Quick answer
Supabase - Supabase wins for most builders who want a backend and database free tier with room to grow, while Leapcell wins if you need more included compute and project count for app hosting.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems. Leapcell is closer to a general app platform: you get hosted compute, async jobs, build minutes, logs, and a Redis-compatible store, with 20 projects and explicit CPU and RAM caps per project. Supabase is a backend platform centered on Postgres, auth, storage, realtime, and Edge Functions. Its free tier is narrower on raw compute but stronger on database and app-backend primitives, with unlimited API requests, 50,000 MAUs, 500 MB database size, and 500,000 Edge Function invocations. The practical tradeoff is simple: Leapcell is better when you want to deploy and run more app workloads on one free plan; Supabase is better when your app is database-first and you care more about auth, APIs, and managed Postgres than generic hosting capacity. After the free tier, Leapcell’s paid plans stay relatively low and per-seat, while Supabase Pro is usage-based and can scale from a base fee upward as traffic or storage grows.
Leapcell vs Supabase free tier, side by side
| LeapcellFTV 56 | SupabaseFTV 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| ProjectsLeapcell gives far more free project slots. | 20 | 2 active projects |
| Serverless invocations / Edge Function invocationsSupabase includes more function calls on the free tier. | 100,000 per month | 500,000 |
| Compute memory per projectLeapcell publishes per-project compute limits; Supabase free is more database-centric. | 4 GB RAM | Not specified |
| Database sizeSupabase publishes a clear size cap; Leapcell only states one free PostgreSQL database. | 1 free PostgreSQL database | 500 MB database size per project |
| Egress / data transferSupabase includes more outbound bandwidth. | 2 GB data transfer per month | 5 GB egress bandwidth |
| StorageSupabase includes file storage on the free plan. | Not specified | 1 GB file storage |
| Auth usersThis is a major free-tier difference in Supabase’s favor. | Not specified | Up to 50,000 monthly active users |
| Async workloadsLeapcell includes explicit async task quota. | 10,000 async invocations per month | Not specified |
| Logs retentionLeapcell keeps logs longer on the free tier. | 3-day log retention | 1 day of API and database log retention |
After you outgrow the free tier
Leapcell’s paid path is simple: flat per-seat pricing, starting at Plus for $5.9 per seat per month for the first month and $12.9 thereafter, then Pro at $29.9 per seat per month. Supabase starts at Pro from $25 per month, but it is usage-based, so cost rises with MAUs, storage, egress, cached egress, and Edge Function invocations. For small teams, Leapcell is cheaper and more predictable. For apps with modest traffic but meaningful database or auth usage, Supabase can stay reasonable at first, then climb as usage grows.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Leapcell | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| 100k monthly active usersSupabase Pro includes 100,000 MAUs before overage. | $5.9/seat for first month; $12.9/seat thereafter | ~$25/mo base, with 100,000 MAUs included then $0.00325 per MAU |
| 200k monthly active usersEstimated from 100,000 included then $0.00325 per MAU for the extra 100,000 MAUs. | $5.9/seat for first month; $12.9/seat thereafter | ~$25/mo base + ~$325 overage |
| 300 GB egress / monthEstimated from 250 GB included then $0.09 per GB for the extra 50 GB. | Not specified | ~$25/mo base + ~$4.50 overage |
| 5 GB file storageSupabase Pro includes 100 GB of file storage. | Not specified | ~$25/mo base |
| 3 seats on the first paid planLeapcell pricing is per seat, so a 3-person team scales linearly. | ~$17.70/mo for first month, then ~$38.70/mo | ~$25/mo base, plus usage |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Leapcell when…
- You want to host web apps, APIs, and background tasks together on one free plan.
- You expect to juggle many small projects, since Leapcell allows 20 projects on Hobby.
- You need included serverless compute quotas, build minutes, and async invocations without wiring together separate tools.
- You want a Redis-compatible store available in the same platform.
- You care more about general PaaS features like custom domains, SSL, logs, metrics, and traffic analytics than about auth features.
Pick Supabase when…
- You are building around Postgres and want the database to be the center of the stack.
- You need auth features on the free plan, such as anonymous sign-ins, social OAuth, and basic MFA.
- You want unlimited database API requests and a clear MAU cap for an early product.
- You need realtime subscriptions or Edge Functions as part of the backend from day one.
- You are likely to grow into egress, storage, or MAU-based billing and want a usage-based path instead of a fixed per-seat plan.
Bottom line
For most builders choosing a free tier, Supabase is the better default if your app is database-first and you want auth, APIs, realtime, and Edge Functions in one place. Leapcell is the better choice if you care more about running many app workloads with explicit compute, build, and async quotas on a general hosting platform. In short: Supabase for backend-centric apps, Leapcell for broader PaaS-style hosting. If you expect to outgrow the free tier, Leapcell stays cheaper and simpler; Supabase gets more expensive as usage rises.
Read the full listings: Leapcell and Supabase. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.