Head-to-Head Specification Audit
Supabase vs SimplePay
Open Source Firebase Alternative · Global
Specification Matrix
| Metric | Supabase | SimplePay |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $25/mo | $2/moBetter |
| API Rate Limit | 500 req/minBetter | 100 req/min |
| Target Country | Global | South Africa |
| Category | Database & Backend | HR & Payroll |
| Compliance | SOC2, GDPR, HIPAA-Enterprise | POPIA, SARS-compliant |
| Hosting Regions | EU-West, US-East, AP-Southeast | ZA |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedBetter | 2 listed |
Supabase — Key Specs
- ✓PostgreSQL with RLS, Edge Functions, Realtime, Auth, Storage
- ✓pgvector extension: vector similarity search without Pinecone
- ✓SOC 2 Type II, GDPR DPA (EU data residency available)
- ✓Free tier: 500MB database + 2GB storage forever
SimplePay — Key Specs
- ✓Cheapest PAYE-compliant payroll in SA
- ✓SARS eFiling automated
- ✓R2/employee/month pricing
- ✓Bulk payslip distribution
- ✓Cloud-based — no install needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, Supabase or SimplePay?+
SimplePay starts at $2/mo, which is lower than Supabase at $25/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — Supabase or SimplePay?+
Supabase additionally supports SOC2, GDPR, HIPAA-Enterprise. SimplePay additionally supports POPIA, SARS-compliant.
Is Supabase or SimplePay compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
SimplePay supports POPIA compliance. Supabase does not list POPIA as a supported framework.
Which has a higher API rate limit — Supabase or SimplePay?+
Supabase has a higher API rate limit at 500 requests per minute. Supabase: 500 req/min. SimplePay: 100 req/min.
Which tool is better suited for Global?+
Supabase is evaluated for Open Source Firebase Alternative in Global with hosting regions: EU-West, US-East, AP-Southeast. SimplePay has hosting regions: ZA. For data residency in Global, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 26 June 2026
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