Tool review
Tool review: Supabase as a lead database for small hotels
We use Supabase to store guest enquiries for our hotel clients. What it does well, where it falls short, and who should use it.
Upesh Bishwakarma · · 1 min read
Verdict: a great fit for storing website enquiries, as long as someone technical sets it up once.
Supabase is a hosted Postgres database with a friendly dashboard, built-in authentication and an API you can call straight from a website. We use it as the place every guest enquiry lands before it reaches the front desk.
What we like
- It's a real database. Postgres has been around for decades. Your data is in a standard format you can export at any time, so you're never locked in.
- Row Level Security. We can let the public website add a lead without letting anyone read the list. That one rule keeps guest phone numbers private.
- The table editor. Owners can open the dashboard and see their leads like a spreadsheet, without learning SQL.
- Generous free tier. A small hotel's enquiries fit comfortably inside it.
What to watch out for
- Free projects pause when idle. On the free plan, a project with no activity for a while can be paused. A live hotel website gets enough traffic that this is rarely a problem, but keep an eye on it.
- Limited free projects. Each account gets a small number of active free projects, so agencies managing many properties will need a paid plan.
- Set-up needs care. Getting security rules right matters. Leave it to whoever builds your site, and ask them to show you the rules.
Who it's for
| Property | Use Supabase? |
|---|---|
| Homestay, a few rooms, enquiries by WhatsApp only | Not yet. A shared sheet is enough. |
| Small hotel with a website form | Yes, ideal. |
| Group of hotels | Yes, one project per property or group, on a paid plan. |
Our setup
Website form → Supabase leads table → front-desk sheet. Staff tick a box after calling. Simple, private and easy to hand over.