Convex vs Supabase
A detailed comparison of backend architectures and why we chose Convex for this project
Why Convex for The Turning Point Home?
Understanding the architectural choice for our donor management system
💡 The Key Insight
Supabase/SQL gives you a database and expects you to build everything else.
Convex gives you a complete backend where the database, API, and real-time sync are one unified system.
Supabase / SQL
Traditional approach
Mental Model:
"I have a PostgreSQL database. I write SQL queries. I build APIs on top. I add real-time as a feature."
You manage:
- ⚠️Database schema (SQL migrations)
- ⚠️API layer (Edge Functions or external)
- ⚠️Real-time subscriptions (separate config)
- ⚠️Row-level security (SQL policies)
- ⚠️Type generation (separate tooling)
Best for:
Teams with SQL expertise who want direct database access and maximum flexibility in how they build their API layer.
Convex
Our choice
Mental Model:
"I write TypeScript functions. They read and write data. The UI subscribes to queries. Everything syncs automatically."
You write:
- ✓Schema (TypeScript, validated automatically)
- ✓Queries (read functions, auto-subscribed)
- ✓Mutations (write functions, transactional)
- ✓Actions (external API calls, webhooks)
Best for:
Teams building collaborative apps where real-time sync and TypeScript-first development are priorities.
Why Convex for The Turning Point Home?
30 Staff Users
When Sarah sends a thank-you, John sees it disappear from his list instantly. No refresh, no conflicts.
Event Aggregation
Butterfly Banquet ticket + auction = total donation. Calculated atomically, never inconsistent.
Usage-Based Pricing
Pay for what you use, not per-seat. Better economics as the organization grows.