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Home/Categories/Backend Development/Nhost
icon of Nhost

Nhost

Open source alternative to Firebase and AWS Amplify

  • 9.4K stars
  • MIT
  • Active this week
  • Last commit 1 day ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

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.

Visit websiteGitHub9.4K starsDeploy on Hostinger
image of Nhost
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.

Read the full breakdownHide the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ
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#

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.

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#

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.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
GoJavaScriptTypeScript
Frameworks
FlutterNext.jsReactVue
Databases
PostgreSQL
Tooling
GraphQL
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?

Nhost uses PostgreSQL and exposes instant GraphQL through Hasura.

also worth a look

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by category

Open source tools in these categories#

67

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dify, graphify, Rust78

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n8n, Firecrawl, iptv61

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Hostinger

Run Nhost on your own server

Self-host Nhost on a Hostinger VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

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