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.
Nhost
Nhost is an open-source Firebase alternative that provides a complete backend-as-a-service platform with GraphQL, authentication, storage, and serverless functions to help you build and scale web and mobile applications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Convex | Nhost |
|---|---|---|
| Website | convex.dev | nhost.io |
| 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 | 2021 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Stockholm, Sweden |
Overview
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.
Nhost
Nhost provides you with a complete, open-source backend so you can focus on building your frontend without worrying about infrastructure. It combines a PostgreSQL database, Hasura for instant GraphQL APIs, and built-in authentication and storage into a single unified platform. You can manage your entire data layer through a visual dashboard or via the command line, making it easy to transition from a local development environment to a production-ready cloud setup.
Whether you are building a simple MVP or a complex enterprise application, you can use Nhost to handle user management, file uploads, and real-time data syncing. The platform also supports serverless functions, allowing you to write custom logic in Node.js or Python that scales automatically. By integrating these core backend components, you save weeks of configuration time and can deploy your applications globally with just a few clicks.
Overview
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.
Nhost Features
- Instant GraphQL API. Generate a production-ready GraphQL API automatically from your PostgreSQL schema so you can query data instantly.
- Managed PostgreSQL. Store your data in a dedicated PostgreSQL database that you can manage visually through a built-in dashboard.
- Built-in Authentication. Secure your apps with ready-to-use authentication including email/password, social logins, and magic links for your users.
- Serverless Functions. Deploy custom backend logic using Node.js or Python without managing any server infrastructure or scaling issues.
- Cloud Storage. Upload and serve files securely with integrated storage that includes image transformation and granular access controls.
- Real-time Subscriptions. Build reactive applications by subscribing to data changes in real-time through the GraphQL API without extra setup.
Pricing Comparison
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
Nhost Pricing
- Shared infrastructure
- 500MB PostgreSQL database
- 1GB File storage
- 5GB Bandwidth
- 10,000 Monthly Active Users
- Community support
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Dedicated infrastructure
- 8GB PostgreSQL database
- 10GB File storage
- 50GB Bandwidth
- 50,000 Monthly Active Users
- Email support
Pros & Cons
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
Nhost
Pros
- Fast setup for GraphQL-based applications
- Open-source core prevents vendor lock-in
- Seamless integration between database and auth
- Generous free tier for initial development
- Excellent documentation for modern frontend frameworks
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Google Firebase
- Limited serverless function language support
- Learning curve for Hasura permissions logic