Convex convex.dev

Can AI replace Convex?

Do not mistake the interface for the product. Convex's durable value is infrastructure, uptime, operations, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.

Verdict: Nah · Keep paying, or use a free alternativeBuild time: not a true replacement; consolation build in one to two days
Nah

01What it costs

Price variesProfessional, usage

Checked Aug 14, 2026 · source: convex.dev.

PlanMonthlyBilled yearlyWhat you get
FreeFreeFree1-6 developers; 40 deployments; 0.5 GB database; 1 GB database I/O/month; 1M function calls/month; 20 action GB-hours; 1 GB files and 1 GB egress.
StarterFree—Same free included quotas and 1-6 developers/40 deployments, then pay as you go above them.
Professional$25—1-20 developers; 300 deployments; 25M function calls; 250 action GB-hours; 50 GB database storage and I/O; 100 GB files; 50 GB egress.
Business / Enterprise$2,500—$2,500 monthly minimum with custom included allocations and dedicated terms.

Hidden costs: Overages meter each resource separately. Starter rates include $2.20/M calls, $0.33/action-GB-hour, $0.22/GB database storage, $0.033/GB files and $0.132/GB egress; Professional rates are lower. EU-region usage is priced at 1.3x US.

02Could AI build it for you?

The core job: Build a single-server deployment panel for one user that accepts a repository, builds a container, deploys it, shows logs, and supports rollback.

What a working version needs:

  • Linux VPS
  • Docker
  • DNS control
  • Explicit README warning that this is a consolation build, not a production replacement

Credibility row: Convex survives for a structural reason, not because its interface is difficult to copy.

03What you'd give up

  • 24-hour operations and support
  • managed global infrastructure
  • multi-region failover
  • DDoS protection and compliance

Convex: Managed hosting sells a failure domain, on-call team, network, backups, and capacity planning, not merely a deploy button.

04Free and cheaper alternatives

Appwriteopen-source

Auth, database, storage, realtime, and functions behind one polished console; the Compose file is doing a lot.

Versus paying: Appwrite supplies the backend pieces but not Convex's end-to-end reactive TypeScript query model, automatic dependency tracking, transactional functions, or client cache semantics.

appwrite.io →
Convex Self-Hostedfree

The actual Convex backend and reactive function runtime on your own server; auth still comes from an external provider.

Versus paying: This is Convex's actual runtime, but the subscription savings remove managed scaling, backups, monitoring, upgrades, incident response, and integrated authentication from the package.

convex.dev →
Nhostopen-source

Postgres plus GraphQL, auth, storage, functions, and realtime; closer to Firebase than most Firebase alternatives.

Versus paying: Nhost's PostgreSQL-and-GraphQL model is conventional and powerful, but it does not reproduce Convex's reactive functions, automatic cache invalidation, or unified TypeScript data model.

nhost.io →
Supabaseopen-source

Database, functions, realtime, files, and auth in one self-hosted stack; SQL replaces Convex's document model.

Versus paying: Supabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.

supabase.com →

05The build prompt

Paste this into an AI coding tool (such as Claude, ChatGPT, Lovable or Replit) to build your own version. Read the verdict first: this one is hard to get right.

prompt.txt
Build the closest honest consolation tool inspired by Convex; do not claim to replace its structural moat.
Use exactly this stack: Go 1.24 + Docker + SQLite.
Primary job: Build a single-server deployment panel for one user that accepts a repository, builds a container, deploys it, shows logs, and supports rollback.
Start from an empty folder and create the complete working project.
Make the default mode single-user and private.
Store user data locally unless the core job requires the declared self-hosted database.
Do not add analytics, telemetry, ads, or third-party accounts.
Put every secret and external credential in .env and provide .env.example.
Use realistic sample data that is clearly labelled and easy to delete.
Implement the smallest polished interface that completes the core loop end to end.
Include clear empty, loading, validation, success, and failure states.
Add import and export so the user is not trapped in the app.
Use accessible keyboard navigation, labels, focus states, and sensible contrast.
Validate untrusted input and never log secrets or private file contents.
Deliberately exclude these paid-product advantages: 24-hour operations and support; managed global infrastructure; multi-region failover.
Do not fake integrations, network effects, proprietary data, model quality, compliance, or security claims.
Where an external API is optional, keep the app useful without it and explain the degraded mode.
Write focused unit tests for the data model and the most important workflow.
Add one end-to-end smoke test that proves the core loop works.
Create a README with setup, permissions, architecture, data location, backup, and limitations.
Add scripts for install, development, test, build, and a production-style local run.
Run the tests and build before finishing, then fix errors rather than merely describing them.

06Open-source starting points

  • Coolify: Self-hosted application deployment and infrastructure control plane.
  • Dokku: Open-source platform-as-a-service toolkit for a single server.
Sponsor slot · openFeatured alternative to Convex. A labeled card for one relevant tool.
Book this spot →

App prices, verdicts, alternatives and build prompts are adapted from Can I Vibecode It? (MIT License, © 2026 Rob Hallam). Each price shows the date it was checked and its source. Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you decide.