---
title: "Appwrite vs Convex: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "Appwrite vs Convex compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which database tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/appwrite-vs-convex
retrieved: 2026-09-02
---

Database

# Appwrite vs Convex: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between [Appwrite](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/appwrite) and [Convex](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/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

![Appwrite](https://appstackbuilder.com/appwrite.svg)

[Appwrite](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/appwrite)

* ✓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

![Convex](https://appstackbuilder.com/convex.svg)

[Convex](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/convex)

* ✓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
[Appwrite review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/appwrite)

### Choose Convex if…

* ✓Excellent real-time data model
* ✓Very fast developer iteration
* ✓TypeScript-first backend
[Convex review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/convex)

## 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](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/database).

## Still not sure which to pick?

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