docs: supabase vs mongodb (#846)

* supabase vs mongodb

* Update content/blog/supabase-vs-mongodb.md

Co-authored-by: Copilot <[email protected]>

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Co-authored-by: Copilot <[email protected]>

Author: adela-bytebase

content/blog/supabase-vs-mongodb.md

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+---
+title: 'Supabase vs. MongoDB: a Complete Comparison in 2025'
+author: Adela
+updated_at: 2025/08/21 18:00
+feature_image: /content/blog/supabase-vs-mongodb/cover.webp
+tags: Comparison
+description: 'An extensive comparison between Supabase and MongoDB on performance, usability, operability, ecosystem and more.'
+---
+
+The database landscape is shifting dramatically. [PostgreSQL's market share has surged to 16.85%](https://experience.percona.com/postgresql/postgresql-market-in-2025/the-growing-dominance-of-postgresql), while MongoDB faces criticism over licensing changes and vendor lock-in. Supabase, a PostgreSQL-powered Backend-as-a-Service, is challenging MongoDB with the power of SQL and the developer experience of NoSQL.
+
+This represents two fundamentally different philosophies:
+
+- **MongoDB** pioneered document-based development but evolved toward proprietary licensing (SSPL) and Atlas-centric strategy
+- **Supabase** leverages PostgreSQL's versatility — JSON documents, vector embeddings, real-time features — while staying fully open-source
+
+Companies like [Infisical](https://infisical.com/blog/postgresql-migration-technical) report 50% cost reductions migrating from MongoDB to PostgreSQL, while [Supabase's rapid growth](https://x.com/kiwicopple/status/1947572962972078357) suggests a fundamental shift in developer preferences.
+
+## The Evolution Story: From Open Source Heroes to Different Destinies
+
+### MongoDB's Transformation: The Proprietary Pivot
+
+MongoDB evolved from open-source champion to proprietary powerhouse, focusing on monetizing through Atlas cloud services. The 2018 Server Side Public License (SSPL) effectively closed-sourced MongoDB for many commercial use cases, prompting major cloud providers to offer only older versions and creating deployment challenges.
+
+### Supabase's Rise: PostgreSQL's Modern Avatar
+
+Supabase emerged in 2020 by building a comprehensive developer platform around PostgreSQL's advanced capabilities — JSONB for documents, pgvector for AI, and ACID transactions — while delivering the developer experience that made Firebase popular. This timing proved perfect for the current era of AI-driven applications.
+
+## Comprehensive Comparison: Multiple Dimensions Analysis
+
+| Dimension | Supabase | MongoDB |
+|-----------|----------|---------|
+| **Database Foundation** | PostgreSQL (Relational + Document) | Document-oriented NoSQL |
+| **Data Model** | Structured tables + JSONB support | Flexible document collections |
+| **Schema Management** | Defined schema with migrations | Schema-less with optional validation |
+| **Query Language** | SQL + PostgREST API | MongoDB Query Language (MQL) |
+| **ACID Transactions** | Full ACID compliance | Limited (requires replica sets) |
+| **Scalability Approach** | Vertical + Read replicas + Sharding | Horizontal sharding (native) |
+| **Real-time Features** | Built-in via PostgreSQL replication | Change Streams (requires configuration) |
+| **Authentication** | Integrated (JWT, OAuth, RLS) | Separate service required |
+| **File Storage** | Integrated S3-compatible | Separate GridFS or external |
+| **Edge Functions** | Built-in serverless functions | Requires separate Atlas Functions |
+| **API Generation** | Auto-generated REST + GraphQL | Manual API development |
+| **Pricing Model** | Transparent usage-based | Complex tiered with hidden costs |
+| **Free Tier** | 500MB DB, 50K MAU, 1GB storage | 512MB storage, shared resources |
+| **Vendor Lock-in Risk** | Low (standard PostgreSQL) | High (proprietary features) |
+| **License** | Fully open source | SSPL (restrictive) |
+| **Cloud Provider Support** | All major providers | Limited due to licensing |
+| **Learning Curve** | SQL knowledge required | Easier for beginners |
+| **Enterprise Features** | Row Level Security, Audit logs | Advanced security, compliance |
+| **Ecosystem Maturity** | Growing rapidly | Mature but fragmenting |
+| **Migration Complexity** | Standard SQL tools | Custom migration required |
+| **Performance Profile** | Excellent for complex queries | Better for simple document ops |
+| **AI/ML Support** | Native vector embeddings (pgvector) | Atlas Vector Search |
+| **Backup & Recovery** | Point-in-time recovery | Continuous backup |
+| **Monitoring** | Built-in dashboard + metrics | Comprehensive Atlas monitoring |
+| **Multi-region** | Read replicas | Global clusters |
+| **Compliance** | SOC 2, GDPR ready | SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS |
+
+## Architecture Deep Dive: Two Philosophies in Practice
+
+### Supabase: The Integrated Ecosystem
+
+Supabase's architecture represents a "batteries-included" approach to backend development. Built on PostgreSQL's foundation, it integrates multiple open-source tools into a cohesive platform:
+
+**Core Components:**
+- **PostgreSQL**: The database engine with extensions for JSON, vectors, and geospatial data
+- **PostgREST**: Auto-generates RESTful APIs from database schema
+- **Realtime**: Elixir-based WebSocket server for live updates
+- **GoTrue**: JWT-based authentication with social providers
+- **Storage**: S3-compatible object storage with CDN
+- **Edge Functions**: Deno-based serverless runtime
+
+This integrated approach provides immediate productivity gains, allowing developers to build full-featured applications without separate service configuration.
+
+MongoDB's modular architecture offers flexibility but requires more integration work, with each service operating independently and creating complexity in managing authentication and real-time synchronization.
+
+## Performance and Scalability: The Technical Reality
+
+### Supabase Performance Characteristics
+
+Supabase inherits PostgreSQL's performance profile, which excels in several key areas:
+
+**Strengths:**
+- **Complex Queries**: Superior performance for joins, aggregations, and analytical workloads
+- **Consistency**: ACID transactions ensure data integrity without performance penalties
+- **Indexing**: Advanced indexing strategies including partial, functional, and GIN indexes
+- **Concurrency**: MVCC (Multi-Version Concurrency Control) handles high concurrent loads efficiently
+
+Supabase scales primarily through vertical scaling and read replicas, with manual sharding available. PostgreSQL excels in complex queries and AI workloads via pgvector.
+
+MongoDB offers native horizontal sharding and fast document operations but can struggle with complex queries.
+
+## Pricing Analysis: The Total Cost of Ownership
+
+> **Disclaimer:** Pricing information in this section is current as of the publication date (August 21, 2025) and may change over time. Please refer to the official [Supabase pricing](https://supabase.com/pricing) and [MongoDB Atlas pricing](https://www.mongodb.com/pricing) pages for the most up-to-date information.
+[Supabase offers transparent, usage-based pricing](https://supabase.com/pricing) starting at $25/month for production workloads, while [MongoDB Atlas](https://www.mongodb.com/pricing) begins at $60/month with additional costs for authentication, storage, and enterprise features. MongoDB's complex pricing model often leads to unexpected costs as applications scale.
+
+### Cost Comparison Analysis
+
+For a typical web application with moderate traffic:
+
+| Component | Supabase (Pro tier) | MongoDB Atlas |
+|-----------|-------------------|---------------|
+| **Core Database & Backend** | $25/month | $60/month (M10 cluster) |
+| **Authentication** | Included | $20-50/month |
+| **File Storage** | $5-15/month | $10-30/month |
+| **Real-time Features** | Included | Additional development cost |
+| **API Generation** | Included | Manual development required |
+| **Total Monthly Cost** | **$30-40** | **$90-140** |
+
+This analysis aligns with real-world reports of 50% cost reductions when migrating from MongoDB to PostgreSQL-based solutions.
+
+## Conclusion
+
+**Choose Supabase for:** Rapid development, relational data, cost predictability, and open-source values.
+
+**Choose MongoDB for:** Massive scale, flexible schemas, and existing MongoDB expertise.
+
+Supabase's PostgreSQL-powered platform offers integrated services with transparent pricing, while MongoDB's licensing changes have reduced its appeal. The shift toward Supabase reflects broader trends: the return to SQL and preference for developer-friendly, integrated platforms — marking the beginning of a PostgreSQL renaissance.