Appwrite
Appwrite is an open-source backend-as-a-service platform that provides developers with integrated APIs for authentication, databases, file storage, and serverless functions to simplify building modern web and mobile applications.
Convex
Convex is a full-stack TypeScript development platform that replaces your traditional database, server-side functions, and caching layers with a unified, real-time backend-as-a-service to accelerate application building.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Appwrite | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| Website | appwrite.io | convex.dev |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2019 | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Appwrite
Appwrite is an open-source backend platform that handles the complex server-side legwork so you can focus on building your app's front end. It provides a suite of integrated APIs for essential tasks like managing user authentication, storing documents in flexible databases, and handling file uploads. You can deploy it on your own infrastructure using Docker or use their managed cloud service to get started instantly without managing servers.
The platform is designed for developers building web, mobile, and Flutter applications who need a unified backend. It solves the problem of fragmented tools by offering a single console to manage your entire backend stack. Whether you are a solo developer launching a side project or a team scaling a production app, you can use its modular tools to add features like real-time subscriptions and serverless functions with minimal code.
Convex
Convex provides you with a complete backend for your web applications, eliminating the need to manage separate databases, middleware, or complex state management. You can write your entire backend in TypeScript, using familiar syntax to define schemas, functions, and data mutations. It automatically handles data persistence, real-time synchronization, and server-side logic execution without you ever touching infrastructure or worrying about scaling.
You can build reactive applications where your UI stays perfectly in sync with your data automatically. It solves the common headache of 'glue code' by providing a unified environment where your frontend and backend share types and logic seamlessly. Whether you are building a collaborative document editor or a complex SaaS dashboard, you get a production-ready environment that scales from your first prototype to millions of users.
Overview
Appwrite Features
- Authentication & Users Authenticate your users with multiple methods including email, OAuth providers, and passwordless logins while managing profiles securely.
- Databases Store and query your data using a flexible document-based database with support for complex permissions and real-time updates.
- Storage Upload, manage, and serve files with built-in capabilities for image cropping, preview generation, and encrypted file storage.
- Serverless Functions Extend your backend logic by deploying custom code in various languages that trigger on specific database or user events.
- Realtime API Subscribe to any event in your backend and receive instant updates in your application without constant polling.
- Messaging Send push notifications, emails, and SMS messages to your users directly through the platform's integrated communication tools.
Convex Features
- Real-time Subscriptions. Keep your UI in sync automatically with built-in data subscriptions that push updates to your frontend instantly.
- ACID Transactions. Ensure your data remains consistent with fully transactional functions that prevent partial updates or corrupted states.
- TypeScript Integration. Share types between your frontend and backend to catch errors early and enjoy full autocomplete across your stack.
- Scheduled Functions. Run background jobs and delayed tasks directly within your backend without setting up external cron services.
- File Storage. Upload and serve large files like images or videos using integrated storage that links directly to your database.
- Vector Search. Build AI-powered features easily with native vector search capabilities for semantic queries and RAG-based applications.
Pricing Comparison
Appwrite Pricing
- Unlimited projects
- 750MB database limit
- 2GB storage
- 10GB bandwidth
- 7 days log retention
- Community support
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- 300GB bandwidth included
- 150GB storage included
- 30 days log retention
- Email support
- Add up to 100 members
Convex Pricing
- 1 GB database storage
- 10 GB file storage
- 1 million monthly function calls
- Community support
- Real-time data sync
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 5 GB database storage included
- 50 GB file storage included
- 5 million monthly function calls
- Team collaboration tools
- Email support
Pros & Cons
Appwrite
Pros
- Open-source nature allows for self-hosting flexibility
- Clean and intuitive administrative console interface
- Excellent documentation with clear code examples
- Active community support and frequent feature updates
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase or AWS
- Self-hosting requires Docker and server management knowledge
- Some advanced features still in beta stages
Convex
Pros
- Eliminates the need for complex state management libraries
- Exceptional developer experience with end-to-end TypeScript safety
- Automatic scaling handles traffic spikes without manual intervention
- Unified backend reduces the amount of boilerplate code required
Cons
- Requires commitment to the Convex ecosystem and architecture
- Limited to JavaScript and TypeScript for backend logic
- No local-only offline mode for mobile-first applications