Convex
Convex is a full-stack TypeScript backend with a realtime database. See 2026 pricing from free to $25/developer, new AI tooling, and alternatives.
About Convex
What is Convex (2026 update)
Convex is a full-stack TypeScript platform that pairs a realtime, transactional database with serverless functions, so developers can build reactive web and mobile apps without wiring together a separate database, API layer, and sync engine. Queries automatically update connected clients when underlying data changes, which removes a lot of manual state-syncing code from typical app backends.
What is new in 2026
In 2026 Convex launched Chef, an AI app builder aimed at full-stack engineering tasks, announced in September 2026, alongside a Convex MCP server that now supports the stateless MCP protocol from the 2026-07-28 specification, plus a new service token function to support an upcoming Convex AI gateway. The company also shipped public deployment APIs for continuous streaming data export in August 2026, launched Convex for Enterprise in April 2026 with dedicated infrastructure and compliance features, and closed a $57 million Series B led by Insight Partners in August 2026.
Key features
- Realtime, transactional database with automatic client updates when data changes
- Serverless TypeScript functions (queries, mutations, actions) instead of a separate API layer
- Built-in text search, vector search, cron jobs, authentication, and Node.js actions
- MCP server support for AI agent integration under the 2026-07-28 MCP specification
- Log streaming, exception reporting, and daily backups on paid plans
- Chef, an AI app builder for full-stack development tasks
- Local development with in-place backend upgrades independent of local data size
Pricing in 2026
Convex prices on a free tier with pay-as-you-go overages, a per-developer Professional tier, and a custom Business and Enterprise tier with a monthly minimum.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free & Starter | Free (pay-as-you-go beyond limits) | 1-6 developers, 0.5GB database storage, 1GB file storage, 1M function calls, 1GB data egress, text/vector search, crons, auth, Node.js actions |
| Professional | $25 per developer/month | 1-20 developers, 50GB database storage, 100GB file storage, 25M function calls, 50GB data egress, log streaming, exception reporting, daily backups, custom domains, email support |
| Business & Enterprise | $2,500/month minimum | 50+ developers, custom resource limits, dedicated deployments, SAML/SSO, service SLAs, fine-grained permissions, premium support |
Usage beyond included limits is billed per gigabyte or per million function calls, with rates decreasing on the Professional tier compared to the free tier. Convex also runs a startup program offering up to one year of free Professional access with reduced usage fees for qualifying companies.
Who should use it
Convex fits developers and small teams building realtime apps, such as collaborative tools or live dashboards, who want to avoid stitching together a database, WebSocket layer, and API separately. Its per-developer pricing on the Professional tier makes it straightforward to budget for small to mid-sized teams, and the Enterprise tier targets companies needing compliance features like SSO and SLAs. It is less suited to teams already committed to a specific SQL database or existing backend infrastructure who only need incremental realtime features, since adopting Convex generally means building the backend around its function and database model.
Limitations and alternatives
The Business and Enterprise tier’s $2,500 monthly minimum is a meaningful jump from Professional, so teams should confirm at what scale that minimum makes sense versus staying on Professional with usage-based overages. Convex’s data model and query language are specific to its platform, so migrating away later can require more rework than swapping between more standard SQL-based backends. For alternatives, Firebase and Supabase are commonly compared realtime backend platforms, with Supabase offering a Postgres-based approach if you prefer standard SQL, while PlanetScale or Neon are relevant if you want a realtime layer added on top of a traditional managed database instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Convex cost?
Convex has a free tier with pay-as-you-go overages, a Professional tier at $25 per developer per month, and a Business & Enterprise tier starting at a $2,500 monthly minimum.
What makes Convex different from a typical database?
Convex combines a realtime, transactional database with serverless TypeScript functions, so client apps automatically receive updates when underlying data changes without manual syncing code.
What new features did Convex add in 2026?
Convex launched Chef, an AI app builder, added stateless MCP protocol support to its MCP server, shipped continuous streaming data export APIs, and launched Convex for Enterprise with dedicated infrastructure and compliance features.
What are alternatives to Convex?
Firebase and Supabase are common realtime backend alternatives, with Supabase offering a Postgres-based approach, while PlanetScale or Neon suit teams wanting realtime features on top of a traditional managed database.
Information last verified: September 2026.
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