After spending time with both Supabase and Firebase, I’ve come to a realization: developer experience matters more than feature parity. Despite Firebase’s promises and my existing data in BigQuery, Supabase just feels… easier.
The Supabase Experience
Building on Supabase is remarkably straightforward:
- Instant REST APIs: Your database tables become endpoints automatically
- Real-time subscriptions: Built-in with minimal configuration
- Auth that makes sense: JWT tokens, Row Level Security, done
- SQL-first approach: Write queries you understand
Everything feels intuitive and predictable.
The Firebase Reality
Firebase should be just as easy - that’s the promise. In practice:
- Multiple SDKs and services: Each with their own learning curve
- NoSQL mental model: Even when you don’t need it
- Complex security rules: A language unto itself
- BigQuery integration: Powerful but not seamless
My Specific Situation
I have all my data in BigQuery already, which should make Firebase the obvious choice. Yet:
- Connecting Firebase to BigQuery isn’t as smooth as expected
- The development workflow feels disjointed
- Simple operations require multiple steps
- Documentation assumes you’re all-in on the Firebase ecosystem
Why This Matters
Developer experience compounds over time:
- Faster prototyping: Ideas to implementation in minutes, not hours
- Fewer surprises: Predictable behavior means fewer bugs
- Better mental model: SQL is already in most developers’ toolkit
- Less context switching: One consistent approach throughout
The Verdict (For Now)
I’ll give Firebase another try - the BigQuery integration is too valuable to ignore completely. But Supabase has shown me what backend development should feel like in 2025:
- Minimal configuration
- Maximum productivity
- No artificial complexity
Sometimes the best tool isn’t the most powerful one - it’s the one that gets out of your way and lets you build.