Self-hosted Supabase: Envoy becomes the default API gateway (breaking change)

What's Changing?#

The week of Aug 9, 2026, the default self-hosted Supabase API gateway will change from Kong to Envoy. Envoy has shipped as an optional override (docker-compose.envoy.yml) for the last several releases; it now becomes the default in docker-compose.yml, and Kong moves to an optional override.

This is a breaking change for a subset of self-hosters (see below) - most notably anyone relying on Kong's built-in HTTPS listener, a customized kong.yml, or tooling that references the gateway by service/container name.

• The gateway service in docker-compose.yml becomes api-gw, running Envoy (container supabase-envoy). It keeps kong as a network alias for backward compatibility.
• Kong is now opt-in via a new docker-compose.kong.yml override: sh run.sh config add kong.
• The gateway HTTP port is now configured with API_GW_HTTP_PORT (defaulting to the existing KONG_HTTP_PORT, then 8000), so existing .env files keep working.
• The default gateway listens on plain HTTP only (port 8000). Kong's built-in HTTPS listener on 8443 is not part of the Envoy default. Terminate TLS with the shipped docker-compose.caddy.yml or docker-compose.nginx.yml overrides, or opt back into Kong.
• docker-compose.envoy.yml becomes a no-op shim for one release cycle so existing overrides don't break, then is removed.

Why?#

• Kong's open-source line has effectively stopped advancing. The OSS Kong we currently ship (kong:3.9.1) is roughly a year old; subsequent 3.9.x releases have been security/nginx backports only, with no feature cadence, and Kong removed free (unlicensed) mode in 3.10. Continuing on the frozen OSS Kong line carries growing security and compliance risk for self-hosters.
• One gateway, config-as-code. Envoy's routing, filters, and access control live in versioned YAML under volumes/api/envoy/, with no plugin runtime to manage.
• First-class support for the new API keys. The Envoy configuration translates opaque sb_publishable_* / sb_secret_* keys into internal JWTs. See New API Keys and Asymmetric Authentication.
• Hardened defaults. Path normalization, header-smuggling rejection, edge-proxy client-IP handling, and a locked-down admin interface. See the Envoy API Gateway guide.
• Consistency. Aligns the self-hosted default with the direction of the wider Supabase stack.

Am I Affected?#

You are affected if you run self-hosted Supabase from the ./docker directory and pull updates from master, and any of the following apply:

• You rely on Kong's built-in :8443 HTTPS listener directly (no reverse proxy in front). The Envoy default does not expose 8443. Put Caddy/Nginx in front for TLS, or opt back into Kong.
• You maintain a customized kong.yml (custom routes, plugins, ACLs). These do not carry over to Envoy and will silently stop applying. Opt back into Kong to keep them, or port the customizations to the Envoy config.
• You have scripts or tooling that reference the gateway by service/container name (kong / supabase-kong) - for example docker compose logs kong or run.sh restart kong. The service is now api-gw and the container is supabase-envoy. The kong hostname still resolves via a network alias.
• You currently run the Envoy override (docker-compose.envoy.yml in your COMPOSE_FILE). No behavior change now, but you should remove that entry from COMPOSE_FILE once you pull the update, since Envoy is the base default.

You are not affected if you:

• Use the Supabase platform
• Use locally running Supabase services via CLI

What Should I Do?#

If you pull the updated docker-compose.yml and .env.example together with no gateway customizations, no action is required beyond being aware that requests now flow through Envoy.

If you want to stay on Kong:

Kong remains available as an override for compatibility and migration, but note it tracks the frozen OSS 3.9.x line - we recommend it as a transition aid, not a long-term default.

If you customized kong.yml: opt back into Kong (config add kong) to keep your config, or port your routes/rules to the Envoy config under volumes/api/envoy/. See the Envoy API Gateway guide.

If you already run the Envoy override: remove docker-compose.envoy.yml from COMPOSE_FILE (or run sh run.sh config remove envoy) after pulling the update.

If you'd rather defer: pin your checkout, or add the Kong override so your gateway behavior is unchanged. This is a default change, not a removal - but we recommend migrating to Envoy, since the OSS Kong line is no longer actively maintained.

Rollout#