Quick answer
Supabase - For most builders, Supabase wins because its free tier covers a broader backend stack, while Nile is the better pick if your app is specifically multi-tenant and you want database isolation built in from day one.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems. Nile is a focused PostgreSQL platform for multi-tenant B2B apps: the free plan is generous on tenant-related structure, with unlimited databases, unlimited tenant databases, unlimited active tenants, and unlimited MAUs per tenant, plus tenant isolation, branching, backups, and cross-tenant analytics. But it stays close to the database layer. Supabase is wider in scope: database, auth, APIs, Edge Functions, realtime, storage, and vector embeddings. Its free plan is capped in more places, especially MAUs, database size, egress, file storage, realtime, and function invocations, and it requires a card for the paid path. If you need a backend platform, Supabase is broader. If you need tenant-aware Postgres for SaaS, Nile is more specialized and easier to start with.
Nile vs Supabase free tier, side by side
| NileFTV 48 | SupabaseFTV 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| DatabasesNile also includes unlimited tenant databases. | Unlimited databases | Dedicated Postgres database included |
| Tenant databasesThis is a Nile-specific tenant virtualization feature. | Unlimited tenant databases | Not stated |
| Active tenants / MAUsSupabase limits MAUs on the free tier. | Unlimited active tenants, unlimited MAUs per tenant | Up to 50,000 monthly active users |
| Compute / API usageThese are different metering units, so they are not directly comparable. | 50 million serverless query tokens | Unlimited API requests for database access and operations |
| StorageSupabase splits database size and file storage. | 1 GB storage | 500 MB database size per project, 1 GB file storage |
| Connections / concurrencyNile exposes database connections; Supabase lists realtime concurrency. | 500 connections | Up to 200 concurrent peak realtime connections |
| BranchingNile includes tenant-level branching on the free tier. | One branch included | Not stated |
| Auth and app featuresSupabase’s free tier is broader on app backend features. | Social auth, magic auth, email verification included | Anonymous sign-ins, social OAuth, custom SMTP, basic MFA included |
| SupportNile includes email support on the free tier. | Community support and email support included | Community support |
| Project limitsSupabase caps active projects on the free tier. | Not stated | Limit of 2 active projects |
After you outgrow the free tier
Nile’s paid path is simple: flat-priced plans, starting at Pro for $15/month, then Scale at $350/month, then Enterprise via sales. Costs mainly jump when you need higher fixed limits or stronger SLAs. Supabase starts at Pro from $25/month and uses usage-based pricing for the included quotas, so costs rise with MAUs, storage, egress, and function invocations. For a small team, Nile is cheaper at the first paid step, while Supabase can stay close to the entry price if usage remains low, but it gets more sensitive to traffic and data movement.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Nile | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| 50,000 MAUs, 500 MB database, 1 GB storageSupabase free tier covers 50,000 MAUs and 500 MB database size; Nile does not publish a comparable MAU cap. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 100,000 MAUs, 8 GB database, 250 GB egress, 100 GB file storage, 2 million Edge Function invocationsSupabase’s Pro plan includes these thresholds before overages: 100,000 MAUs, 8 GB disk, 250 GB egress, 100 GB storage, and 2 million function invocations. | Not directly comparable from provided quotas | $25/mo starting Pro, then usage over included quotas |
| 150 million serverless query tokens, 5 GB storageNile Pro includes 150 million query tokens and 5 GB storage. | $15/mo on Pro | Not provided |
| 1 million extra Edge Function invocations over Pro allowanceSupabase Pro charges $2 per 1 million edge function invocations beyond the 2 million included. | Not provided | est. $2/mo overage |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Nile when…
- You are building a B2B SaaS with tenant isolation as a core requirement.
- You want unlimited tenant databases and unlimited active tenants on the free tier.
- You need cross-tenant analytics, tenant overrides, and tenant administration out of the box.
- You want a very small team to test multi-tenant Postgres before paying for higher storage or token usage.
Pick Supabase when…
- You need auth, APIs, storage, realtime, and functions in one place, not just a database layer.
- You are prototyping a consumer or internal app where 50,000 MAUs is enough for the free tier.
- You want a free tier with unlimited API requests for database operations.
- You need Edge Functions or realtime subscriptions as part of the first build.
- You are fine with a broader platform and expect to move into usage-based pricing as traffic grows.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Supabase is the safer default because it bundles database, auth, storage, realtime, and functions in one free tier. Nile wins if the project is a B2B SaaS with tenant isolation at the center, since its free plan is built around unlimited tenant databases and tenant-aware Postgres. In pricing, Nile is simpler and cheaper at the first paid step. Supabase is broader, but its usage-based model means costs can climb faster once MAUs, storage, egress, or functions grow.
Read the full listings: Nile 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.