Developer Tools
Appwrite
Self-hosted Backend.
What it is
Appwrite is an open-source backend server for web, mobile, and flutter developers that is meant to be self-hosted. It abstracts away the complexity of common backend tasks like authentication, database management, and file storage. With its easy-to-use API and beautiful management console, Appwrite allows you to focus on building your app's frontend while it handles the heavy lifting of the backend. It is the perfect choice for developers who want the convenience of Firebase but prefer to own and control their own data.
Key features
Unified API
Access your entire backend through a single, consistent REST or GraphQL API.
Appwrite Functions
Run server-side code in 15+ different languages with ease.
Realtime
Listen for database and authentication changes live across all connected devices.
Security Suite
Built-in protection against common attacks and secure data handling.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Total Data Control: Self-host it on your own server to ensure 100% privacy.
- Great SDK Support: Beautiful libraries for Web, Flutter, Android, and iOS.
- Comprehensive Tools: Includes Auth, Database, Storage, and Functions in one place.
- Open Source: Benefit from a fast-growing community and zero vendor lock-in.
Where it falls short
- Maintenance: Since it is self-hosted, you are responsible for server updates and backups.
- Scaling: Managing a large-scale Appwrite cluster requires significant server knowledge.
- Smaller Community: Not as many third-party plugins or tutorials as Firebase yet.
Who it is for
Flutter Developers and Self-hosting Enthusiasts.
Pick it or skip it
Pick Appwrite if
- Indie developers building up to 2 projects with 75K monthly active users on the free Cloud tier
- Teams that want auth, database, storage and functions in one backend for $25/month per organisation
- Anyone who wants the option to self-host the open-source version on their own servers
Skip it if
- Your free project is dormant — Free projects pause after 1 week of inactivity
- You need more than 1 database, 1 bucket or 2 functions per project without paying
- You need SOC 2, HIPAA or an SLA: those are Enterprise
Our verdict
An open-source backend you can self-host, for teams that will not hand over their data.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Appwrite cost, and can I self-host it?
- Appwrite Cloud is free for up to 2 projects with 75,000 monthly active users, 2 GB storage and 5 GB bandwidth, though free projects pause after a week of inactivity. Pro costs $25 a month and raises limits to 200,000 users, 150 GB storage and 2 TB bandwidth with daily backups. Appwrite is also open source, so you can self-host it on your own infrastructure at no licence cost.
- Does Appwrite have a free plan?
- Yes. Appwrite offers a free tier with limits; paid plans unlock higher usage or team features.
- Who is Appwrite best for?
- Flutter Developers and Self-hosting Enthusiasts.
- What are the closest alternatives to Appwrite?
- In the same category we track Firebase and Xano. Each has its own review page with verified pricing, and the comparison links above show them side by side.
- What are the main drawbacks of Appwrite?
- The trade-offs we noted: Maintenance: Since it is self-hosted, you are responsible for server updates and backups.; Scaling: Managing a large-scale Appwrite cluster requires significant server knowledge.; Smaller Community: Not as many third-party plugins or tutorials as Firebase yet..
- When should you not use Appwrite?
- Skip Appwrite if: Your free project is dormant — Free projects pause after 1 week of inactivity; You need more than 1 database, 1 bucket or 2 functions per project without paying; You need SOC 2, HIPAA or an SLA: those are Enterprise.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.Yes
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Vendor pricing page verifiedReviewed: 2026-09-08
- Appwrite — Pricing ↗
Checked 2026-09-08 · Supports: Free $0: 2 projects, 5 GB bandwidth, 2 GB storage, 750K executions, 75K MAU, 1 database/bucket and 2 functions per project, pauses after 1 week inactive, Pro $25/month: 2 TB bandwidth, 150 GB storage, 3.5M executions, 200K MAU, unlimited databases, daily backups with 7-day retention, $10 compute credit, Enterprise custom: SLAs, SOC 2, HIPAA/BAA, SSO, add-ons: reads $0.06/100K, writes $0.10/100K, storage $2.80/100 GB, functions $2 per million executions
Limit: Vendor pricing page was reviewed by an editor on this date; this record is not a ToolCompare benchmark. Prices and limits change.
Compare Appwrite with alternatives
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