Choosing the Right Database for Your Project

Database selection is one of the most critical architectural decisions in any software project. The wrong choice can lead to performance issues, scalability problems, and expensive migrations.

PostgreSQL: The Reliable Workhorse

PostgreSQL remains the gold standard for relational data:

Strengths

• ACID compliance for data integrity
• Complex queries with advanced SQL
• JSON support for flexibility
• Mature ecosystem with proven reliability

Best For

• Financial applications
• Complex reporting systems
• Applications with strict data relationships

MongoDB: Flexible Document Storage

When your data model is evolving:

Strengths

• Schema flexibility for rapid iteration
• Horizontal scaling built-in
• Document model matches application objects
• Rich query language for nested data

Best For

• Content management systems
• Real-time analytics
• Applications with varying data structures

Supabase: The Modern Backend

Supabase combines PostgreSQL power with developer experience:

Strengths

• PostgreSQL underneath with full SQL access
• Real-time subscriptions out of the box
• Built-in auth and storage
• Auto-generated APIs from schema

Best For

• MVPs and startups
• Applications needing real-time features
• Teams wanting to ship fast

Decision Framework

Factor	PostgreSQL	MongoDB	Supabase
Data Relationships	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Flexibility	Good	Excellent	Good
Real-time	Manual	Good	Excellent
Learning Curve	Medium	Low	Low
Scalability	Good	Excellent	Good

Our Recommendation

For most web applications, we recommend starting with Supabase:

1. Get PostgreSQL reliability
2. Ship faster with built-in auth
3. Easy migration path if needed

However, the right choice depends on your specific requirements. Contact us for a free architecture consultation.