#1414th of 21 in Backends, databases and hosting
nhost
Open-source Firebase alternative on Postgres, Hasura GraphQL, auth and storage
- Stars
- 9.4k
- License
- MIT
- Last commit
- Oct 2026
- Last release
- Oct 2026
- Language
- TypeScript
9,026 on 31 Mar 20269,364 on 20 Oct 2026
From GitHub's daily star counts.
Checked on GitHub.
Overview
Nhost bundles PostgreSQL, a Hasura-generated GraphQL API, an auth service, file storage and Node.js serverless functions into one backend. It runs on the hosted Nhost platform, locally through the Nhost CLI, or self-hosted from an example docker-compose file. The CLI also ships an MCP server that lets coding assistants read the GraphQL schema, run allowed queries and manage metadata and migrations.
Who it is for: Developers who want a self-hostable Firebase-style backend with GraphQL
Its own README calls it an alternative to Firebase.
Ranked among open-source alternatives to Firebase (#10 of 10).
Strengths
- Full backend in one stack: Postgres, Hasura GraphQL, auth, storage and functions
- CLI runs a local environment that tracks database migrations and Hasura metadata
- Built-in MCP server in the CLI for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and Gemini CLI
- MIT licensed, with a JavaScript/TypeScript client and a Dart/Flutter client
Weaknesses
- GraphQL-first through Hasura; no REST-first or other database options are documented
- Self-hosting guidance in the README is only an example docker-compose file
- Serverless functions are Node.js only (JavaScript and TypeScript)
- Resource requirements for self-hosting are not stated in the README
What it needs
- no GPU
- Needs PostgreSQL, Hasura
- README: alternative to Firebase
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