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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Platform as a Service
  4. Realtime Backend API
  5. Firebase vs RapidAPI

Firebase vs RapidAPI

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Firebase
Firebase
Stacks42.5K
Followers36.0K
Votes2.0K
RapidAPI
RapidAPI
Stacks51
Followers76
Votes13

Firebase vs RapidAPI: What are the differences?

Introduction

Firebase and RapidAPI are two popular platforms used in web development. They have similarities but also key differences that set them apart. In this article, we will explore six major differences between Firebase and RapidAPI.

  1. Backend Infrastructure: Firebase provides a complete backend infrastructure, including authentication, real-time database, cloud storage, and functions. On the other hand, RapidAPI acts as a marketplace of APIs, allowing developers to easily integrate third-party APIs into their projects.

  2. Database: Firebase has its own NoSQL database called Cloud Firestore, which offers real-time data synchronization and offline support. RapidAPI, on the other hand, does not provide its own database but rather facilitates the integration of various third-party databases through its marketplace.

  3. Authentication: Firebase offers built-in authentication systems, allowing developers to easily implement user authentication using email and password, social media logins, and more. RapidAPI, however, does not provide its own authentication system and relies on the authentication mechanisms provided by the integrated APIs.

  4. Pricing Model: Firebase offers a pricing model based on usage, including a free tier with certain limitations, and additional paid plans for higher usage levels. RapidAPI, on the other hand, does not have its own pricing model as it acts as a marketplace for APIs, and the pricing for each API varies depending on the provider.

  5. API Management: Firebase provides an all-in-one solution for backend infrastructure and services, making it easier for developers to manage their APIs. RapidAPI, on the other hand, focuses on facilitating the integration and management of third-party APIs, providing tools for API documentation, testing, and usage monitoring.

  6. Community and Support: Firebase has a large and active developer community, offering extensive documentation, tutorials, and support forums. RapidAPI also has a community of developers, but the support and resources may vary depending on the individual APIs integrated through the platform.

In summary, Firebase provides a complete backend infrastructure with its own database and authentication system, while RapidAPI acts as a marketplace for integrating third-party APIs. The pricing model, API management, and community support also differ between the two platforms.

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Advice on Firebase, RapidAPI

Jared
Jared

Contractor at Insight Global

Aug 9, 2019

ReviewonFirebaseFirebase

I started using Firebase over 5 years ago because of the 'real-time' nature. I originally used to use Real Time Database, but now I use Cloud Firestore. I recommend using the Google Firebase PaaS to quickly develop or prototype small to enterprise level web/mobile applications. Since Google purchased Firebase, it has exploded and it growing rapidly. I also find some level of comfort that it is Backed by Google.

272k views272k
Comments
Noam
Noam

Jul 16, 2020

Needs adviceonNode.jsNode.jsExpressJSExpressJSReactReact

We are starting to work on a web-based platform aiming to connect artists (clients) and professional freelancers (service providers). In-app, timeline-based, real-time communication between users (& storing it), file transfers, and push notifications are essential core features. We are considering using Node.js, ExpressJS, React, MongoDB stack with Socket.IO & Apollo, or maybe using Real-Time Database and functionalities of Firebase.

1.15M views1.15M
Comments

Detailed Comparison

Firebase
Firebase
RapidAPI
RapidAPI

Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications. Simply add the Firebase library to your application to gain access to a shared data structure; any changes you make to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.

RapidAPI is the worlds largest API marketplace with over 10,000 APIs available. Developers can find, connect, and manage all of their API connections through a single platform. As an API Provider, you can market, manage, and monetize your API on the world’s largest API marketplace, instantly exposing it to 1 million developers.

Add the Firebase library to your app and get access to a shared data structure. Any changes made to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.;Firebase apps can be written entirely with client-side code, update in real-time out-of-the-box, interoperate well with existing services, scale automatically, and provide strong data security.;Data Accessibility- Data is stored as JSON in Firebase. Every piece of data has its own URL which can be used in Firebase's client libraries and as a REST endpoint. These URLs can also be entered into a browser to view the data and watch it update in real-time.;Real-time Synchronization- Firebase takes a new approach to the way data is moved around an app. Rather than using a traditional request & response model, it works by synchronizing data between devices. Whenever your data changes, all clients are immediately notified within milliseconds. The synchronized data is also persisted, allowing new clients to be immediately updated.;First-class Data Security- Traditional applications intermix security code with application code, whereas Firebase treats security as a first-class feature. You define your security policies in one place using a flexible rules language, and Firebase ensures that they are consistently enforced across all parts of your application. Having all your security logic in one place allows for easy auditing and helps you avoid security mistakes. The safety and security of your data is our top priority.;Automatic Scaling- The Firebase API is built from the ground up for performance and scale. Whenever your data changes, Firebase calculates the minimum set of updates required to keep all your clients in sync. In addition, all Firebase API functions are designed to scale linearly with the size of the data being synchronized. More importantly, Firebase handles all of the scaling and operations for you. Your app will scale from its first user to its first million without any code changes.;Servers are Optional- Firebase can provide all of the data storage, control, and transmission needs of most apps. In many cases, Firebase can completely replace your server and server-side code. This means you no longer need to build complicated backend software and can instead focus on your application logic and your customers.
API Discovery; External API Management; Single Analytics Dashboard for all API Usage; Internal API Management [RapidAPI for Teams]; Simplified API Billing, Authentication, Monitoring
Statistics
Stacks
42.5K
Stacks
51
Followers
36.0K
Followers
76
Votes
2.0K
Votes
13
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 371
    Realtime backend made easy
  • 270
    Fast and responsive
  • 242
    Easy setup
  • 215
    Real-time
  • 191
    JSON
Cons
  • 31
    Can become expensive
  • 16
    No open source, you depend on external company
  • 15
    Scalability is not infinite
  • 9
    Not Flexible Enough
  • 7
    Cant filter queries
Pros
  • 4
    Collaborate on external & internal APIs with your team
  • 4
    Standardized API discover, connection, and management
  • 2
    Test all APIs in browser
  • 2
    Market, manage, and monetize APIs as an API Provider
  • 1
    One workspace for 10,000 public API
Integrations
Trigger.io
Trigger.io
Famo.us
Famo.us
Backbone.js
Backbone.js
Ember.js
Ember.js
AngularJS
AngularJS
React
React
No integrations available

What are some alternatives to Firebase, RapidAPI?

Socket.IO

Socket.IO

It enables real-time bidirectional event-based communication. It works on every platform, browser or device, focusing equally on reliability and speed.

PubNub

PubNub

PubNub makes it easy for you to add real-time capabilities to your apps, without worrying about the infrastructure. Build apps that allow your users to engage in real-time across mobile, browser, desktop and server.

Pusher

Pusher

Pusher is the category leader in delightful APIs for app developers building communication and collaboration features.

SignalR

SignalR

SignalR allows bi-directional communication between server and client. Servers can now push content to connected clients instantly as it becomes available. SignalR supports Web Sockets, and falls back to other compatible techniques for older browsers. SignalR includes APIs for connection management (for instance, connect and disconnect events), grouping connections, and authorization.

Ably

Ably

Ably offers WebSockets, stream resume, history, presence, and managed third-party integrations to make it simple to build, extend, and deliver digital realtime experiences at scale.

Syncano

Syncano

Syncano is a backend platform to build powerful real-time apps more efficiently. Integrate with any API, minimize boilerplate code and control your data - all from one place.

NATS

NATS

Unlike traditional enterprise messaging systems, NATS has an always-on dial tone that does whatever it takes to remain available. This forms a great base for building modern, reliable, and scalable cloud and distributed systems.

SocketCluster

SocketCluster

SocketCluster is a fast, highly scalable HTTP + realtime server engine which lets you build multi-process realtime servers that make use of all CPU cores on a machine/instance. It removes the limitations of having to run your Node.js server as a single thread and makes your backend resilient by automatically recovering from worker crashes and aggregating errors into a central log.

deepstream.io

deepstream.io

Scalable Server for Realtime Web Apps with JSON structures that can be read, manipulated and listened to, messages that can be sent to one or more subscribers, and request response workflows, between two clients or servers.

8base

8base

A cloud service designed to power enterprise-grade web and mobile applications that require support for large numbers of users, complex data and transactional requirements, comprehensive role-based security and a modern look-and-feel.

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