Overview

Firebase

Stacks42.2K

Followers36.0K

Votes2.0K

Vercel

Stacks1.6K

Followers925

Votes86

GitHub Stars0

Forks0

Firebase vs Zeit Now: What are the differences?

Introduction

Firebase and Zeit Now are both popular web development platforms that offer a range of features and tools. However, there are several key differences between the two platforms that should be considered when deciding which one to use for your project.

Hosting and deployment flexibility: Firebase provides an all-in-one hosting and deployment solution, allowing developers to easily deploy their web applications with just a few commands. On the other hand, Zeit Now offers a more flexible approach to hosting and deployment, supporting a wide range of deployment configurations and offering integrations with popular deployment tools like Docker. This makes Zeit Now a better choice for projects that require more control over the deployment process or have unique hosting requirements.
Backend functionality: Firebase is primarily known for its powerful backend services, which include features like real-time database, user authentication, cloud functions, and cloud messaging. These services are tightly integrated with the Firebase platform and provide a seamless experience for developers. In contrast, Zeit Now focuses more on frontend deployment and doesn't offer the same level of backend functionality as Firebase. If your project heavily relies on backend services, Firebase would be a better fit.
Serverless architecture: Firebase is built on a serverless architecture, which means that developers don't need to worry about managing servers or scaling infrastructure. This allows for easier development and deployment of applications, as the infrastructure is automatically provisioned and managed by Firebase. Zeit Now also supports serverless deployments, but it also offers the flexibility to deploy applications on traditional servers if needed. If you prefer the simplicity and scalability of serverless architecture, Firebase is the way to go.
Pricing structure: Firebase offers a freemium pricing model, with a generous free tier that includes many of its core features. This makes it a cost-effective option for small projects or startups with limited budgets. Zeit Now, on the other hand, offers a pay-as-you-go pricing structure, where you only pay for the resources you use. This can be advantageous for projects that have unpredictable or fluctuating traffic patterns, as you only pay for what you need. Consider your project's budget and resource requirements when choosing between the two platforms.
Third-party integrations: Firebase has a wide range of third-party integrations, including popular services like Google Analytics, Crashlytics, and AdMob. These integrations can be seamlessly integrated into your Firebase project, providing additional functionality and insights for your application. While Zeit Now does not offer the same level of built-in integrations, it does provide extensive support for custom integrations and workflows through its API and CLI, allowing you to connect and extend your application with other services.
Community and support: Firebase has a large and active community of developers, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and resources available. This makes it easier to get support and find solutions to common problems. Zeit Now also has a growing community, but it may not have the same level of resources and community support as Firebase. Consider the availability of community support and resources when choosing a platform, as it can greatly impact your development experience.

In summary, Firebase and Zeit Now differ in terms of hosting and deployment flexibility, backend functionality, serverless architecture, pricing structure, third-party integrations, and community support. Choose the platform that aligns with your project's specific needs and requirements.

Advice on Firebase, Vercel

Jared

Contractor at Insight Global

Aug 9, 2019

Reviewon

Firebase

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.

271k views271k

Comments

Noam

Jul 16, 2020

Needs adviceon

Node.js

ExpressJS

React

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	Vercel
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.	A cloud platform for serverless deployment. It enables developers to host websites and web services that deploy instantly, scale automatically, and require no supervision, all with minimal configuration.
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.	Easy, production-ready deployment with one command; Simple scaling, including auto-scaling; No-Ops; Domains & DNS;
Statistics
GitHub Stars -	GitHub Stars 0
GitHub Forks -	GitHub Forks 0
Stacks 42.2K	Stacks 1.6K
Followers 36.0K	Followers 925
Votes 2.0K	Votes 86
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 23 Simple deployment 17 Free tier 13 Free SSL 12 Simple setup 8 Easy custom domain setup Cons 1 Pricing Unclear
Integrations
Trigger.io Famo.us Backbone.js Ember.js AngularJS React	GitLab GitHub Lighthouse

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