Appwrite →
Backend + Hosting in One Platform
Appwrite is a great BaaS for mobile apps. But if you need to deploy an existing backend — Django, Express, Go — Runsite is the right tool.
// comparison
Runsite vs Appwrite
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Appwrite |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy Existing Apps | ✓ Any Docker container or Git repo | ✗ BaaS SDKs only |
| Language Freedom | ✓ Any language, any framework | Serverless functions (limited runtimes) |
| Database | ✓ Standard PostgreSQL | Proprietary document DB |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity | Israel HQ (EU adequacy) |
| Pricing (per project) | From €5/mo | $25/mo (Cloud Pro) |
| Auth/Realtime/Messaging | Bring your own | ✓ Built-in |
| Mobile SDKs | REST/GraphQL | ✓ iOS, Android, Flutter |
| Self-Hosting | Managed only | ✓ Fully self-hostable |
// in-depth comparison
Appwrite vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
Appwrite has gained popularity as an open-source Firebase alternative, particularly for mobile developers. The self-hostable architecture, built-in auth, realtime subscriptions, and native SDKs for iOS, Android, and Flutter make it a compelling BaaS for app developers who want more control than Firebase provides.
Appwrite is a Backend-as-a-Service, not a general-purpose hosting platform. You cannot deploy an existing Django, Express, or Go application on Appwrite — you build with their SDKs and APIs. The proprietary document database creates lock-in that makes migration difficult. Cloud pricing at $25/project/mo adds up quickly across multiple projects. Runsite deploys any existing codebase via Docker containers, uses standard PostgreSQL for data, and starts at €5/mo per service with no per-project premium.
If you have an existing backend application, need standard PostgreSQL instead of a proprietary database, or want to deploy to EU data centers from an EU entity, Runsite serves a fundamentally different use case than Appwrite — general-purpose hosting with full portability.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
Deploy Any Stack
Appwrite is a BaaS with specific SDKs. Runsite deploys any existing codebase — Django, FastAPI, Express, Go, Rust — in Docker containers.
Standard PostgreSQL
Appwrite uses a proprietary document database. Runsite offers standard PostgreSQL — portable, familiar, and backed by decades of tooling.
Lower Per-Project Cost
Appwrite Cloud Pro is $25/project/mo. Runsite web service + database starts at €10/mo total.
// appwrite problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Appwrite frustration, solved.
Appwrite problem
"I can't deploy my existing backend"
Appwrite is a structured BaaS. You build with their SDKs or not at all. Existing server-side apps don't fit.
Runsite solution
Deploy any codebase
Push your existing Django, Express, or Go project. Runsite builds and deploys it — no SDK migration needed.
Appwrite problem
"$25/project adds up fast"
Running 3 projects on Appwrite Cloud Pro costs $75/mo. Each project is billed separately.
Runsite solution
€5/service, mix and match
Run multiple services on one account. Web service from €5/mo, database from €5/mo. No per-project multiplier.
Appwrite problem
"Proprietary database is a lock-in risk"
Appwrite's database uses its own API. Migrating to another platform means rewriting all data access logic.
Runsite solution
Standard PostgreSQL, zero lock-in
Use standard SQL and any PostgreSQL client. Migrate to any other host that supports PostgreSQL.
// getting started
Deploy in 3 Steps
From git push to live — in under 2 minutes.
curl -fsSL https://runsite.app/install | sh runsite init --from github runsite deploy --region eu-central Deploy Your Backend, Any Stack
Not a BaaS. A platform that runs your code.
Start Free on Runsite →