# Convex review

A reactive backend-as-a-service combining a real-time database, serverless functions, file storage, and search in one TypeScript-native platform, free to start with paid plans from $25 per developer/month.

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 15, 2026.

> **Convex** is a backend-as-a-service platform built around a reactive, transactional database that automatically keeps client applications in sync in real time, paired with serverless TypeScript functions, scheduled jobs (crons), full-text and vector search, and file storage in one system. It targets developers who would otherwise wire together a separate database, a queue, a search index, and a caching layer, and who want end-to-end type safety between the database schema and application code.

The backend engine (get-convex/convex-backend) is open source on GitHub and can be self-hosted, but most teams adopt Convex through its managed cloud platform, which handles scaling, caching, and observability automatically. Free-tier projects get 0.5 GB of database storage and 1 million function calls per month; the Professional plan raises that to 50 GB and 25 million function calls, plus daily backups, HIPAA/SOC 2 reports, and custom domains. Enterprise plans add SAML/SSO, dedicated deployments, and negotiated SLAs.

## Facts

- Website: https://convex.dev
- Pricing: Free tier · paid from $25/mo (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
- License: Open core
- Platforms: web
- Best for: developers and small teams building AI agents or real-time web apps who want a database, functions, and search layer in one TypeScript-native system instead of assembling separate services
- Standout feature: Reactive queries with automatic real-time sync and full ACID transactions, combined with end-to-end TypeScript type safety between the database schema and application code.
- Biggest weakness: Business/Enterprise pricing starts at a $2,500/month minimum, a steep jump from the $25/developer Professional plan, and functions are written against Convex's own TypeScript API rather than standard SQL, raising migration cost if a team later needs to move off it.
- Third-party ratings: Product Hunt 5/5 (50 reviews)
- Categories: [Backend and databases](https://findalternative.to/categories/backend-databases)

## Pricing snapshot

| Plan | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | $0/mo | 0.5 GB database storage, 1M function calls/month, with pay-as-you-go overage; for personal projects and prototypes. |
| Professional | $25/mo | $25 per developer/month; 50 GB storage and 25M function calls included, plus log streaming, daily backups, HIPAA/SOC 2 reports, custom domains, and email support. |
| Business | $2500/mo | $2,500/month minimum with custom volume pricing; adds SAML/SSO, dedicated deployments, and negotiated SLAs, for teams scaling rapidly. |

## Pros and cons

- Pro: Combines database, serverless functions, file storage, and full-text/vector search in one system with a single deployment model.
- Pro: End-to-end TypeScript type safety between database schema and application code catches errors before deployment.
- Pro: The free tier is usable for real prototypes (0.5 GB storage, 1M function calls/month), not just a trial.
- Pro: The backend engine is open source and self-hostable for teams that don't want to depend on the managed cloud.
- Con: The jump from the $25/developer Professional plan to a $2,500/month Business minimum is steep for scaling teams.
- Con: Functions are written against Convex's own TypeScript API rather than SQL, adding lock-in and migration cost if a team later needs to leave.
- Con: VPC deployment for Enterprise customers is listed as coming soon rather than available today.

## AI summary

- Convex's Free plan costs $0/month with 0.5 GB database storage and 1 million function calls.
- Convex Professional costs $25 per developer/month with 50 GB storage and 25 million function calls included.
- Convex Business/Enterprise plans start at a $2,500/month minimum with custom SSO and SLAs.
- Convex's backend engine is open source on GitHub (get-convex/convex-backend, 12,400 stars) and can be self-hosted.
- Convex lists OpenAI, Tripadvisor, Solana, and Zapier as customers.
- Best for: developers and small teams building AI agents or real-time web apps who want database, functions, and search in one TypeScript-native system
- Pricing: Free for prototypes ($0/month, 0.5 GB storage); Professional from $25/developer/month; Business/Enterprise from a $2,500/month minimum.
- Top alternatives: Firebase, Supabase, AWS Amplify, PocketBase, Appwrite
- Limitation: Steep jump from $25/developer Professional to a $2,500/month Business minimum.
- Limitation: Functions are written against Convex's own API rather than SQL, adding migration lock-in.
- Limitation: VPC deployment for Enterprise is listed as coming soon, not yet available.

## Alternatives

5 vetted alternatives to Convex: https://findalternative.to/convex — top picks: Firebase, Supabase, PocketBase

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Markdown mirror of https://findalternative.to/convex/about — findalternative.to, honestly ranked software alternatives. AI info: https://findalternative.to/ai