Appwrite vs Centrali — which backend should you choose?
Both are great — but they solve different problems. Here's how they compare.
Centrali
Centrali is an application backend where your integrations, data, and workflows live in one API. Inbound webhooks land in queryable collections, functions react to changes, and outbound subscriptions deliver with HMAC signing — with search, file storage, and a TypeScript SDK built in.
Appwrite
Appwrite is an open-source backend-as-a-service platform. It offers authentication, databases, storage, and cloud functions with a focus on simplicity and self-hosting.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Centrali | Appwrite |
|---|---|---|
| Workspaces & Isolation | Built-in Workspaces, roles, and data isolation are first-class features | Project-level Projects provide isolation but no built-in workspace/team model |
| Background Jobs | Built-in Event-driven, scheduled, and HTTP-triggered functions with retries | Not available Cloud functions exist but no job queue or scheduling system |
| Full-Text Search | Built-in Automatic indexing with Meilisearch, no setup required | Not available Basic database queries only, no full-text search |
| AI Features | Comprehensive Schema generation, natural language search, data validation | Not available No built-in AI features |
| Data Modeling | Flexible Strict, schemaless, or auto-evolving schema modes with relations | Document-based Document collections with basic attribute types |
| Serverless Functions | JavaScript Sandboxed Deno runtime with built-in API access | Multiple languages Node.js, Python, PHP, Ruby, Dart, and more |
| Real-Time Updates | SSE Server-Sent Events with filtering and automatic reconnection | WebSocket Realtime subscriptions on documents and collections |
| Authentication | BYOT Works with any auth provider — Clerk, Auth0, Okta, or custom JWT | Built-in Email/password, OAuth, phone, magic links, and anonymous auth |
| Self-Hosting | Docker/K8s Docker Compose for dev, Kubernetes with Helm for production | Docker Single Docker command for self-hosting, strong self-host story |
| Pricing Model | Usage-based Pay for what you use, no per-seat fees | Free + Pro Free self-hosted, Pro cloud plan with usage limits |
Which should you choose?
Choose Centrali if you...
- Prefer one API for integrations, data, search, and functions — instead of stitching 3–5 services together
- Ingesting webhooks (Stripe, GitHub, etc.) into queryable collections
- Firing outbound webhooks with HMAC signing, retries, and delivery tracking
- Need background jobs, scheduling, and event-driven functions
- Want flexible auth — bring your own provider (Clerk, Auth0)
Choose Appwrite if you...
- Want a self-hosted, open-source backend
- Need built-in authentication with email/password and OAuth
- Building simple apps without complex backend logic
- Prefer managing your own infrastructure
Migrating from Appwrite
Export your Appwrite collections as JSON
Create Centrali structures matching your document schemas
Import data using Centrali's bulk import API
Convert Appwrite functions to Centrali functions with event triggers
Update your frontend to use the Centrali SDK
Ready to try Centrali?
Start building with a unified backend. No credit card required.