Appwrite
Appwrite is an open-source backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that provides ready-made APIs for authentication, databases, file storage, and serverless functions so developers can build apps without writing custom backend infrastructure.
Definition
Appwrite is an open-source backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that provides ready-made APIs for authentication, databases, file storage, and serverless functions so developers can build apps without writing custom backend infrastructure.
Overview
Founded by Eldad Fux and first released around 2019, Appwrite packages the backend pieces most apps need — authentication, a database, file storage, and serverless functions — behind a consistent API, distributed as self-hostable Docker containers or as Appwrite Cloud. Its authentication service supports email/password, OAuth providers, and magic links; its database offers document storage with fine-grained permissions; and Appwrite Functions let developers run custom backend logic in multiple language runtimes without managing servers. It is frequently compared to Firebase and Supabase as an open-source alternative that teams can self-host for data residency or cost reasons, and it's commonly paired with frontends built in Next.js or mobile apps built with React Native.
Key Features
- Authentication with email/password, OAuth providers, and magic links
- Built-in document database service with fine-grained permissions
- File storage with previews, compression, and access control
- Serverless Functions for custom backend logic in multiple runtimes
- Realtime subscriptions for live data updates
- Fully self-hostable via Docker, or usable as Appwrite Cloud