Platform Lock-in
Supabase is a platform, not just a UI. Your database lives on their infrastructure. Migrating away means rebuilding everything.
QueryGlow vs Supabase:
The UI You Love, Unbundled
Supabase proved database tools can be beautiful. But they locked that beauty inside their cloud. QueryGlow liberates it—for your databases, on your infrastructure.
Supabase Pro: $25/month, billed forever. QueryGlow: $79 once, yours to keep.
Common Supabase Pain Points
PostgreSQL Only
Have a MySQL database? MariaDB? SQLite? Too bad. Supabase only works with PostgreSQL. QueryGlow works with 6 database engines.
Never-Ending Bills
Supabase Pro starts at $25/month. That's $300/year, $1,500 over 5 years. QueryGlow is $79 once—forever.
Existing DB? Good Luck.
Already have a database on AWS RDS, Railway, or DigitalOcean? Supabase can't easily connect to it. QueryGlow connects to anything.
Platform vs Tool: The Key Difference
Supabase
All-in-One Platform
- Database lives on their servers
- PostgreSQL only—no MySQL, SQLite, etc.
- $25/month minimum ($300/year)
- Can't connect to your existing AWS RDS
- Migration away is complex
Best for: New projects that want a full backend platform
FREEDOM
QueryGlow
Independent UI Tool
- Data stays on your infrastructure
- 6 databases: Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, TimescaleDB
- $79 once—no recurring fees ever
- Connect to any DB: AWS RDS, Railway, local, anywhere
- Zero lock-in, full source code
Best for: Teams with existing databases who want a beautiful UI
The Long-Term Math
Supabase charges monthly. QueryGlow charges once. Here's how that adds up.
| Time | Supabase Pro | QueryGlow | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $300 | $79 | $221 |
| 2 years | $600 | $79 | $521 |
| 3 years | $900 | $79 | $821 |
| 5 years | $1,500 | $79 | $1,421 |
| 10 years | $3,000 | $79 | $2,921 |
Based on Supabase Pro at $25/month. Actual costs may be higher with usage-based pricing.
Features Supabase Studio Doesn't Have
EXPLAIN Visualizer
Visual query plan analysis with color-coded node tree, smart warnings, and actionable index suggestions. No external tools needed.
Safe Mode
Blocks DROP DATABASE, prevents DELETE without WHERE, auto-limits SELECTs to 1000 rows.
AI Data Privacy
AI only sees your schema (table/column names). Your actual row data never leaves your server.
SSH Tunnels
Connect to private databases in VPCs without exposing ports. Paste your private key, connect securely.
6 Database Engines
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, TimescaleDB. Same beautiful UI for all.
Full Feature Comparison
| Aspect | Supabase | QueryGlow |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Year Cost | $1,500+ (recurring) | $79 total |
| Data Location | Their cloud servers | Your infrastructure |
| Database Support | PostgreSQL only | 6 databases |
| AI SQL Generation | Yes (platform-locked) | Yes (BYOK: OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) |
| AI Data Privacy | Data on their servers | Schema only—data never sent |
| Safe Mode | None | Blocks DROP, limits queries |
| SSH Tunnel Support | N/A (cloud-hosted) | Built-in, one-click |
| Connect to Existing DBs | Limited (their Postgres only) | Any DB: AWS RDS, Railway, local |
| Credential Encryption | Managed by them | AES-256-GCM (you control) |
| Table Editor | Excellent | Excellent |
| SQL Editor | Good | Monaco (VS Code engine) |
| EXPLAIN Visualizer | None — links to external tools | Built-in visual query plans |
| SQL Autocomplete | Basic SQL editor | Schema-aware: tables, columns with types, dot-notation |
| Auth & API Generation | Included | Not included (UI only) |
5-Year Cost
Supabase
$1,500+ (recurring)
QueryGlow
$79 total
Data Location
Supabase
Their cloud servers
QueryGlow
Your infrastructure
Database Support
Supabase
PostgreSQL only
QueryGlow
6 databases
AI SQL Generation
Supabase
Yes (platform-locked)
QueryGlow
Yes (BYOK: OpenAI, Claude, Gemini)
AI Data Privacy
Supabase
Data on their servers
QueryGlow
Schema only—data never sent
Safe Mode
Supabase
None
QueryGlow
Blocks DROP, limits queries
SSH Tunnel Support
Supabase
N/A (cloud-hosted)
QueryGlow
Built-in, one-click
Connect to Existing DBs
Supabase
Limited (their Postgres only)
QueryGlow
Any DB: AWS RDS, Railway, local
Credential Encryption
Supabase
Managed by them
QueryGlow
AES-256-GCM (you control)
Table Editor
Supabase
Excellent
QueryGlow
Excellent
SQL Editor
Supabase
Good
QueryGlow
Monaco (VS Code engine)
EXPLAIN Visualizer
Supabase
None — links to external tools
QueryGlow
Built-in visual query plans
SQL Autocomplete
Supabase
Basic SQL editor
QueryGlow
Schema-aware: tables, columns with types, dot-notation
Auth & API Generation
Supabase
Included
QueryGlow
Not included (UI only)
Let's Be Honest
QueryGlow is a database UI tool, not a platform. If you need Supabase's auto-generated REST APIs, authentication system, storage, or edge functions—Supabase is probably the right choice. But if you already have a database and just want a beautiful, modern way to manage it? That's exactly what QueryGlow is for.
Which One Fits You?
Use Supabase If...
- You're starting a new project from scratch
- You need auto-generated APIs, Auth, and Storage
- You don't want to manage any server infrastructure
- You're okay with PostgreSQL only
- You're okay with ongoing monthly costs
Switch to QueryGlow If...
- You already have a database (AWS RDS, Railway, local, etc.)
- You need MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, or CockroachDB support
- You need strict data sovereignty (fully self-hosted)
- You want Safe Mode to prevent dangerous queries
- You want to pay once ($79) instead of forever
Get the Supabase UI. Keep Your Freedom.
$79 once vs $300+ every year. Your data stays yours.
Try the demo first. No subscriptions. No cloud lock-in.
Compare QueryGlow with Others
See how we stack up against the alternatives.