Firebase Vs AWS: Which One Is the Better Choice in 2024?

So, it looks like you have decided to finally research going serverless. It is the go-to option for businesses seeking speed, efficiency, and increased productivity.

The serverless architecture presents you with multiple options. But two service providers usually take the lead in the real world. These are Google Firebase and Amazon Web Services or AWS.

The debate has always been about Firebase Vs AWS. These two are the most famous serverless platforms. This is the debate that developers and software architects indulge into. It is one of the toughest to decide, given the competition between both.

In 2019, over 1500 IT professionals took part in a survey. The survey found that more than 40% of the participants were employed at companies that used serverless architecture.

Since 2019, the use of serverless architecture has consistently increased.

So, before we know the differences between Firebase Vs AWS, let’s first revise what serverless architecture is.

What Is Serverless Architecture?

Serverless architecture is not new. It has been around since 2014, but it is only recently that it got famous.

Serverless architecture is basically the system of custom software development that leverages software developers to build and implement services without the need for existing infrastructure (physical servers).

The serverless architecture allows the developers to write code and push it easily. The cloud service provider allows them to run their services on its servers conveniently.

The biggest advantage is that it doesn’t matter how large the scale is. One can easily leverage the architecture to deploy large-scale systems with ultimate ease.

Just like any other technology, serverless architecture has advantages and disadvantages, which we will be discussing later in this article.

But first, let’s discuss how it works.

How Does It Work?

Every application built is hosted on a server. Servers enable developers to host their applications, but at the same time, servers require plenty of resources.

In conventional systems, teams are tasked to maintain the hardware and software of the servers and patch all the updates as well as take continuous or periodic backups. This all comes at a cost that the organizations have to bear.

But with the serverless technology, developers have the ease of just doing their side of work. The rest of the stuff is managed by a third-party services provider. It is a microservice where one can build their infrastructure utilizing multiple components.

Developers just have to write the code, and everything else falls under the responsibility of the vendor. This makes it easy to scale at all times.

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Firebase or AWS: Which One Should You Choose?

In the world of serverless architecture, there are two major players. These are Google Firebase and Amazon AWS (Amazon Web Services).

Let’s have a look at both in detail.

What is Google Firebase?

Firebase is a Google-backed serverless framework. It allows users to execute the backend code by giving a response to the triggered event against HTTPS requests and other Firebase features.

Google Firebase is essentially known as the real-time database.  It enables developers to build scalable and fast applications by allowing a safe and secure pathway from the client-side code to the database.

It offers multiple amazing features that make it the favorite backend development avenue for mobile and web applications of all kinds. The fact that it is simple to work with, easy to integrate, and known across the industry makes it a perfect choice.

So, now that you understand what Google Firebase is let’s learn a few of its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Google Firebase

• Quick Development: With Firebase, developers get a set of backend development services that expedites the development process and makes it quicker. Especially if you are working with an Android development company or require Android app development services, Firebase is a more suitable option.
• Easy Integration: The comprehensive support through the documentation, availability of the APIs, and easy-to-navigate UIs make it convenient to integrate with other platforms. Integration with Google’s own platforms and services is even easier.
• Database: The Firebase database is NoSQL and non-relational, which allows for safely storing the data and collections while enabling the scalability options without compromising on the performance.
• Cost-Effectiveness & Pricing: Firebase is generally considered a cost-effective platform that significantly reduces your expenses. It has multiple pricing models that you can choose as per your requirements. You can also get started for FREE.
• Community Support: The popularity of the platform in the development and IT communities is ever-growing, so even if you mess up with some issue that not even documentation can guide you about, community support will have you covered.

Disadvantages of Google Firebase

• Platform Dependent: The platform dependence is among the disadvantages of Google Firebase. It limits the use of the backend services. However, it is being improved with time.
• Data Migration: If you are looking to migrate your data from Firebase – you won’t be very pleased to know that it offers limited data migration options, but the situation is getting better with time.
• Query Handling: Although the performance of the platform is great, it often doesn’t keep up with the query handling capabilities, which is among its downsides.
• Limited iOS Support: Firebase is an amazing platform but has limited support for iOS. It can be easily integrated and used with Android systems, but with iOS, its limited support is often a deal-breaker.
• Real-time Sync Issues: Firebase is prone to real-time sync issues. This is because the data conflict may appear, forcing a screen adjustment for all the users.

What Is AWS?

Amazon Web Services or AWS is a modern cloud computing platform backed by Amazon itself. The platform offers multiple services and infrastructure support, including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and more.

It was first built to handle the online retail operations of the company, but later it was made available to the public. It offers space for storage, computing, and much more on a “pay-as-you-go” basis.

AWS offers multiple services that can be used as per the requirements. Amazon has its data centers in more than 190 locations around the globe, allowing it to provide cloud storage, management, and processing, making it the ultimate choice for the users.

AWS is older than Firebase and is considered a more mature service, having more support and depth. Most of its services are considered to be beginner-friendly, but there is a learning curve because of the services offered.

Let’s not delay it and have a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of AWS (Amazon Web Services).

Advantages of AWS

• Secure: AWS is known as the most secure platform that allows for impeccable cloud computing services. From data protection to infrastructure protection and compliance, it has all.
• Affordability: AWS is quite cost-effective, allowing for affordable development for and storage solutions. It goes head-to-head with Firebase and choosing it depends on various others factors, including the cost.
• Reliability: Amazon is the most reliable service provider in the domain and is known to cater to the needs of millions of clients around the globe. Many consider AWS a trustworthy service.
• Scalability: AWS is a highly scalable service, allowing for easy and convenient options. It even allocates the increased number of resources as per the changing requirements.
• Performance Intensive: When you use Amazon Web Services, you get ensured that you will get high performance. This is bound to improve your productivity. It features HPC or high-performance computing that delivers the speed and performance you are looking for.

Disadvantages of AWS

• Computing Issues: AWS has a few issues related to cloud computing. These issues are related to speed, downtime, limited control, backup protection, and more.
• Limitations: Amazon has some set limitations with respect to regions or availability zones. These resources vary and can be of different types and are generally termed EC2. One can always request additional resources or limit increase; it is considered a downside.
• Resource Usage: The availability of resources and their usage is a big downside of Amazon Web Services. When looking to hire professionals, it often gets tough to find and implement the solutions.
• Security-Related Limitations: Amazon has a few security-related limitations as well. These are normally known as EC2 Classic and EC2 VPC. They pertain to the number of instances per security group and the permissions.

In The Debate of AWS Vs Firebase, Which One Should You Choose?

When you have to choose between AWS and Firebase, you cannot just randomly decide.

It all boils down to some specific factors. This includes your preferences, budget at hand, needs, and customized requirements.

It all depends.

If you need a more seasoned service, AWS must be your choice.

Or, if you are looking for some swift and easy setup, Firebase is the answer for you.

Choosing the right service has multiple factors. Both AWS and Firebase have their merits and demerits, and once you know what you want, you can decide which one to choose.

So, skim through the pros and cons of both the options, put your requirements on the table, assess the situation, and decide what is more suitable for you.

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