Planning to build an app in 2025? Good, you should, for it’s the need of the hour. But for that, you do need a database that can handle the app’s users and data. In this regard, two contenders are popular: Supabase and MongoDB.

Let’s start with this: MongoDB is one of the most popular NoSQL databases in 2025 and is used by thousands across the globe. Likewise, Supabase boasts a large user base, with over 131,976 websites identified as using the Supabase platform. So, while one is a new-age, open-source, popular alternative to Firebase, the other has dominated the NoSQL world for quite some time.

So, why is it so that MongoDB remains a better choice for business scaling and Supabase continues to gain traction? This article offers a detailed comparison between databases to help you decide which tool best fits your needs. 

The Two Contenders at a Glance 

In 2025, to date, both databases, MongoDB and Supabase, have enjoyed a prominent position in the tech world. So, here’s a glance at the two databases for a basic recall of what they are and what they do.

Supabase

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative with a suite of tools for building scalable applications. The platform offers a full-featured PostgreSQL database with additional features. Using WebSockets, it combines the power of PostgreSQL with real-time capabilities.

Supa base offers features, such as: 

• Authentication 
• Authorization 
• Real-time updates 
• Serverless functions 

People love Supabase because of its:

• Quick setup, especially for MVPs
• SQL-based queries (via PostgreSQL)
• Built-in user authentication and file storage

MongoDB 

MongoDB is a NoSQL document-oriented database known for storing data in flexible, JSON-like documents. The database allows for a flexible schema design and horizontal scalability. This makes it ideal for applications with evolving or unpredictable data structures. It even supports the fastest programming languages.

MongoDB is especially popular among enterprise-grade apps, real-time analytics tools, and scalable mobile apps. It offers features like:

• Replication 
• Sharding 
• Indexing 
• Aggregation pipelines 

People love MongoDB because of its: 

• Flexible schema structure 
• Great for handling unstructured data 
• Huge ecosystem and community 
• Cloud version available via MongoDB Atlas 

Supabase vs MongoDB: Key Differences 

Now, let’s move on to explore the key differences between the two databases.

Feature	Supabase	MongoDB
Type	Relational Database (SQL-based)	NoSQL Database (Document-based)
Data Structure	Tables with rows and columns	JSON-like flexible documents
Schema	Fixed (defined upfront)	Schema-less (dynamic, flexible)
Query Language	SQL (standard SQL queries)	MQL (MongoDB Query Language, similar to JSON)
Realtime Features	Built-in (via Postgres replication)	Available (with Change Streams setup)
Built-in Tools	Auth, Storage, REST & Realtime API, Dashboard	Database only (auth/storage needs external tools)
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly, quick-to-launch apps	Requires more setup, better for experienced devs
Hosting	Fully hosted via Supabase	Self-hosted or MongoDB Atlas (cloud service)

Supabase vs MongoDB: Feature Comparison 

Not sure which platform you should use for your app-making? Have a look at the following feature-wise comparison of the two databases: 

1. Data Modeling and Structuring 

Both MongoDB and Supabase showcase different strengths when it comes to data modeling.

Supabase lets you define complex relationships between tables using foreign keys and indices, i.e., you define your schema and stick to it. For this purpose, it leverages the power of PostgreSQL’s relational database engine.

MongoDB, on the other hand, features a flexible schema design. The database lets you store documents with varying structures within a collection. This makes it suitable for applications with rapidly evolving data schemas. 

Tip: Choose Supabase if you need a structure. Choose MongoDB if you expect your data format to change frequently. 

2. Querying and CRUD Operations 

The basic data tasks, the CRUD operations (creating, reading, updating, and deleting), are possible using both MongoDB and Supabase.

With Supabase, you can run powerful queries, including filters, sorting, and joining data from multiple tables. The platform uses PostgreSQL’s querying abilities to perform these tasks. It also supports transactions, which helps maintain data accuracy and consistency.

In contrast, MongoDB makes use of its language, called MQL (MongoDB Query Language). Its flexible schema enables easy filtrations and data organizations using commands like $match, $sort, and $group. This database also supports indexing, helping with faster data loading and responsiveness. 

3. Performance and Scalability 

The strengths of both databases are apparent when it comes to performance and scalability. The quality and level of the given feature are what brings the real difference.

Leveraging PostgreSQL’s ability, Supabase scales vertically by increasing hardware resources such as CPU and RAM. However, it utilizes sharding techniques to support horizontal scaling. On the flip side, it does support reliable transactions but might hit the limit in the case of millions of unstructured documents.

In comparison, from the ground up, MongoDB is designed for horizontal scalability. This platform can easily handle massive datasets, especially in the case of fluid structures. MongoDB also utilizes the sharding technique for data distribution across multiple clusters. This ensures high availability and fault tolerance. 

4. Security and Authentication 

For any software or database, security and authentication are crucial aspects. Both databases under discussion offer features that ensure data security and authentication.

Supabase provides built-in authentication mechanisms. These support various providers like: 

• Email/password 
• OAuth 
• Third-party identity providers (Google, GitHub, and Apple) 

Also, through row-level security (RLS) policies, Supabase supports fine-grained access control.

MongoDB offers similar authentication mechanisms, providing support for: 

• Username/password-based authentication 
• LDAP integration 
• X.509 certificate authentication 

MongoDB also provides role-based access control (RBAC), letting you define granular access permissions for users. 

5. Real-Time Capabilities 

In modern applications, real-time updates are crucial to ensure instant data synchronization between clients and servers.

With Supabase, you get real-time updates through PostgreSQL replication and WebSockets. The client libraries let you subscribe to changes in the tables and instantly reflect those in the app’s UI — ideal for building live dashboards, chat apps, or collaborative tools.

With MongoDB, you get real-time updates through its change stream feature. These allow for real-time change monitoring in databases. However, it requires a replica set and more configuration, which makes it slightly less beginner-friendly.

6. Built-in Features

Here’s another quick table to show which service includes which out-of-the-box:

Feature	Supabase	MongoDB
Authentication	Yes	Yes
File Storage	Yes	Yes
Realtime Updates	Yes	With setup
RESTful & GraphQL APIs	Yes	Not built-in
Admin Dashboard	Yes	Yes (Atlas)
Hosting/Backend Suite	Yes	Yes (Atlas)

So, while MongoDB’s strength lies in data handling, Supabase gives a more full-stack solution. 

7. Pricing Tier Comparison 

Tier	Supabase (Free Tier)	MongoDB Atlas (Free Tier)
Storage	500 MB database, 1 GB file storage	512 MB storage
Auth	50,000 monthly users	Not included
Realtime	Included	Requires extra config
API Access	Unlimited REST, Realtime, GraphQL	Requires extra setup
Paid Plans Start	~$25/month	~$9/month

MongoDB’s paid tier becomes more affordable faster, while Supabase includes more free features upfront. 

Supabase vs MongoDB – Use Cases

Each of the two databases has its strengths and weaknesses. The choice of database depends on your particular needs and requirements. This table depicts the use case for both MongoDB and Supabase.

Supabase	MongoDB
Social media platforms with real-time feeds	IoT apps handling large streams of sensor data
E-commerce apps with structured data	Log analysis systems require flexible storage
Collaborative tools like live editors	Real-time analytics dashboards
Content management systems (CMS)	Content repositories with dynamic schemas

Final Verdict

In times where technology rules digital transformation, software development is crucial for businesses. To make this possible, there are databases available that support the entire application development lifecycle. MongoDB and Supabase are two such databases that are popular across the globe.

This article offers a feature-wise comparison between the two, helping you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each. MongoDB is known for its flexibility, while Supabase, as a backend platform, provides an API and SDKs (Software Development Kits) that allow developers to interact with its services using various languages. Either way, both platforms are shaping the future of development in 2025.

 

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