Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Rapid - Real-time Database Service

Build real-time apps without maintaining the infrastructure

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Rapid - Real-time Database Service launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   InstantDB – A Modern Firebase▲1,145

   Hey there HN! We’re Joe and Stopa, and today we’re open sourcing InstantDB, a client-side database that makes it easy to build real-time and collaborative apps like Notion and Figma. Building modern apps these days involves a lot of schleps. For a basic CRUD app you need to spin up servers, wire up endpoints, integrate auth, add permissions, and then marshal data from the backend to the frontend and back again. If you want to deliver a buttery smooth user experience, you’ll need to add optimistic updates and rollbacks. We do these steps over and over for every feature we build, which can…

   2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Firebase, a scalable real-time backend▲526

   Discover Firebase, Google’s mobile and web app development platform that helps developers build apps and games that users will love.

   2012 · firebase.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   InstantDB▲320

   Complete backend with auth and storage in one prompt

   Apr 2026 · instantdb.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   clientdb▲295

   Build lightning fast apps with instantaneous interactions

   2022 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Instant Page▲416

   Make your site’s pages instant in 1 minute ⚡

   2019 · instant.page · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Backendless▲99

   Build scalable apps at lightning speed, coding optional

   2023 · backendless.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Midday▲969

   I’ve been working on automating bookkeeping tasks, and one big pain point was manually reconciling receipts with bank transactions. We built a system that runs in the background, parses receipts (including Gmail), suggests matches, and learns from confirmations to auto-match over time. It's built into Midday and fully open-source. Let me know if you have any questions!

   2024 · midday.ai · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Realm▲168

   Realm, Mobile-first database. Build fast apps, faster.

   2014 · mongodb.com · its alternatives →

9. 9WM
   We made a real-time editor for web database apps▲121

   2018 · demo.hyperfiddle.net · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Rapid.io▲5

    Globally distributed realtime APIs

    2017 · rapid.io · its alternatives →

11. 11QG
    Quickly generate REST API (for Postgres db)▲70

    2019 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    RealtimeApp – Deploy a realtime app using serverless components▲98

    2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Up▲334

    Deploy serverless apps and APIs in seconds to AWS Lambda

    2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    KintoHub▲177

    Build apps quickly with microservices.

    2018 · kintohub.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    apiJuice▲223

    Create a hosted API for anything in seconds

    2025 · apijuice.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Tinybird▲176

    Turn raw data into realtime API at scale

    2021 · tinybird.co · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Aggelia▲69

    Build realtime features in minutes not days

    2021 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    fastlane▲145

    Easiest way to automated iOS and Android app deployments

    2022 · fastlane.tools · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Cloud Backend – a scalable database and API builder in the cloud▲50

    Create a serverless cloud backend with a database and API functions in few minutes! Zero maintenance required, instant provisioning, High availability & Scalability, Woldwide CDN with 113 POPs. 24/7 Professional support.

    2017 · cloudbackend.appdrag.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    EasyDB▲155

    A one-click ephemeral database

    2019 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    API Point▲90

    Automate all your routine dev work for free with API

    2022 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    fastht.ml▲123

    Modern web applications in pure Python

    2024 · fastht.ml · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Gridsome▲91

    A Jamstack framework for Vue.js, build apps fast by default

    2021 · gridsome.org · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Database Hosting by Kinsta▲76

    A developer-focused database PaaS (platform as a service)

    2022 · sevalla.com · 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 →