Raff Managed PostgreSQL is a Supabase alternative for teams that want a conventional production database with fixed monthly resources, included operations, private networking, and an optional high-availability price that is known before launch. Supabase is the stronger platform when the requirement is a complete backend-as-a-service with authentication, file storage, Realtime, generated APIs, Edge Functions, branching, and a permanent $0 development tier. Raff starts at $7.99/month; Supabase Pro starts at $25/month and includes $10 of compute credits for one Micro project. Choose Supabase when the integrated backend toolkit replaces application engineering work; choose Raff when predictable PostgreSQL operations matter more than BaaS features.
Supabase and Raff both provide managed PostgreSQL, backups, TLS connections, monitoring, connection pooling, and production access controls. They are not identical products: Supabase wraps PostgreSQL with application-facing backend services, while Raff focuses on running and operating relational databases alongside Raff Apps, VMs, object storage, and private cloud services. Review Managed vs Self-Hosted Databases before choosing either model.
Supabase vs Raff: which is right for you?
Use the following decision rule:
- Choose Supabase when authentication, generated REST and GraphQL APIs, Realtime subscriptions, file storage, Edge Functions, client SDKs, and preview branches should arrive as one integrated developer platform.
- Choose Raff Managed PostgreSQL when PostgreSQL should be a focused managed service with fixed vCPU, RAM, NVMe storage, included backups and networking, optional synchronous-standby HA, and direct migration help.
| Decision factor | Raff Managed PostgreSQL | Supabase |
|---|
| Primary product | Managed PostgreSQL with fixed plans | PostgreSQL-based backend-as-a-service |
| Free tier | No permanent free managed database tier | $0 Free plan with two active projects |
| Paid entry | $7.99/month | Pro starts at $25/month |
| Authentication | Application or external provider | Supabase Auth included |
| Realtime | Application architecture | Integrated Realtime service |
| Object/file storage | Raff Object Storage | Supabase Storage |
| Edge functions | Deploy through Raff Apps or another runtime | Supabase Edge Functions |
| HA model | Optional synchronous standby at +70% | Platform and project architecture; no equivalent fixed +70% toggle |
| Billing | Fixed plan plus optional HA and extra storage | Organization plan plus project compute and usage meters |
Supabase is more capable as an application backend product. Raff is simpler as a database operations product. The better choice depends on whether the team is replacing backend components or only replacing database administration.
Supabase overview
Supabase is an open-source backend platform built around PostgreSQL. A project can include a managed Postgres database, authentication, Storage, Realtime, Edge Functions, generated APIs, vector capabilities, logs, dashboards, client libraries, and development tooling.
Current public plans include:
- Free — $0: two active projects, 500 MB database size per project, 50,000 monthly active users, 1 GB file storage, 5 GB uncached egress, 5 GB cached egress, and community support. Free projects can pause after one week of inactivity.
- Pro — from $25/month: $10 of monthly compute credits, 100,000 MAU included, 8 GB database disk per project, 100 GB file storage, 250 GB uncached egress, 250 GB cached egress, daily backups retained for seven days, and email support.
- Team — $599/month: adds enterprise collaboration, compliance, access controls, and support features.
- Enterprise — custom: negotiated scale, security, support, and deployment requirements.
Supabase bills at two levels. The organization pays for the plan, and each project consumes a compute instance. Pro's included $10 compute credit covers one Micro instance; additional projects or larger compute add to the monthly bill. Database disk, egress, storage, MAU, Edge Functions, Realtime, branching, and point-in-time recovery can create additional usage charges.
Supabase's strongest advantage is product integration. A small team can add sign-in, authorization policies, file uploads, database APIs, Realtime subscriptions, server-side functions, and framework SDKs without selecting separate vendors. The trade-off is that the application can become coupled to several Supabase services rather than PostgreSQL alone.
Raff overview
Raff Managed PostgreSQL provides managed PostgreSQL with published monthly resources and included operational features.
Current plans include:
| Plan | Price | Resources |
|---|
| Dev | $7.99/month | 1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM, 25 GB NVMe |
| Production | $39.99/month | 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe |
| Scale | $127.99/month | 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 180 GB NVMe |
Raff includes backups, monitoring, TLS, IP allowlists, private networking, pooling, and traffic in the database product. Production plans support point-in-time recovery, and high availability can be added through a synchronous standby and automatic failover for +70% of the base plan.
Raff supports PostgreSQL 14–16 and lists more than 60 extensions, including pgvector, PostGIS, pg_stat_statements, pg_cron, and pgcrypto. Applications running on Raff Apps or other Raff infrastructure can connect over the private fabric with $0 private egress.
Raff does not attempt to reproduce the entire Supabase backend toolkit. Authentication, generated client APIs, Realtime subscriptions, and an integrated edge-function product are not bundled into the managed PostgreSQL plan. Teams use their application framework, Raff Apps, and selected services around the database.
The wider Raff platform reports 3,000+ customers and 15,000+ production VMs, a 99.9% uptime SLA, Trustpilot 4.4/5, and G2 4.6/5. Supabase has the larger specialized BaaS ecosystem; Raff offers a narrower, more explicit managed-database operating model.
Supabase pricing vs Raff pricing
Supabase Free is the clear winner for no-cost prototypes. Raff has no permanent free managed PostgreSQL tier and starts at $7.99/month.
For paid production, the comparison must include the complete backend scope. Supabase Pro begins at $25/month and includes $10 of compute credit, while Raff Dev is $7.99/month and Raff Production is $39.99/month. Supabase's price can also include additional project compute, database disk, egress, storage, MAU, Realtime, functions, branches, and optional PITR.
| Buying position | Raff Managed PostgreSQL | Supabase | Practical difference |
|---|
| Free development | No free tier | $0 with two active projects | Supabase is stronger for prototypes and learning |
| Entry database | $7.99 Dev: 1 vCPU, 1 GB, 25 GB NVMe | $25 Pro with one Micro covered by compute credits | Raff is cheaper as a database-only service; Supabase includes BaaS features |
| Small production | $39.99 Production: 2 vCPU, 4 GB, 80 GB | $25 plan plus selected compute and usage | Model MAU, storage, transfer, functions, and project count |
| High availability | $67.98 for Production with +70% HA | No directly equivalent fixed-price standby toggle | Raff exposes one familiar HA price |
| Higher capacity | $127.99 Scale: 8 vCPU, 16 GB, 180 GB | Larger project compute plus plan and usage | These are not matched performance tiers |
| PITR | Included on production plans | Optional PITR can add $100/month for seven days | Recovery requirements can materially change Supabase cost |
Supabase Pro includes 8 GB of database disk per project; extra disk is currently listed at $0.125 per GB. It includes 250 GB uncached and 250 GB cached egress, then lists $0.09/GB and $0.03/GB respectively. Raff includes an allocated NVMe amount and database traffic, with extra storage listed at $0.12/GB-month.
Pricing was checked against official Supabase billing and pricing documentation on July 30, 2026. Actual Supabase cost depends on organization plan, compute size, project count, storage, MAU, transfer, functions, Realtime, branches, and recovery settings.
Bandwidth and transfer policy
Supabase separates uncached and cached egress. Pro currently includes 250 GB of each category, then charges $0.09 per GB for uncached traffic and $0.03 per GB for cached traffic. Database responses, Storage downloads, Realtime, functions, and application architecture can all influence transfer.
Raff includes managed-database traffic in the plan and lists $0 egress on the private fabric between Raff databases and Raff applications. Public application transfer on Raff Apps is also priced at $0, which can simplify a stack that keeps the app and database inside Raff.
The transfer comparison is not only a price comparison. Supabase Storage and CDN behavior can reduce uncached delivery and integrate directly with client applications. Raff Object Storage provides an S3-compatible model that may require more application configuration but keeps infrastructure components portable.
Before migration, measure:
- Database query-result volume
- File and media downloads
- Realtime message traffic
- Function responses
- Backup exports
- Logical replication
- Cross-region application traffic
- Analytics and BI connections
Feature comparison: Supabase vs Raff
| Area | Raff Managed PostgreSQL | Supabase |
|---|
| Core database | Managed PostgreSQL 14–16 | Managed PostgreSQL-based platform |
| Free tier | No | Yes, two active projects |
| Fixed resource plans | Yes | Project compute plus plan and usage |
| Authentication | External/application | Integrated Supabase Auth |
| Generated APIs | Application-defined | Auto-generated REST and GraphQL capabilities |
| Realtime | Application-defined | Integrated Realtime |
| File storage | Raff Object Storage | Supabase Storage |
| Edge functions | Raff Apps or external runtime | Integrated Edge Functions |
| Database branching | Separate environments | Preview branches billed as project resources |
| Connection pooling | PgBouncer | Pooler and direct connections |
| Backups | Included | Daily backups by plan |
| PITR | Production plans | Paid add-on |
| Traditional HA option | Synchronous standby at +70% | No directly equivalent public toggle |
| Managed MySQL and Valkey | Available from Raff | Not part of the Supabase core product |
| Private networking | Raff private fabric | Plan and architecture dependent |
Supabase wins on integrated developer services. Raff wins on resource visibility, engine choice, traditional HA pricing, and a database-first operating model.
Features and reliability: Raff vs Supabase
There are 0 controlled Raff-versus-Supabase database benchmarks as of July 30, 2026. Performance depends on compute size, schema, indexes, query plans, pooling, connection count, storage, region, extensions, and application behavior.
Database operations
Raff publishes vCPU, RAM, NVMe, backup, networking, and HA choices as part of the database purchase. This makes it easier to reason about an always-active production database without converting several usage meters into a monthly estimate.
Supabase exposes a project-compute model and adds application services around it. This can reduce engineering effort, but capacity and cost planning must include more than SQL workload.
Application integration
Supabase Auth, Storage, Realtime, APIs, SDKs, and Edge Functions create a cohesive backend workflow. Row Level Security can connect database policy directly to authenticated application users.
Raff keeps those concerns separate. That creates more integration work, but it can reduce platform coupling and lets teams choose their own auth, API, queue, and application patterns.
Recovery and availability
Raff includes backups and production PITR, with a fixed +70% HA option. Supabase provides daily backups on Pro, optional PITR, project recovery controls, and platform-managed availability. Teams should compare recovery point, recovery time, backup retention, and application rollback rather than relying on one availability label.
Spend controls
Supabase provides spend controls for covered usage categories and documents that some project resources continue to incur fixed cost. Raff uses selected resource plans and a visible monthly ceiling. Both approaches require alerts, but Raff has fewer database billing dimensions.
When you should choose Supabase over Raff
- You need a $0 backend for prototypes. Free provides two active projects and included database, Auth, Storage, Realtime, and Functions allowances.
- Authentication should be integrated. Supabase Auth and Row Level Security can replace a separate auth platform.
- The client needs generated APIs. Supabase exposes database-backed APIs and SDKs quickly.
- Realtime is a product requirement. Database changes and messaging can be delivered through the integrated Realtime layer.
- File storage belongs in the same developer console. Supabase Storage integrates with authorization and CDN delivery.
- Preview branches matter. Database branches can support development and pull-request workflows.
- Edge functions fit the backend. Deno-based functions run inside the Supabase platform.
- A larger developer ecosystem matters. Supabase has broad framework templates, community resources, and BaaS-specific tooling.
When you should choose Raff over Supabase
- You only need managed PostgreSQL. Raff avoids paying for or adopting a broader BaaS layer.
- The monthly database ceiling should be visible. Plans publish vCPU, RAM, NVMe, and price.
- Traditional HA is preferred. A synchronous standby and automatic failover add a fixed +70%.
- Database traffic should be included. Raff includes traffic and $0 private-fabric egress to Raff applications.
- MySQL or Valkey may be required later. Raff provides multiple managed engines in the same cloud.
- The application already runs on Raff. Private links reduce public exposure and transfer complexity.
- Migration assistance matters. Raff offers guided zero-downtime PostgreSQL migration.
- Platform portability matters. Standard PostgreSQL plus separately selected application services reduces dependence on Supabase-specific APIs.
For a narrower serverless-Postgres comparison, review Neon Alternative 2026.
Migrating from Supabase to Raff
A Supabase-to-Raff move is partly a PostgreSQL migration and partly a backend-service replacement.
- Inventory the project. Record database version, schemas, extensions, roles, RLS policies, Auth users and providers, Storage buckets, Realtime subscriptions, Edge Functions, cron jobs, secrets, branches, pooling, domains, webhooks, and client SDK usage.
- Prepare Raff PostgreSQL. Select a plan, verify extensions, create roles, configure TLS, IP allowlists, private networking, backups, pooling, and optional HA.
- Move PostgreSQL data. Use
pg_dump and pg_restore for smaller systems or logical replication for a low-downtime production migration.
- Replace Supabase services. Move files to Raff Object Storage, implement or select authentication, replace generated API dependencies, relocate Edge Functions to Raff Apps, and redesign Realtime where required.
- Update application configuration. Replace project URLs, anon and service keys, database endpoints, storage URLs, auth callbacks, secrets, webhooks, and SDK-specific code.
- Validate and cut over. Test row counts, constraints, sequences, RLS behavior, authentication, uploads, subscriptions, jobs, pooling, latency, backups, and rollback before switching production traffic.
Important migration risks:
- Auth users and password hashes need a supported export and import strategy.
- RLS policies can be preserved in PostgreSQL, but application identity claims must be recreated.
- Supabase client libraries may combine database, Auth, Storage, and Realtime calls; replace each dependency explicitly.
- Storage object paths and signed URL behavior will change.
- Realtime subscriptions do not move automatically with the database.
- Edge Functions and secrets require a new deployment runtime.
- Preview branches need a replacement development-environment workflow.
Keep Supabase available during the rollback period until database consistency and every application-facing service have been verified.
About Supabase
<a href="https://supabase.com/" rel="external noopener">Supabase</a> is an open-source backend-as-a-service platform centered on PostgreSQL. It combines managed databases with Auth, Storage, Realtime, Edge Functions, generated APIs, SDKs, observability, branching, and enterprise features. Pricing and allowances in this comparison were checked against official Supabase sources on July 30, 2026.
Conclusion: Supabase or Raff?
Supabase is the stronger choice when one platform should provide most of the application backend. Raff is the stronger choice when PostgreSQL should remain a focused, predictable managed infrastructure service.
- Entry price: Supabase has a $0 tier; Raff starts at $7.99/month.
- Paid model: Supabase Pro starts at $25 plus project compute and usage; Raff uses fixed database plans.
- Developer services: Supabase includes Auth, Storage, Realtime, APIs, and Edge Functions; Raff does not bundle these into PostgreSQL.
- Operations: Raff includes backups, networking, pooling, traffic, and a fixed +70% HA option.
- Portability: Raff stays closer to standard PostgreSQL and separately selected services; Supabase provides a more integrated but more coupled backend workflow.
Choose Supabase when the integrated BaaS removes enough engineering work to justify its service model. Choose Raff when production database resources, recovery, networking, and monthly cost should remain explicit.