Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Horizon

Realtime open-source backend for JS apps by RethinkDB

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Horizon launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Horizon 1.0▲316

   Realtime, open-source backend for JavaScript apps

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   The Changelog - #181: RethinkDB, Databases, and the Realtime Web With Slava Akhmechet▲60

   Slava Akhmechet schools us on RethinkDB and the realtime web

   2015 · its alternatives →

3. 3PO
   PocketBase – Open Source realtime backend in one file▲563

   2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

4. 4DA
   DriftDB – an open source WebSocket backend for real-time apps▲367

   Hey HN! I’ve written a bunch of WebSocket servers over the years to do simple things like state synchronization, WebRTC signaling, and notifying a client when a backend job was run. I realized that if I had a simple way to create a private, temporary, mini-redis that the client could talk to directly, it would save a lot of time. So we created DriftDB. In addition to the open source server that you can run yourself, we also provide https://jamsocket.live where you can use an instance we host on Cloudflare’s edge (~13ms round trip latency from my home in NY). You may have seen my…

   2023 · driftdb.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Open SaaS▲505

   Open-source & 100% free React & Node.js SaaS starter

   2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Restyaboard▲197

   An open source alternative to Trello

   2015 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   StaticBackend▲118

   Low code self-hosted backend API to build web apps

   2023 · its alternatives →

8. 8MO
   MongoDB + open source e-commerce = Forward▲107

   2012 · getfwd.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   PocketBase▲107

   Open Source realtime backend in 1 file

   2022 · pocketbase.io · its alternatives →

10. 10RA
    RealWorld – A Collection of Exemplary Front End and Back End Codebases▲49

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Saleor 2.0▲177

    Open source storefront for great e-commerce experiences

    2018 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    JustBackend▲112

    A lightweight database replacement for agile projects

    2024 · justbackend.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Reqres▲131

    A hosted REST-API for testing your front-end against

    2014 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Portal▲164

    Self-host open source apps in seconds

    2015 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Helios▲66

    An extensible open-source mobile backend framework

    2014 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    RethinkDB▲2

    RethinkDB pushes JSON to your apps in realtime.

    2015 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Restdb.io – a plug and play database service▲101

    Simple online database service in the cloud with NoSQL, REST API, low code javascript hooks, MongoDB support and more. Perfect for API automation, custom development, enterprise, backoffice, serverless backends, database driven websites. It provides easy collaboration and data management with secure

    2016 · restdb.io · its alternatives →

18. 18EH
    Event Horizon – CQRS/ES Toolkit for Go▲40

    2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Vendure▲98

    Open-source headless e-commerce framework for developers

    2021 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    ModernCloud▲101

    A browser-based serverless platform that is open-source

    2021 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    RethinkDB 2.0

    Open source, production-ready database for the realtime web.

    2015 · its alternatives →

22. 22GA
    GoatDB – A lightweight, offline-first, realtime NoDB for Deno and React▲90

    Hey HN, We've been experimenting with a real-time, version-controlled NoDB for Deno & React called GoatDB. The idea is to remove backend complexity while keeping apps fast, offline-resilient, and easy to self-host. Runs on the client – No backend required, incremental queries keep things efficient. Self-hosted & lightweight – Deploy a single executable, no server stack needed. Offline-first & resilient – Clients work independently & can restore state after server outages. Edge-native & fast – Real-time sync happens locally with minimal overhead. Why We Built It: We needed something that’s…

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    GreptimeDB▲72

    Open-source database for large-scale time-series data

    2022 · greptime.com · its alternatives →

24. 24LA
    Lapis – A web framework for MoonScript and OpenResty▲75

    2013 · leafo.net · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →