Appwrite
Open-source backend platform for auth, databases, functions, and storage.
Best for
- Open-source backend
- Self-hosting option
- Auth and storage
Not good for
- Teams that need Postgres-specific SQL workflows
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Pro plan is a flat $25 per month rather than metered per-service billing, so costs stay predictable as usage grows within the plan limits.
- A single Apple SDK supports iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, which helps if you ship the same account and data model across Apple platforms.
- Because the same API runs in the cloud and on a self-hosted server, you can start on the managed free tier and move to your own infrastructure later without rewriting client code.
- Features arrive as an integrated set of databases, functions, storage, and messaging, so you configure one platform instead of stitching several services together.
Cons
- Appwrite Cloud is younger than the largest backend platforms, so some third-party integrations and long-tail documentation are still filling in.
- Free-tier projects pause after a week of inactivity, which can surprise you on a slow side project or during a quiet development stretch.
- Self-hosting shifts uptime, security patches, backups, and scaling onto you, so the free-to-run server still costs real time.
- The platform surface is broad, so configuring auth methods, permissions, and function runtimes correctly takes some ramp-up.
Appwrite is an open-source backend platform. It gives you authentication, databases, file storage, serverless functions, and messaging behind a REST and GraphQL API, and it ships as either a managed cloud service or a self-hosted deployment you run with Docker. For a solo iOS developer, the appeal is a familiar backend feature set you can start on the free cloud tier and later move onto your own servers without changing vendors.
Where it fits less well: Appwrite's database is its own abstraction rather than raw SQL, so if you want to write Postgres queries directly, Supabase is closer to that model. Appwrite Cloud is also younger than Firebase, so some managed-service polish and integrations are still catching up.
Pricing
Appwrite Cloud has a free tier, a flat Pro plan, and custom Enterprise pricing; the open-source server is free to self-host.
Appwrite Cloud plans (checked July 19, 2026)
| Plan | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 per month | 75,000 monthly active users, 5 GB bandwidth, 2 GB storage, 750,000 function executions, and up to 2 projects that pause after a week of inactivity |
| Pro | From $25 per month | 200,000 monthly active users, 2 TB bandwidth, 150 GB storage, 3.5 million executions, unlimited projects, daily backups, and email support, with overages such as $15 per 100 GB of extra bandwidth |
| Enterprise | Custom | SLAs, dedicated support, SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, and custom infrastructure |
Self-hosting the open-source server carries no license fee; you pay only for the servers you run it on. Pricing last checked July 19, 2026; confirm current numbers on the official pricing page.
Setup and integration
Appwrite provides an Apple SDK for Swift covering iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, alongside SDKs for Android, Flutter, React Native, and Web. On iOS you add the SDK through Swift Package Manager, point a Client at your project endpoint (cloud or self-hosted), and then call the Account, Databases, and Storage services. Getting email or OAuth sign-in working is a short exercise.
Two things to plan for. OAuth callbacks on iOS need a registered URL scheme, which is a common first-time snag. And if you self-host, you take on running and updating the Docker stack, backups, and scaling yourself, which is real work the cloud tier removes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Appwrite really free?
In two ways. The open-source server is free to self-host, so you pay only for hosting. Appwrite Cloud also has a free tier with 75,000 monthly active users, 5 GB bandwidth, and 750,000 function executions (checked July 19, 2026), though free projects pause after a week of inactivity.
How is Appwrite different from Firebase?
Both bundle auth, a database, storage, and functions behind an SDK. The main differences are openness and hosting: Appwrite is open source and can be self-hosted, while Firebase is a proprietary Google service tied to Google Cloud billing. If avoiding vendor lock-in or owning your infrastructure matters, Appwrite gives you that path.
Can I self-host to avoid the cloud fees?
Yes. The server is open source and runs with Docker, so you can host it yourself and skip the cloud plans. The trade-off is that you own uptime, updates, backups, and scaling, which the Pro plan handles for you.