Choosing the Right Backend Solution for a College Event Website: Supabase vs. MongoDB + Render + Hono

Planning a dynamic website for a college festival presents unique challenges, especially when aiming for reliability, ease of use, and scalability—all within a limited or zero budget. Recently, I faced this exact dilemma while developing our college fest portal, which caters to approximately 2,000 users. After thorough research and previous experience, I weighed two popular backend options: an all-in-one platform like Supabase and a more customizable stack comprising MongoDB Atlas, Render, and Hono. Here’s a breakdown of each approach, their advantages, and considerations to help guide your decision.

Evaluating the Two Options

Option 1: Supabase – The All-In-One Solution

• Ease of Setup: Quick to get started with built-in authentication via Google, reducing development time.
• Database: Relational PostgreSQL with auto-generated APIs and real-time capabilities.
• Free Tier Offerings: Up to 50,000 monthly users, 500MB database storage, 5GB outbound bandwidth, and 1GB media storage.
• User Experience: Minimal backend maintenance needed; focus can stay on developing engaging UI/UX.
• Pros:
• Seamless integration and minimal configuration.
• Less operational overhead – ideal for small teams or quick deployments.
• Consistent and predictable performance.
• Cons:
• Bandwidth limitations may become restrictive if there are unexpected spikes.
• Less flexibility for complex or highly customized backend logic.

Option 2: MongoDB Atlas, Render, and Hono – The Custom-Flex Approach

• Proven Track Record: Utilized successfully last year, offering familiarity and reliability.
• Bandwidth: Significantly higher—up to 40GB outbound per month—reducing concerns over quota exhaustion.
• Data Model: NoSQL with flexible nested data structures, ideal for evolving project requirements.
• Backend Control: Full flexibility to define endpoints, permissions, and integrations, using Hono to craft custom APIs.
• Hosting: Render provides deployment, with the option to manage authentication via NextAuth, JWT, etc.
• Challenges:
• Requires managing keep-alive or scheduled tasks to prevent slow startup delays (“cold starts”).
• More manual setup and ongoing configuration.
• Increased responsibility for maintaining the backend environment.

Deciding Factors and Personal Reflection

**Why I Prefer Sup