OAuth vs Appwrite

The security dance everyone hates but can't live without meets open-source firebase alternative that actually lets you self-host without selling your soul to a cloud provider. Here's our take.

OAuth

Nice Pick

The security dance everyone hates but can't live without. Delegating access without sharing passwords, because trust is a token.

Pros

• Eliminates password sharing for third-party apps
• Standardized across major platforms like Google and Facebook
• Granular scopes for fine-grained access control

Cons

• Implementation complexity leads to frequent security flaws
• Token management can be a debugging nightmare

Appwrite

Open-source Firebase alternative that actually lets you self-host without selling your soul to a cloud provider.

Pros

• Fully open-source with self-hosting on Docker for complete control
• Built-in authentication, databases, storage, and real-time features in one package
• RESTful and GraphQL APIs with auto-generated SDKs for multiple languages
• No vendor lock-in—migrate away anytime without rewriting your app

Cons

• Self-hosting requires DevOps skills and ongoing maintenance
• Less polished UI and documentation compared to commercial giants like Firebase
• Community support can be slower than paid enterprise options

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. OAuth is a authentication while Appwrite is a hosting & deployment. We picked OAuth based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

OAuth wins

Based on overall popularity. OAuth is more widely used, but Appwrite excels in its own space.