Firebase vs Couchbase

Every business with online resources such as websites and applications requires a robust and reliable database service. It is currently the bare minimum requirement for ensuring secure and fast data storage and on-demand accessibility, both of which impact functionality and user experiences. 

Firebase and Couchbase are two popular services offering real-time features suitable for fluid mobile application development. Both these databases have a wide variety of features and provide specific advantages for developers. If you are trying to weigh out the Firebase vs. Couchbase option for your business, there are various aspects to consider. Read on to gain a better idea about which service can benefit your business. 

What is Firebase?

Firebase is a BaaS platform that offers a broad range of features and tools that aid in web and mobile application development. It is a NoSQL database platform program that adheres to the JSON protocol for performing data storage actions. Many developers and business owners prefer Firebase due to the ease-of-use it offers. The service cuts down the requirement for users to create APIs and perform server management. Firebase can be customized to meet the precise needs of users.  

Firebase provides secure file storage for users and the ability to use Google Cloud Storage. The service uses sophisticated authentication and security measures to keep away threats and moderate privileges. Firebase provides a real-time database that facilitates better connectivity than HTTP. 

Firebase Pricing

• Spark Plan – Firebase provides the Spark Plan with a variety of features including custom domains, 10 GB hosting, multiple websites, and SSL. Users of the Firebase Spark Plan can also get access to Firebase ML, Cloud Firestone, real-time database, and file storage. Firebase also provides several free products as part of this plan. 
• Blaze Plan – The Firebase Blaze Plan is a flexibly priced plan that offers advanced functionality to users. It also comes with all the features of the Spark Plan. Users of this plan can access hosting at a rate of $0.026/GB and $0.026/GB for storage. Spark Plan restrictions are not present in the Blaze Plan. Firebase offers users the ability to get price estimates with the Blaze Plan calculator on its website. 

 Firebase Features

• Cloud Firestore – It is a NoSQL cloud database used to store and sync user data for client-side and server-side programming. Cloud Firestone enables flexible web, mobile, and server development. It also performs the synchronization of data across real-time apps. This feature is integrated with Firebase and Google Cloud. 
• Realtime Database – Realtime Database refers to a NoSQL database that enables developers to store and synchronize real-time data with optimal efficiency. Users can also access the database when they are offline. Data is stored as JSON and synchronized across different clients.  
• Hosting – Firebase allows users to access fast and scalable web application hosting. Firebase hosting comes equipped with several types of content hosting, one-click rollback, and SSL protection. 
• Machine Learning – Machine learning is available to Firebase users through the ML Kit and Firebase ML. It helps to capitalize on real-world scenarios. Firebase ML is fundamentally a mobile SDK that helps in powering up Android and iOS mobile platform applications using Google’s machine learning features.

Firebase Advantages

• Ease-of-use and end-to-end solution for app development
• Simpler pricing structure and Free Tier
• Auto-scalable

What is Couchbase? 

Couchbase is a distributed NoSQL open-source cloud database that can aid in the development of applications. It is preferred for the development of interactive applications. Couchbase features a scalable and flexible data model, ensures maximum uptime, and is known for the level of performance it offers for applications. 

Couchbase is an amalgamation of two different NoSQL technologies – Membase and CouchDB. Membase is a distributed database management that features replication, persistence, and provides high performance.

CouchDB is a document-oriented database with key-value maps. JSON documents represent application objects and inter-object relationships. Couchbase offers libraries for several programming languages, including .NET, C, Node.js, Java, and Python.

Couchbase Pricing 

It offers a Free Trial and pricing starts at $2,499 one time payment.

Couchbase Features

• Data Access Service – Data Access Service is a feature available across the Community, Enterprise and Cloud versions of Couchbase. It offers a key-value interface; ephemeral bucket performance boosts, distributed ACID transactions, and more. 
• Performance and scalability – All three versions of Couchbase offer performance and scaling features, including fast failover, end-to-end compression, node-based homogeneous scaling, and multi-dimensional scaling.
• Security – Couchbase provides robust security features, including role-based access control, LDAP group support, encrypted network access, node-to-node encryption, cipher management, and auditing. 

Couchbase Advantages

• Enterprise ready plans
• Ideal for mission-critical applications
• On-premisses deployment
• Community edition
• Couchbase enables simple node management and requires very low maintenance. 
• Replication feature offers better large-scale data resiliency, performance, and speed.  
• Gives users the ability to present queries in the easy-to-use N1QL language.

Firebase vs. Couchbase | Comparison

Conclusion

This article explained the differences between Firebase and Couchbase.

Firebase is a backend as a service owned by Google that allows end-to-end web and mobile application development. As part of its feature set, it includes two database services, Cloud Firestore and Realtime Database. In general, it is an excellent solution for individual developers and small/medium projects.

Couchbase is a NoSQL database designed to meet the needs of mission-critical apps. In general, it is an excellent solution for large enterprise projects and for customers that are looking for deployment options flexibility.

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