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Version: v0.16

Conduit vs Other Backend Solutions

Choosing the right backend solution depends on your specific needs. Here's how Conduit compares to popular alternatives.

Quick Comparison​

FeatureConduitFirebaseSupabaseParseAppwrite
Self-Hosted✅❌✅✅✅
Open Source✅❌✅✅✅
Custom Modules✅❌❌✅❌
Multi-Database✅❌❌✅❌
GraphQL Built-in✅❌✅❌✅
Admin Panel✅✅✅✅✅
Microservices✅❌❌❌❌

Legend: ✅ Yes | ❌ No

Conduit vs Firebase​

Where Conduit Wins​

  • Self-hosted - Full control over your data and infrastructure
  • No vendor lock-in - Own your code and data
  • Extensible - Build custom modules in any language
  • Predictable costs - No usage-based pricing surprises
  • Multi-database - Choose MongoDB or PostgreSQL

Where Firebase Wins​

  • Zero infrastructure - No servers to manage
  • Global CDN - Built-in edge network
  • Ecosystem - Deep integration with Google Cloud
  • Mobile SDKs - Mature SDKs for iOS/Android

Best For​

  • Choose Conduit if you need control, customization, or have compliance requirements
  • Choose Firebase if you want a fully managed solution with minimal setup

Conduit vs Supabase​

Where Conduit Wins​

  • Multi-database - MongoDB + PostgreSQL support
  • Custom modules - Extend with your own microservices
  • Microservice architecture - Scale components independently
  • No SQL required - CMS-like schema management

Where Supabase Wins​

  • PostgreSQL power - Full SQL capabilities
  • Realtime subscriptions - Built into the core
  • Edge functions - Deno-based serverless
  • Managed hosting - Cloud option available

Best For​

  • Choose Conduit if you need flexibility and extensibility
  • Choose Supabase if you want powerful SQL with a modern API

Conduit vs Parse​

Where Conduit Wins​

  • Modern architecture - gRPC-based microservices
  • Better performance - Optimized for modern workloads
  • Active development - Regular updates and improvements
  • TypeScript SDK - First-class TypeScript support

Where Parse Wins​

  • Mature ecosystem - Years of community contributions
  • Proven at scale - Used in production since 2011
  • Broad language support - SDKs for many platforms

Best For​

  • Choose Conduit if you're starting fresh with modern requirements
  • Choose Parse if you have existing Parse experience or need specific Parse features

Conduit vs Appwrite​

Where Conduit Wins​

  • Custom modules - Build and integrate your own services
  • Database flexibility - Choose your database engine
  • Microservice scaling - Scale services independently
  • Query language - Powerful MongoDB-style queries

Where Appwrite Wins​

  • Simpler setup - Single Docker container
  • Built-in storage - S3-compatible file storage
  • Functions - Serverless functions support
  • Teams & roles - Built-in team management

Best For​

  • Choose Conduit if you need customization and scaling flexibility
  • Choose Appwrite if you want a simpler all-in-one solution

When to Choose Conduit​

Conduit is the right choice when you need:

1. Full Control​

  • Self-hosted on your infrastructure
  • No vendor lock-in
  • Data sovereignty requirements

2. Extensibility​

  • Build custom modules in any language
  • Integrate with existing microservices
  • Replace or extend any component

3. Scaling Flexibility​

  • Scale modules independently
  • Deploy across multiple servers
  • Handle varying traffic patterns

4. Database Choice​

  • Use MongoDB for flexibility
  • Use PostgreSQL for relational data
  • Migrate between databases

5. API Flexibility​

  • Auto-generated REST and GraphQL
  • WebSocket support
  • Custom endpoints without code

Migration Paths​

From Firebase​

  1. Export data from Firebase
  2. Import schemas to Conduit Database
  3. Update authentication to use Conduit
  4. Migrate storage files
  5. Update client SDKs

From Supabase​

  1. Export PostgreSQL schema
  2. Use Conduit's introspection feature
  3. Migrate authentication users
  4. Update API calls

From Parse​

  1. Export Parse schemas and data
  2. Recreate schemas in Conduit
  3. Import data via API
  4. Update client code

Still Not Sure?​

Join our Discord community to discuss your specific use case. We're happy to help you determine if Conduit is the right fit for your project.