JobToTool

Vibe coding & shipping apps

Which AI tool should I use to add login and a database to my app?

You need auth (who the user is) and a database (what they've saved). These services give you both without running servers.

  1. Rank 1

    Supabase

    Verdict Postgres database, auth, storage and realtime in one, and it's the default backend for Lovable, Bolt and many AI builders. Free projects pause after a week of inactivity, which surprises people demoing side projects.

    Best for
    Most vibe-coded web apps needing auth plus a real SQL database
    Price
    Free tier: yes. $25/mo. Free projects pause after 1 week of inactivity; max 2 active free projects.
    Last checked

  2. Rank 2

    Firebase

    Verdict Mature, generous free quotas and great for mobile apps, with Google behind it. The NoSQL Firestore model and pay-as-you-go Blaze billing can be confusing to estimate.

    Best for
    Mobile apps and Google-ecosystem projects
    Price
    Free tier: yes. Pay-as-you-go (Blaze plan). No fixed monthly fee; Blaze is usage-billed at Google Cloud rates after no-cost quotas.
    Last checked

  3. Rank 3

    Clerk

    Verdict The nicest drop-in login screens, with social sign-in and user management in minutes and 50K retained users free. It's auth only, so you'll still need a database elsewhere.

    Best for
    Next.js apps that want polished auth without building UI
    Price
    Free tier: yes. $25/mo. Free Hobby plan includes 50,000 monthly retained users per app. Pro is $20/mo billed annually.
    Last checked

Get the weekly note

We email what shipped and what is worth switching to. The job below tells us what to write next.

Weekly noteJob ticket

Free weekly email: what shipped, and what is worth switching to. The job you type is demand research so we know what to cover first. No account. Unsubscribe any time by emailing privacy@jobtotool.com.