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Instant
Real-time database for your frontend with multiplayer by default
Modern Firebase alternative delivering a client-side real-time database with relational queries, automatic offline caching, optimistic updates, and built-in multiplayer support for React and JavaScript applications.
Overview
What is Instant?
Instant is a client-side real-time database that eliminates the complexity of modern app development. Instead of building servers, ORMs, endpoints, stores, and selectors, developers write relational queries directly in their frontend code using InstaQL—a GraphQL-inspired query language that fetches data in the shape you need.
Core Capabilities
Every query is multiplayer by default, updating instantly across all connected clients. Offline mode, optimistic updates, and automatic rollbacks work out of the box. The platform handles data fetching, permission checking via Google's CEL library, and persistence to IndexedDB (web) or AsyncStorage (React Native). Ephemeral updates like cursors and presence indicators are natively supported.
Architecture
Built on a triple-store model backed by Postgres, Instant uses a Clojure-powered sync server with a custom datalog/InstaQL query engine. Inspired by Asana's WorldStore and Figma's LiveGraph, it tails Postgres WAL for real-time invalidation. A multi-tenant architecture enables a generous free tier.
Who Should Use It
Ideal for teams building collaborative tools, real-time dashboards, chat applications, or any product requiring instant synchronization without backend complexity. SDKs available for JavaScript, React, and React Native.
Highlights
Relational queries with InstaQL that return data in the exact shape you need
Multiplayer by default—every query syncs in real-time across all clients
Automatic offline support with optimistic updates and rollback handling
Built-in permission system powered by Google's CEL for secure data access
Pros
- Eliminates need for custom backend endpoints, stores, and selectors
- Real-time multiplayer functionality works out of the box without stateful servers
- Automatic offline caching and optimistic updates reduce boilerplate significantly
- Multi-tenant Postgres architecture offers a free tier that never pauses
Considerations
- Limited to JavaScript, React, and React Native ecosystems currently
- Reliance on hosted service may not suit teams requiring full self-hosting control
- Triple-store model and InstaQL require learning curve for developers unfamiliar with datalog concepts
- Newer project with smaller community compared to established Firebase alternatives
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Instant, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Fit guide
Great for
- Building collaborative tools, real-time dashboards, or multiplayer applications rapidly
- Teams wanting to skip backend infrastructure and focus on frontend UX
- Projects requiring offline-first functionality with automatic conflict resolution
- Prototyping and MVPs that need real-time features without complex setup
Not ideal when
- Applications requiring complex server-side business logic or batch processing
- Teams needing native mobile SDKs beyond React Native (iOS/Android)
- Projects with strict data residency or full on-premise deployment requirements
- Use cases demanding extensive customization of the underlying database layer
How teams use it
Real-Time Chat Application
Build a fully functional multiplayer chat with offline support and optimistic updates in under 15 lines of code
Collaborative Document Editor
Enable multiple users to edit documents simultaneously with live cursors and presence indicators without managing WebSocket infrastructure
Live Dashboard for Analytics
Display real-time metrics that update instantly across all viewer sessions without polling or custom backend endpoints
Offline-First Mobile App
Create React Native apps that work seamlessly offline with automatic sync and conflict resolution when connectivity returns
Tech snapshot
Clojure49%
TypeScript41%
JavaScript8%
HTML1%
PLpgSQL1%
Shell1%
Frequently asked questions
How does Instant differ from Firebase?
Instant provides a relational query model with InstaQL instead of Firebase's document-based approach, and every query is multiplayer by default. It also handles optimistic updates and rollbacks automatically without additional code.
What is InstaQL?
InstaQL is a relational query language inspired by GraphQL that lets you fetch data in the exact shape you need. You write queries as nested objects, and Instant handles joins, permissions, and real-time updates.
Does Instant support self-hosting?
The project is open source under Apache-2.0 license. While the easiest path is the hosted service at instantdb.com, the codebase is available for inspection and potential self-deployment.
How does offline mode work?
Instant automatically caches queries to IndexedDB (web) or AsyncStorage (React Native). When offline, writes are queued and optimistically applied. When reconnected, transactions sync and conflicts are resolved with automatic rollback if needed.
What platforms and frameworks are supported?
Instant currently provides SDKs for JavaScript, React, and React Native. The client-side architecture is designed for frontend frameworks, with plans to expand language support over time.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 9,640
- Watchers
- 9,640
- Forks
- 321
LicenseApache-2.0
Repo age1 year old
Last commit4 days ago
Primary languageClojure
Last synced 2 days ago