobase uses a simple REST API with a chainable TypeScript SDK. There are no GraphQL queries, mutations, or subscriptions to write. If you're tired of writing gql template literals, tacobase is a welcome change.

Is tacobase still relational like Nhost?

Yes. Both tacobase and Nhost use relational databases under the hood. The difference is that tacobase doesn't require Postgres migrations or a GraphQL engine (Hasura) to access your data. You get the benefits of relational data with a simpler access layer.

Can AI coding tools work with tacobase better than Nhost?

Yes. GraphQL mutations and queries are notoriously hard for AI tools like Cursor, Claude, and v0 to generate correctly — the syntax is complex and error-prone. tacobase's REST API and simple filter strings are easy for AI to get right every time.

How does self-hosting tacobase compare to self-hosting Nhost?

Self-hosting Nhost requires running Postgres, Hasura, an auth service, and potentially more containers. tacobase is a single Go binary — download it, run it, done. No Docker, no container orchestration, no multi-service management.

Does tacobase support serverless functions like Nhost?

tacobase currently focuses on database, auth, realtime, and file storage. For server-side logic, you can pair tacobase with your existing framework (Next.js API routes, Vercel functions, etc.). Dedicated serverless functions are on our roadmap.

Ready to Try Tacobase?

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