Quick answer
Convex - Convex wins for most builders who want a free backend they can actually keep using as they grow, while 8base is the better pick if you want a more generous small-project app builder with a GraphQL-first free tier.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems. 8base is a backend-as-a-service with frontend hosting, GraphQL, and a low-code app builder, so the free tier is shaped around shipping a small app end to end. It is more constrained on raw scale: 2,500 rows, 0.5 GB files, 1 GB-hour compute, 2 GB bandwidth, and 100,000 API calls. Convex is narrower on surface area but better for long-term backend development in TypeScript. Its free tier includes search, vector search, crons, auth, actions, and enough included usage to feel like an ongoing starter backend, though it is capped by storage, I/O, egress, and function calls. If you care about frontend hosting and GraphQL, 8base is closer to a full app platform. If you care about a backend that can grow with a code-first workflow, Convex is the cleaner free starting point.
8base vs Convex free tier, side by side
| 8baseFTV 45 | ConvexFTV 35 | |
|---|---|---|
| Team members / developers8base free is for a single teammate; Convex allows a small team on the starter plan. | 1 team member | 1-6 developers |
| Application countThe products count and scope this differently, so these are not directly equivalent. | 1 backend application and 1 frontend application per project | 40 deployments maximum |
| Database storage8base uses row count; Convex uses storage capacity. | 2,500 database rows | 0.5 GB database storage total |
| File storageConvex includes more file storage on the free tier. | 0.5 GB | 1 GB |
| Compute / executionDifferent compute meters, but Convex includes the larger included compute pool. | 1 GB-hours of serverless computing | 20 GB-hours of action compute per month |
| API / function volume8base measures GraphQL calls; Convex measures function calls. | 100,000 GraphQL API calls per month | 1M function calls per month |
| Bandwidth / egressThese are different meters, but both are tightly capped on the free tier. | 2 GB per month of bandwidth | 1 GB data egress per month |
| Search / vector searchThis is a feature difference, not just a quota difference. | Not listed | Text search and vector search included |
After you outgrow the free tier
8base’s first paid step is a flat $25/month Developer plan, then per-seat Professional at $50 per developer/month with a 3-developer minimum, then Enterprise at $75 per developer/month with a 10-developer minimum and sales-led terms. Convex starts at $25 per developer/month for Professional, then moves to a $2,500 monthly minimum Business & Enterprise plan. In practice, 8base is cheaper for a single builder who just wants to leave the free tier, while Convex becomes pricier only when you need the higher-end enterprise features and minimums. Both are per-seat at the first paid step, but Convex’s free tier already includes pay-as-you-go resource usage beyond the included limits.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | 8base | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| 1 developer, small production app beyond free limitsThis is the first meaningful paid tier for both. | $25/mo | $25/mo |
| 3 developers8base has a flat entry plan, but its team-focused plan is per-seat with a 3-developer minimum. | $25/mo on Developer, or $150/mo on Professional | $75/mo on Professional |
| 5 developersAt this size, Convex’s per-seat pricing stays more straightforward. | $25/mo on Developer, or $250/mo on Professional | $125/mo on Professional |
| 50+ developersBoth move into sales-led territory, but Convex states a monthly minimum. | Contact sales / varies by usage on Enterprise | $2,500/mo minimum on Business & Enterprise |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick 8base when…
- You want GraphQL as the primary API style from day one.
- You need frontend hosting and backend hosting in one place for a small app.
- You are building a low-code or app-builder workflow rather than a code-first backend.
- You only need a small amount of storage and compute for a prototype or internal tool.
Pick Convex when…
- You want to build in TypeScript with backend code alongside app code.
- You need text search or vector search on the free tier.
- You want crons, auth, Node.js actions, and a reactive database in one backend.
- You expect to stay within a generous starter backend rather than a tiny app quota.
- You want a free plan that scales into a per-developer paid model with higher backend limits.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Convex is the safer free-tier choice if you want a backend you can grow into without changing your workflow. Its starter plan includes search, auth, crons, actions, and a useful amount of included usage. 8base wins when you want a more app-platform-like free tier with GraphQL and frontend hosting in one place, especially for small projects. If you are choosing on free tier alone, Convex is better for backend-centric builders, while 8base is better for small full-stack prototypes.
Read the full listings: 8base and Convex. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.