PocketBase

What is PocketBase?

PocketBase is an open-source backend solution packaged as a single executable file. It provides a realtime database, user authentication, file storage, and an admin dashboard—everything needed to power web and mobile applications without managing complex infrastructure. The entire backend runs from one binary, making deployment remarkably simple while still offering capabilities that rival more complex solutions.

Built with Go and using SQLite as its underlying database, PocketBase delivers impressive performance despite its simplicity. The architecture prioritizes developer experience without sacrificing functionality. A comprehensive REST API handles data operations, while realtime subscriptions enable live updates across clients. The built-in admin UI allows non-technical team members to manage content, users, and settings without touching code.

PocketBase has gained significant traction among developers seeking alternatives to Firebase and Supabase that can run anywhere without cloud vendor dependencies. The self-hosted nature provides complete control over data and eliminates usage-based pricing concerns. Whether running on a five-dollar VPS or a powerful dedicated server, PocketBase scales with the application’s needs. The project’s active development, responsive community, and comprehensive documentation have established it as a legitimate option for production applications.

Key Features

• Single File Backend: The entire backend—database, API, authentication, file storage, and admin panel—runs from one executable file. Deploy by copying a single binary to your server.
• Realtime Database: Subscribe to database changes and receive live updates across all connected clients. Build collaborative applications without complex WebSocket infrastructure.
• User Authentication: Complete authentication system supporting email/password, OAuth2 providers (Google, GitHub, Facebook, etc.), and custom authentication flows with verification and password reset.
• Admin Dashboard: Visual interface for managing collections (tables), records, users, and settings. Content editors can work without developer intervention.
• File Storage: Built-in file handling with automatic thumbnail generation for images. Store files locally or configure S3-compatible storage backends.
• REST API: Full-featured API automatically generated from collection definitions. Filter, sort, paginate, and expand relations without writing custom endpoints.
• Collection Rules: Granular access control rules defined per collection. Control who can read, create, update, and delete records with flexible rule expressions.
• Hooks and Extending: Extend functionality with JavaScript hooks or embed PocketBase as a Go framework for complete customization.
• SQLite Powered: Built on SQLite, one of the most tested and reliable databases available. Familiar SQL if you need direct database access.
• JavaScript SDK: Official client SDK for JavaScript/TypeScript applications. Type-safe operations with realtime subscriptions and authentication handling.

Recent Updates and Improvements

PocketBase maintains active development with frequent releases addressing user feedback, adding features, and improving reliability. The project has evolved significantly since its initial release.

• Improved Collections: Enhanced collection schema management with better field types including JSON fields, select options, and improved relation handling.
• OAuth2 Enhancements: Expanded OAuth2 provider support with easier configuration and improved callback handling for authentication flows.
• Batch Operations: Support for batch create and update operations improving performance for bulk data manipulation scenarios.
• API Rules Engine: More powerful rule expressions with additional functions and operators for fine-grained access control.
• Backup System: Built-in backup and restore functionality for automated data protection without external tools.
• Performance Optimizations: Query improvements, connection pooling enhancements, and memory optimizations for better performance under load.
• Migration System: Improved schema migration support for managing collection changes across environments.
• Admin UI Updates: Refreshed admin interface with better usability, improved collection management, and enhanced record editing.

System Requirements

Server Requirements

• Operating System: Linux (recommended), Windows, or macOS
• Architecture: AMD64 or ARM64
• RAM: 64 MB minimum (256 MB+ recommended for production)
• Storage: Varies by data volume (SQLite database + files)
• CPU: Any modern processor (single core sufficient for small projects)

Development Requirements

• Go 1.21+ (only if building from source or extending)
• Node.js 16+ (for using JavaScript SDK)
• Any HTTP client for API testing

Recommended Production Setup

• Linux server (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, etc.)
• 1 GB RAM for medium applications
• Reverse proxy (nginx, Caddy) for HTTPS
• Regular backup system for SQLite database

How to Install PocketBase

Quick Start

# Download latest release (Linux AMD64)
wget https://github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/releases/download/v0.22.0/pocketbase_0.22.0_linux_amd64.zip

# Extract
unzip pocketbase_0.22.0_linux_amd64.zip

# Run PocketBase
./pocketbase serve

# Access admin UI at http://127.0.0.1:8090/_/
# Create your first admin account through the UI

macOS Installation

# Using Homebrew
brew install pocketbase

# Or download directly
curl -LO https://github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/releases/download/v0.22.0/pocketbase_0.22.0_darwin_amd64.zip
unzip pocketbase_0.22.0_darwin_amd64.zip

# Run
./pocketbase serve

Production Deployment

# Create systemd service file
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/pocketbase.service

[Unit]
Description=PocketBase
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=pocketbase
WorkingDirectory=/opt/pocketbase
ExecStart=/opt/pocketbase/pocketbase serve --http="0.0.0.0:8090"
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

# Enable and start
sudo systemctl enable pocketbase
sudo systemctl start pocketbase

# Check status
sudo systemctl status pocketbase

Using with JavaScript

# Install SDK
npm install pocketbase

// Initialize client
import PocketBase from 'pocketbase';
const pb = new PocketBase('http://127.0.0.1:8090');

// Authenticate user
const authData = await pb.collection('users').authWithPassword(
  'user@example.com',
  'password123'
);

// Fetch records
const records = await pb.collection('posts').getList(1, 50, {
  filter: 'status = "published"',
  sort: '-created',
  expand: 'author',
});

// Create record
const newRecord = await pb.collection('posts').create({
  title: 'Hello World',
  content: 'My first post',
  status: 'published',
});

// Subscribe to realtime changes
pb.collection('posts').subscribe('*', function (e) {
  console.log('Change detected:', e.action, e.record);
});

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Incredible Simplicity: Deploy a complete backend by copying one file. No complex infrastructure, containers, or service dependencies to manage.
• Self-Hosted Control: Run on your own servers with complete data ownership. No vendor lock-in, usage-based pricing, or external dependencies.
• Full-Featured: Despite its simplicity, PocketBase provides realtime subscriptions, authentication, file storage, and admin UI—everything needed for most applications.
• Cost Effective: Run on minimal hardware. A small VPS can handle substantial traffic, keeping hosting costs low.
• Great Developer Experience: Well-designed API, comprehensive SDK, and excellent documentation make development productive and enjoyable.
• Active Development: Regular updates, responsive maintainer, and growing community ensure continued improvement and support.
• Extensible: Extend with JavaScript hooks or embed as a Go framework for complete customization when needed.

Cons

• SQLite Limitations: While SQLite handles impressive loads, extremely high-traffic applications may require PostgreSQL or MySQL capabilities.
• Single Server: No built-in clustering or horizontal scaling. High-availability setups require external solutions or architectural changes.
• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer integrations, plugins, and resources compared to established platforms like Firebase or Supabase.
• Self-Hosted Responsibility: You manage backups, security, updates, and server maintenance—no managed service option.
• Limited Advanced Features: Complex requirements like full-text search, advanced analytics, or specialized databases may need additional tools.

PocketBase vs Alternatives

Who Should Use PocketBase?

PocketBase is ideal for:

• Indie Developers and Small Teams: Solo developers and small teams appreciate the simplicity of deploying and maintaining a single-file backend without DevOps complexity.
• Prototyping and MVPs: Quickly build and deploy proof-of-concept applications with full backend functionality in minutes rather than days.
• Self-Hosting Advocates: Developers who prefer controlling their data and infrastructure rather than depending on cloud services.
• Cost-Conscious Projects: Applications where minimizing hosting costs matters—PocketBase runs comfortably on inexpensive VPS instances.
• Internal Tools: Company internal applications where simplicity and self-hosting align with organizational requirements.
• Educational Projects: Learning backend development without complex infrastructure allows focus on application logic.

PocketBase may not be ideal for:

• High-Traffic Applications: Applications expecting millions of daily users may need more scalable database solutions.
• Complex Queries: Applications requiring advanced SQL features, stored procedures, or specialized database capabilities.
• Teams Wanting Managed Services: Organizations preferring fully managed backends with guaranteed SLAs and support.
• High-Availability Requirements: Applications requiring guaranteed uptime with automatic failover and redundancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does PocketBase handle data backups?

PocketBase stores all data in a SQLite database file (pb_data/data.db). Backing up is as simple as copying this file. For production, implement automated backups using cron jobs or backup services. PocketBase also includes built-in backup commands. The SQLite file can be restored by simply replacing the database file and restarting. Regular backups are essential as SQLite is a single-file database.

Can PocketBase scale for large applications?

PocketBase with SQLite handles more traffic than many expect—thousands of concurrent users on modest hardware. However, it’s designed for simplicity rather than massive scale. For high-traffic applications, consider caching layers, read replicas (via SQLite’s replication options), or migrating to PostgreSQL-based alternatives when you genuinely need horizontal scaling. Most applications never reach these limits.

How secure is PocketBase?

PocketBase implements industry-standard security practices including password hashing, API token authentication, CORS configuration, and SSL support. The collection rules system enables fine-grained access control. However, security also depends on proper deployment—use HTTPS, keep software updated, implement proper firewall rules, and follow security best practices for your server environment.

Can I use PocketBase with my existing database?

PocketBase uses its own SQLite database and cannot connect to external databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL. If you need to migrate existing data, you’ll need to export from your current database and import into PocketBase collections. For applications requiring existing database connections, consider alternatives like Supabase (PostgreSQL) or direct backend development.

Is PocketBase production-ready?

Yes, many applications run PocketBase in production successfully. The project has matured significantly with regular releases, security patches, and performance improvements. Production readiness also depends on your deployment—implement proper backups, monitoring, and security practices. For mission-critical applications with strict uptime requirements, evaluate whether self-managed infrastructure meets your needs.

Final Verdict

PocketBase represents a refreshing approach to backend development, proving that complexity isn’t a requirement for capability. The single-binary deployment model eliminates entire categories of infrastructure concerns while still providing the features most applications need—authentication, database, realtime subscriptions, file storage, and administration interface.

For developers tired of managing complex infrastructure or paying escalating cloud bills, PocketBase offers genuine alternative. The self-hosted nature provides complete control over data and costs, while the simplicity ensures you spend time building features rather than configuring servers. The SQLite foundation, far from being a limitation, proves remarkably capable for typical application workloads.

PocketBase won’t suit every project—applications requiring massive scale, complex queries, or high-availability guarantees may need more robust solutions. But for the vast majority of web and mobile applications, PocketBase provides everything needed in an elegantly simple package. The project has earned its growing popularity and represents how backend development should work for projects that don’t need enterprise complexity. When simplicity aligns with your requirements, PocketBase delivers remarkable value.