PocketBase Hosting: The Supabase Alternative for $8/month
PocketBase hosting gives you a self-contained backend — user auth, realtime subscriptions, file storage, and an admin dashboard — without paying $25+/month for a managed Supabase plan. On CM Cloud App Hosting, you can run PocketBase as a first-class runtime for $7.99/month (XAF 5,000 / €7.40).
This guide explains exactly what you get, how it compares to Supabase, and why CM Cloud is the cheapest serious option for developers in Cameroon, West Africa, and internationally.
What Is PocketBase and Why Does It Replace Supabase?
PocketBase is an open-source backend written in Go. It ships as a single binary and provides everything a modern app needs from a backend service:
- User authentication — email/password and OAuth providers out of the box
- Realtime subscriptions — push data to clients instantly via SSE
- File storage — attach files to records without a separate S3 bucket
- Visual admin dashboard — manage collections, rules, and users in a browser UI
- REST + SDK API — JavaScript, Dart, and Go SDKs available
Supabase wraps PostgreSQL and adds an API layer on top. PocketBase does the same job for most projects — auth, realtime, storage, API — without requiring a separate database server or a SaaS subscription. For startups, indie developers, and small teams, the difference in monthly cost is significant.
CM Cloud App Hosting: How PocketBase Runs
CM Cloud App Hosting runs PocketBase as a managed runtime. You do not configure nginx, systemd, or process supervision — CM Cloud handles the full runtime layer. You push your code; the platform runs it.
What CM Cloud manages for you
- nginx reverse proxy in front of PocketBase
- systemd process supervision (auto-restart on crash)
- Runtime environment and port binding
- CI/CD deploy hook — generate a secret webhook URL in the portal and POST it from GitHub Actions to trigger an automatic redeploy on every
git push
What you control
- Your PocketBase version and binary
- Collection schemas, auth rules, and API access
- External database connection if you outgrow PocketBase’s embedded SQLite
- Your frontend — pair PocketBase with a Node.js or static frontend on the same CM Cloud account
No customer SSH access. CM Cloud is a code-push platform. If your workflow requires direct shell access, consider the CM Cloud VPS plan instead.
No rollback feature. Redeploys are one-way. Test locally before pushing to production.
PocketBase + Frontend: Full-Stack on CM Cloud
PocketBase is your backend. Your frontend — a Next.js app, a React SPA, a Vue project — runs separately. CM Cloud App Hosting supports both in the same account under different projects.
Supported runtimes on CM Cloud App Hosting:
- Node.js — Express, Next.js
- Python — FastAPI, Django, Flask
- PHP — Laravel
- PocketBase — standalone runtime
A typical full-stack setup on CM Cloud:
- Project 1: PocketBase runtime → your backend API, auth, and storage
- Project 2: Next.js runtime → your frontend, calling PocketBase’s REST API
This replicates the Vercel + Supabase architecture entirely within CM Cloud — no external SaaS subscriptions, no data leaving your infrastructure.
PocketBase Hosting Price Comparison
Below is an honest comparison of what similar backend setups cost across providers. CM Cloud is the only provider showing prices in USD, XAF, and EUR simultaneously.
| Provider | Starter Price (USD) | XAF | EUR | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CM Cloud App Hosting | $7.99/mo | XAF 5,000 | €7.40 | PocketBase runtime, CI/CD hook, managed nginx/systemd |
| Supabase (Free tier) | $0/mo | — | — | 500 MB DB, paused after 1 week inactivity |
| Supabase (Pro tier) | $25/mo | — | — | 8 GB DB, no pause, custom domains |
| Railway | ~$5/mo + usage | — | — | Container-based, metered billing |
| Render | $7/mo (spins down) | — | — | Free tier sleeps after 15 min idle |
| DigitalOcean App Platform | $12/mo | — | — | Container, no PocketBase-specific support |
Key takeaway: Supabase Free pauses your project after a week of inactivity — not suitable for production. Supabase Pro costs $25/month for what PocketBase provides natively. CM Cloud delivers a production-ready PocketBase runtime at $7.99/month with no idle shutdowns and no usage-based surprise bills.
See full CM Cloud pricing at cmcloudhosting.com/pricing.
AI Credits on CM Cloud App Hosting
Every CM Cloud plan includes free AI credits. Top up anytime as your usage grows.
| Pack | USD | XAF | EUR | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter top-up | $1.00 | XAF 500 | €0.93 | 25 credits |
AI credits work across CM Cloud tools — useful for developers building AI-assisted features on top of their PocketBase backend.
Who Should Use PocketBase on CM Cloud?
PocketBase on CM Cloud App Hosting is the right choice if:
- You are building a SaaS MVP and need auth + realtime without a $25/month backend bill
- You are a developer in Cameroon or West Africa who wants to pay in XAF (XAF 5,000/month) without currency conversion friction
- You are replacing Firebase or Supabase to reduce vendor dependency
- You want a CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions → webhook → auto-redeploy) without managing a server
- You are building a mobile app (Flutter, React Native) that needs a lightweight REST + realtime backend
PocketBase on CM Cloud is not the best fit if:
- You need direct SSH access to the server — use CM Cloud VPS instead
- Your app requires a managed relational database beyond SQLite at scale — connect an external DB
- You need one-click rollback after a bad deploy — test thoroughly in staging first
How to Deploy PocketBase on CM Cloud
Deployment follows the standard CM Cloud App Hosting workflow:
- Create an App Hosting project in the CM Cloud portal — select PocketBase as your runtime
- Push your PocketBase binary and any config files via the portal or your connected Git repository
- Generate a CI/CD deploy hook URL in the portal
- Add the webhook to your GitHub Actions workflow — a POST request to that URL triggers a redeploy on every
git push - Point your domain — use any domain registered at CM Cloud (cheapest domain registration prices on the market) or bring your own
Your PocketBase admin dashboard is available at /\_/ on your live URL from the moment the first deploy completes.
Business Email Add-On
If your PocketBase app sends transactional email or you need a [email protected] address for your project, CM Cloud Business Email is sold separately.
- Per-user: $1.99/user/month (XAF 1,250 / €1.85)
- Bundle: $4.99/month (XAF 3,000 / €4.60) for 5 mailboxes
Email hosting is not included in App Hosting plans — it is a separate subscription. See cmcloudhosting.com/pricing for the full add-on list.
Final Verdict
PocketBase hosting on CM Cloud is the most cost-effective Supabase alternative for developers who want production-grade auth, realtime, and file storage without a $25/month SaaS bill. At $7.99/month (XAF 5,000 / €7.40), you get a managed runtime, CI/CD deploys via GitHub Actions, and zero idle-shutdown risk — all on NVMe-backed infrastructure.
For teams in Cameroon and West Africa, paying XAF 5,000/month with no currency conversion overhead makes CM Cloud the clear local choice.
Start Your PocketBase Backend Today
Ready to drop Supabase and cut your backend costs? Launch PocketBase on CM Cloud App Hosting for $7.99/month.
👉 View App Hosting plans at cmcloudhosting.com/pricing
No extreme lock-in. No idle shutdowns. No Supabase subscription.