head to head · open source
PocketBase vs OpnForm
PocketBase has 61,070 GitHub stars, 3,688 forks, 19 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. OpnForm has 3,711 stars, 543 forks, 22 open issues and last shipped 3 days ago. PocketBase leads on adoption by 1,546% (61,070 vs 3,711 stars). PocketBase is written in Go under MIT; OpnForm is written in PHP under a custom or non-standard licence. PocketBase has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, OpnForm 15%. PocketBase was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| PocketBase | OpnForm | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 61K | ★ 3.7K |
| License | MIT | Custom / other |
| Written in | Go | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-09-16 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.7K | ⑂ 543 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick PocketBase if
- You weight community size — 61K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Go
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick OpnForm if
- You want the OpnForm feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches PHP
- You evaluated both and OpnForm fits your workflow better
About PocketBase
PocketBase is an open source backend framework written in Go that bundles a SQLite database, authentication, file storage, admin dashboard, and REST API into a single executable file. It lives in the Go ecosystem and targets developers who want a lightweight, self contained backend without managing separate services like PostgreSQL, Redis, or a separate auth server.
read the full PocketBase overview →
About OpnForm
OpnForm is an open source form builder for the PHP, Laravel, and Nuxt ecosystem. It gives users a no code interface for creating forms, collecting submissions, and connecting form data to common team and automation tools. The core application is licensed under AGPLv3, while enterprise features under api/app/Enterprise use a proprietary license.
read the full OpnForm overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is PocketBase or OpnForm more popular?
PocketBase has 61,070 GitHub stars and OpnForm has 3,711. PocketBase has the larger community by that measure.
Are PocketBase and OpnForm free?
Both are open source. PocketBase is licensed under MIT, and OpnForm has no licence declared in this registry. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between PocketBase and OpnForm?
PocketBase is written in Go and OpnForm in PHP. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, PocketBase or OpnForm?
Choose PocketBase if you want the larger community (61,070 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose OpnForm if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.