PocketBase
Single-file open-source backend: SQLite database, auth, file storage, realtime
Overview
PocketBase is an open-source backend packaged as a single Go executable that bundles an SQLite database, REST and JS APIs, realtime subscriptions, authentication, and file storage — all in one sub-30 MB binary. It ships an admin dashboard UI for managing collections like a spreadsheet. Ideal for small-to-medium apps that need a quick self-hosted data layer.
Where it falls short of Airtable
- SQLite single-file storage is not suitable for high write-concurrency production workloads
- No built-in spreadsheet-style grid view for non-developers; admin UI is developer-focused
- Horizontal scaling requires additional infrastructure; no native clustering support
We list the gaps honestly so you can decide if the trade-off is worth owning your data.
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