---
title: "Alternatives"
description: "How InsForge compares to Supabase and Firebase."
---

InsForge is the **agent-native cloud infrastructure platform**. A coding agent
gives any app a Postgres database, authentication, storage, edge functions,
compute, hosting, and an AI model gateway, driven end to end through one CLI. It
is open source (Apache-2.0).

Its MCP server and CLI expose that infrastructure as structured,
machine-readable context, so AI coding agents can plan and execute operations
autonomously within scoped permissions. The shift in the human's role: with
traditional platforms you **implement and execute**; with InsForge you **define
intent and review**.

<Note>
  For the full, always-current write-ups see
  [InsForge vs Supabase](https://insforge.dev/alternatives/insforge-vs-supabase)
  and [InsForge vs Firebase](https://insforge.dev/alternatives/insforge-vs-firebase).
</Note>

## InsForge vs. Supabase

Supabase is an open-source, Postgres-based backend built for human developers.
InsForge shares the Postgres foundation but is built for AI coding agents as
first-class operators.

| Dimension | Supabase | InsForge |
|---|---|---|
| Primary operator | Human developers | AI coding agents |
| Configuration model | Explicit UI, SQL, CLI | Agent-executed operations |
| Permission design | Developer-managed access | Scoped agent autonomy |
| System context | Implicit, developer-maintained | Structured, machine-readable (MCP) |
| Payments | Via app code | Built-in Stripe integration |
| AI model access | External model wiring | Built-in model gateway |
| Security | Per-integration implementation | Production-ready defaults |
| Agent readiness | Requires manual wiring | End-to-end operable |

## InsForge vs. Firebase

Firebase targets rapid prototyping on document-oriented NoSQL with human
operators. InsForge targets agentic coding on relational Postgres.

| Dimension | Firebase | InsForge |
|---|---|---|
| Database | Document-oriented NoSQL | Relational Postgres |
| Data model | Schemaless JSON | Structured tables with relations |
| Joins | Not natively supported | Native joins and queries |
| Transactions | Supported with limits | Full ACID transactions |
| Self-hosting | Not supported | Docker / self-hostable |
| Primary operator | Human developers | AI coding agents |
| System context | Implicit, fragmented | Structured, machine-readable (MCP) |
| AI integration | External setup | Built-in model gateway |
| Payments | Manual integration | Built-in Stripe primitive |

## Why teams pick InsForge

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agent-native by design" icon="robot">
    One MCP server exposes schemas, permissions, and logs as structured context,
    so an AI coding agent can provision and operate the whole stack end to end,
    not just query a database.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Production-ready primitives" icon="layer-group">
    Payments (Stripe), an AI model gateway, and deployment are included out of
    the box, instead of wiring each integration yourself.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Relational Postgres" icon="database">
    Native joins, full ACID transactions, and schema enforcement, so your data
    and skills transfer. No proprietary document model to design around.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Open source, self-hostable" icon="server">
    Run it on your own infrastructure with Docker, or use the managed cloud.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Card title="Start building" icon="rocket" href="https://insforge.dev/auth/sign-up">
  Create a project and connect your favorite AI coding agent.
</Card>