Tacobase vs Appwrite
Less Config, More Shipping
Same open-source values. Radically simpler developer experience.
Appwrite is a solid open-source BaaS, but it requires you to set up databases, collections, and attributes before writing any code. tacobase skips all that — just install and start building.
What is Appwrite?
Appwrite is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service platform that provides database, authentication, functions, storage, and messaging. It's self-hostable via Docker and also offers a managed cloud service. While comprehensive, it requires manual setup of databases, collections, and attribute definitions before you can store data.
See the Difference in Code
Compare how common tasks look in Tacobase vs Appwrite
Initialize the Client
import { createClient } from '@tacobase/client'
// Zero config — reads from env
const db = createClient()import { Client, Databases } from 'appwrite'
const client = new Client()
.setEndpoint('https://cloud.appwrite.io/v1')
.setProject('project-id')
const databases = new Databases(client)Create a Record
// Collection auto-creates on first write
const post = await db
.collection('posts')
.create({ title: 'Hello', published: true })// Requires database + collection created in console
import { ID } from 'appwrite'
const post = await databases.createDocument(
'database-id',
'posts-collection-id',
ID.unique(),
{ title: 'Hello', published: true }
)Query with Filters
const posts = await db
.collection('posts')
.getList(1, 20, {
filter: 'published = true',
sort: '-created',
})import { Query } from 'appwrite'
const posts = await databases.listDocuments(
'database-id',
'posts-collection-id',
[
Query.equal('published', true),
Query.orderDesc('$createdAt'),
Query.limit(20),
]
)Authentication
await db.auth.signUp({
email: 'user@example.com',
password: 'secure123',
})
await db.auth.signIn({
email: 'user@example.com',
password: 'secure123',
})import { Account, ID } from 'appwrite'
const account = new Account(client)
await account.create(
ID.unique(),
'user@example.com',
'secure123'
)
await account.createEmailPasswordSession(
'user@example.com',
'secure123'
)Realtime Subscriptions
const unsub = await db
.collection('messages')
.subscribe((e) => {
console.log(e.action, e.record)
})client.subscribe(
'databases.db-id.collections.messages.documents',
(response) => {
console.log(response.events, response.payload)
}
)Feature Comparison
How Tacobase stacks up against Appwrite
Setup & DX
Database
Auth
Infrastructure
Pricing
Why Developers Choose Tacobase
No Database IDs to Manage
Appwrite requires you to reference database IDs and collection IDs in every query. tacobase uses simple collection names — just write db.collection('posts') and go.
Auto-Creating Collections
With Appwrite, you must create databases, collections, and define attributes in the console before writing any data. tacobase collections create themselves on first write.
Simpler Architecture
Appwrite self-hosting requires Docker with multiple containers (MariaDB, Redis, etc.). tacobase runs as a single binary. The managed version requires zero setup.
Relational Data
tacobase uses a relational model with proper joins and relations. Appwrite uses a document model that can make complex queries harder to express.
Lower Starting Price
tacobase paid plans start at $7/mo vs Appwrite's $15/mo Pro plan. Get more out of your budget when you're starting out.
Built for Vibe Coding
tacobase is optimized for AI-assisted development. The small API surface means tools like Cursor and Claude generate correct tacobase code reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Tacobase vs Appwrite
How is tacobase different from Appwrite?
Both are open-source BaaS platforms, but tacobase focuses on zero-config simplicity. Appwrite requires you to create databases, collections, and define attributes before storing data. tacobase collections auto-create on first write. tacobase also uses a relational model vs Appwrite's document model.
Is tacobase easier to self-host than Appwrite?
Yes. Appwrite requires Docker with multiple containers (MariaDB, Redis, SMTP, etc.). tacobase is a single Go binary you can deploy anywhere — no Docker, no container orchestration, no dependency management.
Why doesn't tacobase require database IDs like Appwrite?
Appwrite uses a database-collection-document hierarchy where you need to reference database IDs and collection IDs in every query. tacobase simplifies this to just collection names — db.collection('posts') is all you need.
Does tacobase have cloud functions like Appwrite?
tacobase currently focuses on database, auth, realtime, and file storage. For server-side logic, you can use your existing backend framework (Next.js API routes, Express, etc.) alongside tacobase. Cloud functions are on our roadmap.
Can I migrate from Appwrite to tacobase?
Yes. You can export your Appwrite documents and import them into tacobase collections. The SDK migration is straightforward since tacobase's API is simpler — most Appwrite operations map to fewer lines of tacobase code.
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