Pocketbase
Open-source backend in a single file — a European alternative to Firebase.
Overview
Pocketbase is a Sofia, Bulgaria-based European company building developer tools and open source software since 2022. As an EU-headquartered provider, Pocketbase operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers for European teams.
Why European teams pick Pocketbase
Teams in Europe pick Pocketbase when they want a developer tools provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Bulgaria law, operating since 2022. Compared with GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers, Pocketbase avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
See more EU developer tools tools or browse other startups from Bulgaria.
About
Pocketbase is a Go-based open-source backend-as-a-service that ships as a single executable binary — no Docker, no external database, no configuration. It provides an embedded SQLite database, real-time subscriptions, file storage, authentication (email/password, OAuth2, OTP), and an extendable Go API — all in one binary that runs on a €5/month EU VPS. Because it runs as a single binary on your own server, all data stays on your EU infrastructure with no third-party involvement. It is the most popular self-hosted Firebase alternative among EU indie developers and solo founders building side projects and MVPs.
Details
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Sofia, Bulgaria
Categories
Other EU startups like Pocketbase
- FjordIDNorway — Managed OIDC/OAuth2 identity platform hosted on Hetzner in Germany. Drop-in Auth0 replacement with EU data residency and zero US subprocessors.
- RailwayUnited Kingdom — Instant deployment infrastructure for developers — popular across European teams.
- LiveblocksFrance — APIs for adding collaborative real-time features to your app — a French alternative to Firebase Realtime.
- NocoDBGermany — Open-source Airtable alternative that turns databases into smart spreadsheets.
- BaserowNetherlands — Open-source no-code database and Airtable alternative — built in the Netherlands.
- PortainerNew Zealand — Container management UI for Docker and Kubernetes — a New Zealand/European alternative to Rancher.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pocketbase?
Pocketbase is a Go-based open-source backend-as-a-service that ships as a single executable binary — no Docker, no external database, no configuration. It provides an embedded SQLite database, real-time subscriptions, file storage, authentication (email/password, OAuth2, OTP), and an extendable Go API — all in one binary that runs on a €5/month EU VPS. Because it runs as a single binary on your own server, all data stays on your EU infrastructure with no third-party involvement. It is the most popular self-hosted Firebase alternative among EU indie developers and solo founders building side projects and MVPs.
What does Pocketbase do?
Pocketbase is open-source backend in a single file — a european alternative to firebase. It is listed under developer tools and open source on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European developer tools tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers.
Is Pocketbase a good European developer tools alternative?
Pocketbase is a fit for European businesses evaluating developer tools options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with open source use cases.
Is Pocketbase GDPR compliant?
Pocketbase is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Pocketbase to disclose customer data the way they can with GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from GitHub to Pocketbase?
Most teams move to Pocketbase from GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers because they want EU data residency without giving up the core developer tools workflow. Pocketbase's Bulgaria base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Pocketbase with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is Pocketbase based?
Pocketbase is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria. The company was founded in 2022. Its main website is https://pocketbase.io.