Choosing your database adapter: Supabase vs Drizzle vs Prisma vs PostgreSQL

Supabase

Choose Supabase when you want hosted Postgres with auth-adjacent features, RLS-ready workflows, and optional realtime for dashboards. Great when your team already lives in the Supabase console.

Drizzle

Choose Drizzle when you want TypeScript-first schemas, fast iteration, and serverless-friendly drivers. Fits teams that prefer SQL-like clarity with minimal magic.

Prisma

Choose Prisma when migrations, Prisma Studio, and a large ecosystem matter. Common when multiple developers touch the schema weekly.

Raw PostgreSQL

Choose raw postgres.js when you want the fewest dependencies between your queries and the wire—often paired with custom SQL modules and tight performance control.

SQLite

Portfolio and demo paths may default to SQLite—upgrade when you outgrow single-file constraints.

Simulacrum’s angle

The same template generates against any supported adapter so vertical features stay consistent—only the data layer implementation changes. Toggle in simulacrum.config.ts, then run the adapter’s migration command (see the database adapters guide).