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Home/Categories/Backend Development/Nhost
icon of Nhost

Nhost

Open source alternative to Firebase and AWS Amplify

Nhost is an open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL, PostgreSQL, authentication, file storage, and serverless functions in a single self-hosted or cloud-hosted backend. MIT licensed.

9.2K starsTypeScriptMITActive this week
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image of Nhost
Contents
  1. 01Who Nhost is for

Repository

Stars
9.2K
Forks
585
License
MIT
Latest
[email protected]
Last commit
3 days ago
Last verified
May 29, 2026
Repo
nhost/nhost ↗

Additional details

GitHub repo
  • 02The problem it solves
  • 03How it solves it
  • 04Strengths and trade-offs
  • 05Nhost vs alternatives
  • 06Tech stack
  • 07FAQ
  • 08Similar open-source tools
    • TL;DR

    Nhost is an open source Firebase alternative built around PostgreSQL, Hasura GraphQL, auth, storage, serverless functions, and a local CLI. It replaces Firebase when teams want SQL, GraphQL, and a self-hostable backend stack. Best for developers who like backend-as-a-service speed but do not want to give up database ownership.MIT · TypeScript · 9.2K stars · Active this week

    who it's for

    Who Nhost is for#

    Developers replacing Firebase with Postgres

    Nhost fits applications that need auth, storage, serverless functions, and GraphQL without leaving SQL behind.

    Skip if:

    Skip if Firebase already meets your data model and hosting requirements.

    Teams building GraphQL-first apps

    Use Nhost when instant GraphQL over PostgreSQL is a core requirement for web or mobile product development.

    Skip if:

    Skip if your team prefers hand-written REST APIs and minimal platform dependencies.

    the problem

    The problem it solves#

    how Nhost solves it

    How it solves it#

    PostgreSQL-backed backend

    Uses PostgreSQL as the database layer instead of a proprietary document database model.

    Instant GraphQL with Hasura

    Provides an instant GraphQL API through Hasura, which gives applications typed data access quickly.

    Auth, storage, functions, and CLI

    Combines authentication, file storage, serverless functions, and a local development CLI in one backend platform.

    strengths · trade-offs

    Strengths and trade-offs#

    Strengths

    • Firebase speed with SQL ownershipNhost keeps the BaaS developer experience while anchoring data in PostgreSQL.
    • Self-hostable stackThe README states the whole Nhost stack can be self-hosted and points to a Docker Compose example.

    Trade-offs

    • -Stack complexity behind the convenienceNhost combines PostgreSQL, Hasura, auth, storage, functions, and CLI tooling. Self-hosting requires understanding those moving parts.
    versus alternatives

    Nhost vs alternatives#

    tech stack · detected from GitHub

    What it's built on#

    Languages
    GoJavaScriptTypeScript
    Frameworks
    Next.jsReactVue
    Databases
    PostgreSQL
    frequently asked

    FAQ#

    Is Nhost an open source Firebase alternative?

    Yes. The README describes Nhost as an open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL and SQL.

    Can I self-host Nhost?

    Yes. The README says the full Nhost stack can be self-hosted and links to a Docker Compose example.

    What database does Nhost use?
    also worth a look

    Similar open-source tools#

    Modelence

    Modelence

    Full-stack framework for building production-ready web apps

    401TypeScript
    Supabase

    Supabase

    Open source Firebase: Postgres database, auth, and file storage

    102.3KTypeScriptApache-2.0
    Appwrite

    Appwrite

    Self-hosted backend: auth, databases, storage, and functions

    56.1KTypeScriptBSD-3-Clause
    Encore

    Encore

    Auto-generate infrastructure from your TypeScript or Go code

    12KGoMPL-2.0
    Manifest

    Manifest

    One YAML file gives your app auth, CRUD, storage, and admin UI

    6.7KTypeScriptMIT
    InsForge

    InsForge

    Backend-as-a-service platform built for AI coding agents

    9.7KTypeScriptApache-2.0
    Language
    TypeScript
    Open issues
    102
    Contributors
    151
    First release
    2021

    Categories

    Backend DevelopmentAPIs & IntegrationDatabases & Storage

    Tags

    BaaSAuthenticationAuthorizationDatabaseAPI InfrastructureSelf HostedOpen CoreFile Sync & Storage

    Firebase is fast for prototypes, but teams can outgrow its document model, proprietary platform coupling, and limited portability. Applications that need relational data, GraphQL APIs, and self-hosting often rebuild backend primitives that a BaaS provided at the start.

    Nhost vs Firebase

    Nhost is the better choice when you want Firebase-style backend speed with PostgreSQL, GraphQL, and a self-hostable path. Firebase is still the better fit when you want a fully managed Google platform and are comfortable with its proprietary data model and service boundaries.

    Nhost uses PostgreSQL and exposes instant GraphQL through Hasura.