Appwrite vs Convex: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Appwrite and Convex? Both are popular database tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Appwrite is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Convex does not. Choose Convex when its specific features justify the cost.
Appwrite vs Convex — Side by Side
| Appwrite | Convex | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Database | Database |
| Pricing | Free · paid from $25/mo | From $25/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | From $25/mo |
| Free tier | — | |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Best for | Database — backend, baas | Database — backend, baas |
Pros & Cons
- Fully open-source and self-hostable
- Broad feature set (auth, DB, storage, functions)
- Good real-time and messaging support
- Multi-language SDKs
- Strong community and GitHub activity
- Operational complexity when self-hosted
- Managed offering less mature than competitors
- Some advanced features only in Pro or Enterprise
- Excellent real-time data model
- Very fast developer iteration
- TypeScript-first backend
- Built-in cron, auth, and storage
- AI-assisted app generation
- Pricing is per-developer at scale
- Less control than self-managed databases
- Ecosystem smaller than traditional databases
Key Features Compared
Appwrite
- Unlimited sites
- 5 GB API bandwidth per month
- 2 GB storage
- 750K function executions per month
- 75K monthly active users
- 1 database per project
Convex
- 1–6 developers
- 40 deployments
- Chef AI app generation
- Real-time database with indexes
- Text search and vector search
- File storage
Choose Appwrite if…
- You want to start free — Appwrite has a free tier and Convex does not.
- Fully open-source and self-hostable
- Broad feature set (auth, DB, storage, functions)
- Good real-time and messaging support
Choose Convex if…
- Excellent real-time data model
- Very fast developer iteration
- TypeScript-first backend
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Appwrite better than Convex?⌄
Appwrite is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Convex does not. Choose Convex when its specific features justify the cost.
What is the difference between Appwrite and Convex?⌄
Appwrite — Open-source backend-as-a-service providing databases, authentication, storage, serverless functions, and real-time APIs. Convex — Reactive backend-as-a-service with a built-in database, real-time queries, serverless functions, and AI-powered app generation. Both are database tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Appwrite vs Convex: which is cheaper?⌄
Appwrite pricing: Free · paid from $25/mo. Convex pricing: From $25/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Appwrite or Convex?⌄
In our catalog, Appwrite rates 4.6 out of 5 and Convex rates 4.7 out of 5, so Convex has a slight edge on reviews.
See more options in our guide to the best database tools for startups.
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