PocketBase Cloud vs Netlify
Netlify pioneered Jamstack hosting: git-push static deploys, deploy previews, forms, and serverless functions with a generous free tier. PocketBase Cloud covers the part Netlify never did — the database, auth, realtime, and long-running backend — bundled with frontend hosting on one flat bill.
Prices below are as of September 2026 — check the Netlify pricing page and the PocketBase Cloud pricing section for current numbers.
Summary
| PocketBase Cloud | Netlify | |
|---|---|---|
| Core | App backend + frontend + DB, one bill | Static frontend + serverless + edge |
| Free tier | $0 — 1 PB + 5 frontends, always-on | Generous static free tier with bandwidth/build-minute quotas |
| Paid shape | $5 / $20 flat, nothing metered | Per-seat Pro + build minutes + bandwidth + functions overages |
| Backend | PocketBase + hooks (no invocation fee) + Node/Deno/Bun | Functions/Edge, scheduled fns — metered, short-lived |
| Database | SQLite built in (S3 optional) | Postgres add-on (Neon) or external DB |
| Auth/realtime | Built into PocketBase | Identity add-on or external (Clerk/Supabase) |
| Previews | No per-push preview URLs | Best-in-class deploy previews + split testing |
Where Netlify wins
Static-site DX: instant deploys from git, per-PR preview URLs with collaboration comments, branch contexts, forms handling, and a CDN that just works. For brochure/marketing sites with light dynamic needs, Netlify’s free tier plus a form handler ships in minutes — no backend to model.
Where PocketBase Cloud wins
The moment the site needs accounts, roles, file uploads tied to records, realtime, or custom API logic beyond short functions, Netlify becomes composition: Identity + Postgres + Functions + external backend, each metered. PocketBase Cloud is one binary with all of it: collections + API rules + SSE realtime + S3-or-local storage + JS hooks with no invocation billing + full backends on Pro. Frontends (React/Vue/Astro/Svelte) deploy alongside with custom domains + auto-SSL on the same $5–20 flat.
Netlify build-minute and bandwidth meters also bite agencies running many client sites with frequent editorial rebuilds. Pro’s unlimited frontends on a dedicated compute do not count builds.
The honest bottom line
- Static/marketing sites, previews + forms, minimal backend — Netlify.
- Anything with logins, data, files, or custom backend logic — PocketBase Cloud, or Netlify frontend + $5 PocketBase backend hybrid.