diff --git a/cmd/start.go b/cmd/start.go
index bd1cc1f8a..21fec138c 100644
--- a/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/start.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func validateExcludedContainers(excludedContainers []string) {
-	// Validate excluded containers
 	validContainers := start.ExcludableContainers()
 	var invalidContainers []string
 
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ func validateExcludedContainers(excludedContainers []string) {
 	}
 
 	if len(invalidContainers) > 0 {
-		// Sort the names list so it's easier to visually spot the one you looking for
+		// Sort the names list so it's easier to visually spot the one you're looking for
 		sort.Strings(validContainers)
 		warning := fmt.Sprintf("%s The following container names are not valid to exclude: %s\nValid containers to exclude are: %s\n",
 			utils.Yellow("WARNING:"),
@@ -40,6 +39,7 @@ var (
 	excludedContainers []string
 	ignoreHealthCheck  bool
 	preview            bool
+	small              bool
 
 	startCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		GroupID: groupLocalDev,
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ var (
 		Short:   "Start containers for Supabase local development",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			validateExcludedContainers(excludedContainers)
-			return start.Run(cmd.Context(), afero.NewOsFs(), excludedContainers, ignoreHealthCheck)
+			return start.Run(cmd.Context(), afero.NewOsFs(), excludedContainers, ignoreHealthCheck, small)
 		},
 	}
 )
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ func init() {
 	flags.StringSliceVarP(&excludedContainers, "exclude", "x", []string{}, "Names of containers to not start. ["+names+"]")
 	flags.BoolVar(&ignoreHealthCheck, "ignore-health-check", false, "Ignore unhealthy services and exit 0")
 	flags.BoolVar(&preview, "preview", false, "Connect to feature preview branch")
+	flags.BoolVar(&small, "small", false, "Use "+start.SmallImageName+" image")
 	cobra.CheckErr(flags.MarkHidden("preview"))
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(startCmd)
 }
diff --git a/internal/start/start.go b/internal/start/start.go
index 1184b6590..59e9fe7d3 100644
--- a/internal/start/start.go
+++ b/internal/start/start.go
@@ -44,12 +44,47 @@ import (
 	"github.com/supabase/cli/pkg/config"
 )
 
-func Run(ctx context.Context, fsys afero.Fs, excludedContainers []string, ignoreHealthCheck bool) error {
+const (
+	SmallImageName      = "supabase/postgres:minimal"
+	graphqlPublicSchema = "graphql_public"
+)
+
+// configureSmallMode configures the system for minimal resource usage by:
+// - Using a smaller PostgreSQL image (minimal)
+// - Disabling non-essential services (keeps only kong, postgrest, and auth)
+// - Removing graphql_public schema from API schemas
+func configureSmallMode() {
+	utils.Config.Db.Image = SmallImageName
+
+	// Disable all services except kong, postgrest, and auth
+	// This ensures they won't be pulled or started regardless of config.toml settings
+	utils.Config.Realtime.Enabled = false
+	utils.Config.Storage.Enabled = false
+	utils.Config.Inbucket.Enabled = false
+	utils.Config.Studio.Enabled = false
+	utils.Config.EdgeRuntime.Enabled = false
+	utils.Config.Analytics.Enabled = false
+	utils.Config.Db.Pooler.Enabled = false
+
+	// Remove graphql_public schema from API schemas when using --small
+	filteredSchemas := make([]string, 0, len(utils.Config.Api.Schemas))
+	for _, schema := range utils.Config.Api.Schemas {
+		if schema != graphqlPublicSchema {
+			filteredSchemas = append(filteredSchemas, schema)
+		}
+	}
+	utils.Config.Api.Schemas = filteredSchemas
+}
+
+func Run(ctx context.Context, fsys afero.Fs, excludedContainers []string, ignoreHealthCheck bool, useSmallImage bool) error {
 	// Sanity checks.
 	{
 		if err := flags.LoadConfig(fsys); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if useSmallImage {
+			configureSmallMode()
+		}
 		if err := utils.AssertSupabaseDbIsRunning(); err == nil {
 			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, utils.Aqua("supabase start")+" is already running.")
 			names := status.CustomName{}
diff --git a/internal/utils/docker.go b/internal/utils/docker.go
index 6da0d5aa6..1bdfc1ea6 100644
--- a/internal/utils/docker.go
+++ b/internal/utils/docker.go
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ func GetRegistryImageUrl(imageName string) string {
 	if registry == "docker.io" {
 		return imageName
 	}
+	// Skip registry transformation for minimal images (pulled locally from Docker Hub)
+	if strings.Contains(imageName, "minimal") {
+		return imageName
+	}
 	// Configure mirror registry
 	parts := strings.Split(imageName, "/")
 	imageName = parts[len(parts)-1]