Where it fits
Firebase combines backend and application-development services on Google Cloud. Databases, authentication, storage and hosting can support a web or mobile app without a custom server for every feature. Original Hosting and App Hosting serve different deployment needs.
How pricing works
The Spark and Blaze arrangements have different usage and billing behaviour. On Blaze, charges depend on the products used, including databases, hosting, storage and underlying Google Cloud services. A free allowance for one product is not a spending cap for the entire application.
Choosing a setup
Firebase fits teams that want an integrated backend with client SDKs and managed hosting. Choose the database model and access rules before building around its APIs. Supabase provides a Postgres-based alternative, while Google Cloud offers more direct infrastructure choices.
