Choosing the Right Database: Lessons from Building ReplyFabric

When I started ReplyFabric, I picked Supabase. It was perfect for speed — fast setup, great docs, and zero friction. For a solo founder, that meant I could build fast, test features, and move forward. But once I started aiming for ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR compliance, I realized something: even if your product is great, your platform needs to be great and certified too.

That’s when the database question got serious.

From speed to trust

Supabase was a fantastic starting point. But when I looked at certifications, enterprise scalability, and data protection, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure were clearly more robust options. Supabase is improving fast, but for a SaaS platform like ReplyFabric — handling customer emails, attachments, and personal data — compliance isn’t optional. It’s foundational.

Multi-cloud strategy: trials vs. production

The solution? I decided to separate environments:

• Trials on Azure — fast, scalable, and cost-efficient. Perfect for experimentation and onboarding.
• Production on Google Cloud PostgreSQL — stable, high-performance, and built for long-term reliability.

It’s a balance between flexibility and focus. Trials can grow fast and unpredictable. Paid customers, on the other hand, deserve guaranteed performance and uptime. By isolating both, I make sure new users don’t affect the experience of loyal ones.

Avoiding vendor lock-in

Some people fear multi-cloud complexity. I see it differently. Each platform has strengths — and keeping ReplyFabric modular lets us switch when needed. All components, from the database to AI models, can move with just a few clicks. That’s how you stay prepared for the day providers start charging more for inference or storage.

Why usability matters — even in architecture

One thing I’ve learned: usability isn’t just for the product. It’s for the builder too. I feel most at home in Google’s ecosystem — the UI, the workflow, the integrations. It makes me productive and confident. And that’s a good reminder: the right tools are the ones that make you want to build.

Making customers feel at home

That same idea shapes ReplyFabric. Just as I want my development tools to feel intuitive and reliable, I want customers to feel that same sense of ease when they start using ReplyFabric. From onboarding to automation, it should feel natural — like the system already understands how you work.

In the end, database architecture is more than a technical decision. It’s a reflection of your mindset. For me, it’s about balance: performance for customers, flexibility for the future, and simplicity for the founder. Because when everything just works — from backend to inbox — that’s when people feel at home.