InstantDB
Client-side reactive database with a relational graph model and instant sync.
Overall in convex alternatives
8of 11 · score 57.7
Data coverage
85%
22 of 26 fields sourced
Best for
- •Multiplayer or collaborative UIs where every interaction must feel local
- •Front-end-heavy teams with no appetite for backend infrastructure
- •Prototypes that need presence, cursors and live editing on day one
Strong on
- +Local-first sync Yes 1/11
- +TS inference Yes 1/11
- +Optimistic writes Yes 1/11
- +Agent fit 4 2/11
Weak on
- −Entry price $30/mo 10/10Better: Firebase: $0/mo
- −Full-text search No 9/11Better: Convex: Yes
- −Exit cost 4 8/11Better: Neon + Drizzle: 1
- −Vector search No 8/11Better: Convex: Yes
vs Appwrite
- •Ahead on Local-first sync: Yes vs No
- •Ahead on Optimistic writes: Yes vs No
- •Behind on Cron & scheduling: No vs Yes
- •Behind on Full-text search: No vs Partial
How InstantDB scores among 11 convex alternatives22 of 26 fields known
Features13
Transactions
occ
7/11
Leader: Supabase · mvcc
Cron & scheduling
No
7/11
Leader: Convex · Yes
Vector search
No
8/11
Leader: Convex · Yes
Full-text search
No
9/11
Leader: Convex · Yes
Hard limits
—
Cold start
—
Function timeout
—
Portability & exit5
Exit cost
4
8/11
Leader: Neon + Drizzle · 1
Self-hostable
Partial
9/11
Leader: Convex · Yes
· 2026-11-06
Bulk export
Partial
8/11
Leader: Convex · Yes
Raw SQL
No
7/11
Leader: Supabase · Yes
Agentic2
MCP server1st
Yes
1/11
Agent fit2nd
4
2/11
Leader: Convex · 5
Pricing3
Egress metered
—
Traction2
GitHub stars
9,000
5/10
Leader: Supabase · 90,000
Backing3rd
venture-backed
3/11
Leader: Firebase · big-tech
Positioning1
Alternatives8
Appwrite
Convex
ElectricSQL
Firebase
Neon + Drizzle
Nhost
PocketBase
ZeroCompare
Sources6
- www.instantdb.com/docs3 fields
- www.instantdb.com/docs/modeling-data2 fields
- www.instantdb.com/pricing2 fields
- www.instantdb.com/docs/storage1 field
- www.instantdb.com/docs/auth1 field
- www.instantdb.com1 field
