Firebase Storage Alternatives for Jetpack Compose
A friendly guide to choosing storage backends for modern Compose apps — open-source, scalable, and cost-aware options for 2025.
Why look beyond Firebase Storage?
Firebase Storage is fast to adopt and integrates nicely with other Firebase services. But as apps grow, you may run into limits or preferences that push you toward alternatives: pricing surprises, vendor lock-in, regional compliance, or the desire for a self-hosted stack. Below are options that fit different priorities.
Top alternatives
1. Supabase Storage Open-source
Best for: Developers who like Firebase's ergonomics but want SQL and an open backend.
Supabase provides a PostgreSQL-backed backend with a storage module that supports public/private buckets, auth integration, and a REST/SDK-based API surface. It feels natural for Android projects that use modern Kotlin stacks.
// Supabase Kotlin (illustrative)
val client = createSupabaseClient("https://project.supabase.co", "public-anon-key")
val filePath = "avatars/user123.png"
client.storage.from("avatars").upload(filePath, fileInputStream)
2. Appwrite Sef-hosted
Best for: Teams that want a full open-source backend (storage, auth, database, functions) they can run themselves.
Appwrite ships as Docker containers and has a Kotlin/Android SDK that keeps your logic in Kotlin instead of splitting responsibilities across another platform.
// Appwrite Kotlin (illustrative)
val client = Client(context)
.setEndpoint("https://cloud.appwrite.io/v1")
.setProject("projectId")
.setKey("apiKey")
val storage = Storage(client)
storage.createFile("bucketId", "unique()", fileInput)
3. AWS S3 (with Amplify) Enterprise
Best for: Projects that need global scale, high durability, and deep integration with other AWS services.
Amazon S3 is the gold standard for object storage. Pair it with AWS Amplify and Cognito for easier Android integration, or use the AWS SDK directly for fine-grained control.
// Amplify Kotlin upload example
Amplify.Storage.uploadFile(
"profile.jpg",
File("/path/to/image.jpg"),
{ Log.i("Upload", "Success: ${it.key}") },
{ Log.e("Upload", "Failed", it) }
)
4. Cloudinary Media-focused
Best for: Apps that heavily rely on images and videos and want automatic transformations, optimization and delivery.
Cloudinary shines when you want on-the-fly resizing, compression, and URL-based transformations. It pairs well with image-loading libraries (Coil/Glide) in Compose.
// Example: use transformed URL in AsyncImage
<!-- In Compose use Coil/AsyncImage to load optimized URL -->
model = "https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/image/upload/w_300,h_300,c_fill/sample.jpg"
5. Backblaze B2 Cost-effective
Best for: Indie developers and projects where storage cost per GB is the main concern.
Backblaze B2 is S3-compatible and often significantly cheaper than the major clouds. You can use existing S3 tooling and SDKs to connect from Android.
Quick comparison
| Service | Open Source | Free Tier | Ideal Use Case | Ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase | ✅ | ✅ | General backend + storage | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Appwrite | ✅ | ✅ | Self-hosted full-stack | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| AWS S3 | ❌ | ✅ | Enterprise-grade apps | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Cloudinary | ❌ | ✅ | Media-heavy apps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Backblaze B2 | ❌ | ✅ | Cost-sensitive storage | ⭐⭐⭐ |
How to choose
Consider these criteria when picking storage for your Jetpack Compose app:
- Open-source or managed: Do you want to self-host or use a managed provider?
- Media features: Need transformations, compression, or streaming?
- Scale & performance: Will you serve global traffic or large files?
- Cost & region: Are low per-GB costs or regional compliance requirements important?
For quick prototypes, Supabase provides the fastest path. For long-term, large-scale products, weigh AWS S3 or Cloudinary depending on your media needs.
FAQs
Which is the best Firebase Storage alternative for beginners?Supabase is the easiest alternative to start with. It provides a familiar API, free tier, and smooth integration with Kotlin-based Compose apps.
Is Appwrite better than Firebase?It depends on your needs. Appwrite gives full control and privacy because it’s self-hosted, while Firebase is more plug-and-play but limited to Google’s infrastructure.
Can I use AWS S3 directly with Jetpack Compose?Yes. With AWS Amplify or the AWS SDK, you can upload, list, and download files directly from Compose apps. It’s great for enterprise-level scaling.
Does Cloudinary offer a free plan?Yes. Cloudinary has a generous free plan that includes image uploads, transformations, and delivery—perfect for developers experimenting with media apps.
Which option is most cost-effective for small apps?Backblaze B2 provides the lowest storage rates, making it ideal for small projects or indie developers managing tight budgets.
Can I migrate from Firebase Storage to these alternatives easily?Yes. Most platforms provide APIs or CLI tools to batch-transfer files. You can use scripts to migrate data from Firebase to S3, Supabase, or Backblaze seamlessly.
Do these services integrate with Firebase Authentication?Supabase and Appwrite include their own authentication modules, while AWS and Cloudinary can integrate with Firebase Auth using custom tokens or API keys.
Final thoughts
Firebase Storage remains a strong, easy-to-use option — but depending on your priorities, alternatives like Supabase, Appwrite, Cloudinary, AWS S3, or Backblaze B2 might serve you better. Jetpack Compose is flexible: pick the backend that matches your product goals, not the default one.
