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Nhost Review

Nhost is an open-source, fully managed backend platform providing PostgreSQL, a GraphQL API via Hasura, authentication, storage, and serverless functions.

shipped Sep 7, 2026automatefreemium

Domain rating54

automateplatform

Why it matters

1Offers a GraphQL API instantly generated from PostgreSQL schema using Hasura.

2Includes an AI toolkit with vector embeddings via pgvector and Auto-Embeddings leveraging OpenAI.

3Supports dedicated compute resources up to 15 vCPUs and 30GiB per service.

4Provides S3-compatible storage with image transformations and a global CDN.

Specs

API Docs

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GitHub

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API Available

Yes, public API

overview

What is Nhost?

Nhost is a Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform developed by Nhost that enables web and mobile developers to build and scale applications without managing backend infrastructure. It integrates open-source tools to provide a comprehensive suite of services including PostgreSQL, a GraphQL API, authentication, storage, and serverless functions. The platform is designed for web and mobile applications, providing a backend infrastructure that supports scalability and focuses on a PostgreSQL-centric approach, integrating Hasura to deliver its GraphQL capabilities. Nhost aims to offer a GraphQL-native developer experience, allowing developers to focus on product features rather than backend complexities. Recent updates include dedicated compute resources, an AI toolkit with vector embeddings, and organization-based billing.

features

Key Features of Nhost

Nhost provides a comprehensive set of features designed to accelerate full-stack application development, integrating several open-source technologies into a managed platform. These features support a GraphQL-native developer experience and aim to reduce the operational overhead of backend management.

PostgreSQL Database: A dedicated, scalable relational database for application data.
GraphQL API via Hasura: Instantly generated from the PostgreSQL schema, offering real-time subscriptions and role-based permissions.
Authentication: Supports user accounts, social logins, magic links, one-time codes, WebAuthn, and OAuth, with FIDO security keys and device biometrics.
S3-Compatible Storage: File storage with custom permissions, image transformation (resizing, rounding, blurring), and a global CDN.
Serverless Functions: Allows custom backend logic in JavaScript and TypeScript, deployed as HTTP endpoints with error handling and logs.
AI Toolkit: Includes vector embeddings using pgvector, Auto-Embeddings with OpenAI for natural language queries, and Graphite, a context-aware developer assistant.
Dedicated Compute: Allocate specific CPU and RAM resources (up to 15 vCPUs and 30GiB) for each service.
Nhost Run: Public beta feature allowing deployment of custom and third-party open-source solutions within the Nhost environment.
CLI for Local Development: Provides commands like nhost down, nhost link, nhost env:ls, nhost env:pull for local development workflows.
CI/CD Pipelines & Observability: Built-in tools for continuous integration/delivery and monitoring of application performance.

use cases

Who Should Use Nhost?

Nhost is designed for developers and organizations seeking a managed, open-source backend solution that prioritizes a GraphQL-native experience and PostgreSQL as its core database. It caters to a range of projects from rapid prototyping to scaling production applications.

Rapid Full-Stack Application Development: Developers building web and mobile applications with frameworks like React, Next.js, Vue, Flutter, Svelte, or React Native who want to accelerate backend setup.
Prototyping and MVP Development: Teams needing to quickly prototype product APIs and seamlessly transition the schema into production environments.
Firebase/Supabase Alternatives: Projects where developers prefer an open-source solution with a standard PostgreSQL database, a GraphQL API via Hasura, and greater control over data and infrastructure.
Indie Hackers & Startups: Individuals and small teams looking for a fully managed backend to focus on product features rather than infrastructure management.
Subscription & Analytics Platforms: Applications requiring robust database, authentication, and real-time capabilities for user management and data processing.

how to use

How to Use Nhost

Getting started with Nhost involves setting up a project, defining your database schema, and integrating the provided services into your application. The platform offers a CLI for local development and a dashboard for managing your backend.

1Sign Up and Create a Project: Register on the Nhost platform and create a new project, which provisions your PostgreSQL database, Hasura GraphQL API, authentication, and storage services.
2Define Your Database Schema: Use the Nhost Dashboard or the CLI to define your PostgreSQL database schema. Hasura will automatically generate a GraphQL API based on this schema.
3Integrate Authentication: Utilize the Nhost JavaScript SDK to integrate authentication services into your client-side application, supporting various login methods.
4Implement Storage: Use the SDK to handle file uploads and downloads to the S3-compatible storage, applying custom permissions and image transformations as needed.
5Develop Serverless Functions: Write custom backend logic in JavaScript or TypeScript and deploy it as serverless functions, accessible via HTTP endpoints.
6Connect Your Frontend: Integrate the Nhost GraphQL API and other services into your web or mobile frontend application using the provided SDKs (e.g., @nhost/nhost-js).

pricing

Nhost Pricing & Plans

Nhost operates on a freemium model, offering a free tier for development and smaller projects, with paid plans providing increased resources and features. Specific pricing details for paid tiers are available on the Nhost website, typically scaling with compute, storage, and data transfer usage. The platform transitioned to organization-based billing in October 2024, aggregating all projects within an organization under a single plan and invoice.

Free Tier: Includes a PostgreSQL database, GraphQL API, authentication, storage, and serverless functions with limited resources, suitable for personal projects and testing.
Paid Plans: Offer increased CPU, RAM, storage, data transfer, and advanced features like dedicated compute and priority support. Specific pricing is usage-based and tiered.

Pros

+Fully managed backend platform, reducing operational overhead for developers.
+GraphQL API instantly generated from PostgreSQL schema via Hasura, including real-time subscriptions.
+Comprehensive authentication services with advanced security features like FIDO security keys.
+Integrated AI toolkit with vector embeddings (pgvector) and Auto-Embeddings for natural language queries.
+S3-compatible storage with on-the-fly image transformations and global CDN.
+Open-source core, providing transparency and flexibility for developers.

Cons

−Pricing for higher tiers can be a concern for student developers or those with limited budgets.
−Reliance on Hasura for GraphQL might be a lock-in point for some projects.
−While open-source, the fully managed cloud offering is proprietary.
−Some early user feedback noted occasional communication issues.

Policies

Pricing Page

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Similar Tools

Nhost vs Competitors

Nhost positions itself as an open-source Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform, offering a managed backend stack that competes with established solutions by emphasizing a PostgreSQL-centric approach and deep integration with Hasura for GraphQL.

SupabaseOn Stork

Provides a complete open-source backend stack with PostgreSQL, authentication, storage, real-time subscriptions, and edge functions, often seen as an open-source Firebase alternative.

Supabase offers a very similar integrated experience to Nhost, also built around PostgreSQL. The main trade-off might be the specific GraphQL implementation (Supabase uses PostgREST and its own Realtime API, while Nhost is tightly integrated with Hasura for GraphQL).

Appwrite↗

An open-source, self-hostable backend server that provides APIs for database, authentication, storage, and functions, with a strong focus on developer experience.

Appwrite provides a comprehensive backend solution like Nhost but uses its own database and API structure rather than being PostgreSQL-centric with Hasura. You trade the direct Hasura GraphQL integration for Appwrite's opinionated REST APIs and SDKs.

PocketBase↗

A single-file Go backend with an embedded SQLite database, real-time subscriptions, authentication, file storage, and an admin UI, designed for extreme simplicity and portability.

PocketBase is significantly lighter and simpler than Nhost, using SQLite instead of PostgreSQL and offering a more basic API. You gain extreme ease of deployment and a single-file solution but give up the power and scalability of a managed PostgreSQL and a full-featured GraphQL layer like Hasura.

DirectusOn Stork

An open-source data platform that provides a headless CMS and a powerful API (REST & GraphQL) layer on top of any SQL database, including existing ones.

Directus excels at providing a flexible API and admin interface over your existing or new SQL database, including PostgreSQL, and offers authentication and file storage. While it provides GraphQL, it's more focused on data management and content than Nhost's full-stack backend-as-a-service approach with integrated serverless functions and a specific Hasura focus.

See every Nhost alternative, compared→