PocketBase vs Notion
Open-source backend in a single Go binary
vs. All-in-one workspace — docs, wikis, databases, projects, AI
Pricing tiers
PocketBase
Self-Hosted
MIT-licensed single binary. Run on any VPS / Docker / bare metal. No usage caps — only limited by your server.
$0 base (usage-based)
Notion
Free
$0. Unlimited blocks for personal use, 5MB file uploads, 7-day version history. Max 10 collaborators.
Free
Notion AI (add-on)
$8/user/mo. Add AI to Plus. Free on Business and above.
$8/mo
Plus
$10/user/mo annual ($12/mo). Unlimited blocks for teams, unlimited file uploads, 30-day history.
$10/mo
Business
$15/user/mo annual ($18/mo). SAML SSO, private teamspaces, bulk export, 90-day history, Notion AI included.
$15/mo
Enterprise
$25/user/mo (est). SCIM, audit log, unlimited history, dedicated success manager.
$25/mo
Free-tier quotas head-to-head
Comparing self-hosted on PocketBase vs free on Notion.
| Metric | PocketBase | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| No overlapping quota metrics for these tiers. | ||
Features
PocketBase · 12 features
- Access Rules — Record-level access rules (filter expressions) referencing @request and @collect…
- Admin Dashboard — Built-in web UI for schema + data management.
- Auth — Email+password, OAuth2 (Google, GitHub, Facebook, Apple, Discord, Microsoft, etc…
- Backups — Built-in backup/restore with S3 upload option.
- Built-in Mailer — SMTP integration for verification, password reset, magic link emails.
- Collections — Schema-defined record types with fields, validations, and record/admin/auth acce…
- Embedded JS Engine — JavaScript VM (goja) lets you write hooks in JS without recompiling.
- Extend as Go Library — Embed PocketBase in a larger Go app, add custom routes and events.
- File Storage — Local filesystem or S3-compatible storage with access rules.
- Hooks — Server-side Go or JavaScript hooks that run on CRUD events (OnRecordBeforeCreate…
- Migrations — JS/Go migration scripts applied on startup.
- Realtime Subscriptions — SSE-based subscriptions to collection changes.
Notion · 16 features
- Databases — Relational data with views.
- Database Views — Table, board, gallery, calendar, timeline, list.
- Desktop Apps — Native Mac + Windows.
- Docs — Wiki + docs with rich editor.
- Formulas 2.0 — JS-like expressions.
- Granular Permissions — Per-page + teamspace ACLs.
- iOS + Android Apps — Native mobile.
- Notion AI — AI assist for writing + Q&A.
- Notion Calendar — Native calendar (ex-Cron).
- Notion Mail — Email client integrated.
- Relations + Rollups — Cross-DB linking + aggregations.
- REST API — Integrations + automations.
- Sync Databases — Pull external sources.
- Teamspaces — Isolated areas per team.
- Template Gallery — 10,000+ community templates.
- Widgets + Embeds — Third-party embeds.
Developer interfaces
| Kind | PocketBase | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| SDK | Go API (extend as library), pocketbase (Dart), pocketbase (JS SDK) | @notionhq/client |
| REST | REST API | Notion REST API |
| MCP | — | Notion MCP (official) |
| OTHER | Admin Dashboard, Realtime SSE | Notion AI, Notion Apps, OAuth 2.0 (public) |
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