Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Our free tier includes 500MB database storage, 1GB file storage, 2GB bandwidth, and 50,000 monthly active users. This is perfect for getting started, building MVPs, and small production apps. You can upgrade anytime as you scale.

Getting started is super easy:

1. Sign up for a free account at backendkit.dev
2. Create a new project in your dashboard
3. Install our SDK: npm install @backendkit/backendkit-js
4. Follow our quick start guide to build your first feature

You'll have a working backend in under 5 minutes!

BackendKit provides official SDKs for:

• JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js, React, Vue, Angular, Svelte)
• Python (Django, Flask, FastAPI)
• Go
• Swift (iOS)
• Kotlin (Android)
• Flutter/Dart

Community SDKs exist for Rust, C#, PHP, and more!

We have simple, transparent pricing based on usage:

• Free: Great for MVPs and small projects (500MB DB, 1GB storage, 50K MAU)
• Pro ($25/mo): For growing apps (8GB DB, 100GB storage, 500K MAU)
• Team ($599/mo): For serious production apps (500GB DB, 1TB storage, 10M MAU)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for large-scale deployments

Check our pricing page for full details.

Yes! You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time from your dashboard. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period. We'll prorate charges fairly—you only pay for what you use.

We'll notify you when you're approaching your limits (at 80% and 95%). If you exceed limits, we won't shut down your app—instead, we'll temporarily throttle requests and send you an email to upgrade. Your users won't experience downtime, just slightly slower response times until you upgrade.

BackendKit is the open source alternative to Firebase with key differences:

• PostgreSQL vs NoSQL: You get full SQL power, better data integrity, and complex queries
• 100% Open Source: Apache 2.0 license, no vendor lock-in
• Self-Hosting: Run it on your own infrastructure for free
• Better Pricing: Free tier is more generous, paid plans are cheaper at scale
• Row Level Security: Built-in database-level security policies

Absolutely! BackendKit is 100% open source under Apache 2.0. You can download the source code, deploy to your own servers (AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean, etc.), and run it completely free forever. You only pay for your hosting infrastructure. Check our self-hosting guide for setup instructions.

Yes! Real-time is one of our core features. BackendKit broadcasts PostgreSQL database changes instantly to all connected clients via WebSockets. Perfect for chat apps, collaborative tools, live dashboards, notifications, and more. Setup is just a few lines of code—no complex infrastructure needed.

BackendKit supports all major authentication methods:

• Email & Password
• Magic Links (passwordless)
• OAuth (Google, GitHub, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
• Phone/SMS (with Twilio)
• SAML SSO (Enterprise)

Yes! We have migration tools and detailed guides to help you move from Firebase. Most apps can migrate with zero downtime using our step-by-step process. We also offer white-glove migration support for Team and Enterprise customers.

Support varies by plan:

• Free: Community support via Discord and GitHub
• Pro: Email support (48hr response time)
• Team: Priority email support (4hr response time) + Slack channel
• Enterprise: Dedicated support engineer, 1hr SLA, phone support

Absolutely. Security is our top priority:

• Data encrypted at rest and in transit (TLS 1.3)
• SOC 2 Type II certified
• GDPR and CCPA compliant
• Daily automated backups with point-in-time recovery
• Row Level Security for multi-tenant apps