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Back4app

Managed hosting for open-source Parse Server backends, plus container hosting for web apps.

Free plan + paidBackend and database platforms
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About Back4app

Back4app is a backend-as-a-service built on Parse Server, the open-source backend that Facebook released when it shut down the original Parse. You get a database with a spreadsheet-like browser, auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, user authentication, file storage, cloud code functions in JavaScript and push notifications, all managed for you. Because the core is Parse, you can move to a self-hosted Parse Server later without rewriting your client code, which is the main reason people pick it over closed platforms. Back4app also runs a separate container platform for deploying web apps and an AI agent that sets up backends from prompts. Backend pricing is per app: a free tier for learning and prototypes, then fixed monthly plans that bill by request limits rather than by unpredictable usage. Everything is managed from a web dashboard and the SDKs cover JavaScript, Flutter, iOS, Android and more.

Best for: Developers who want hosted Parse Server with predictable per-app pricing.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Built on open-source Parse, so self-hosting later is possible
  • Fixed per-app plans instead of open-ended usage billing
  • REST and GraphQL APIs generated automatically

Why people leave

  • Parse conventions feel dated next to newer platforms
  • Free tier has tight request limits
  • Per-app pricing adds up with many small apps

Top Back4app alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1Parse Platform logo
    Parse Platform

    Run the same Parse Server yourself for free on your own hosting.

    66.5
  2. 2Firebase logo
    Firebase

    Larger managed platform with more mobile services.

    62.6
  3. 3Backendless logo
    Backendless

    Another long-running BaaS with visual logic and a self-hosted edition.

    59.6
  4. 4Supabase logo
    Supabase

    Modern Postgres-based backend with a more active ecosystem.

    57.2
  5. 5Appwrite logo
    Appwrite

    Open-source backend with a newer feature set and self-hosting.

    55.3

Why people left Back4app

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Back4app, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

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Back4app: common questions

Is Back4app free?

Back4app has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes (checked on Back4app's own site).

Is Back4app open source?

No, Back4app is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Parse Platform, Supabase and Appwrite.

What platforms does Back4app run on?

Back4app is available for Web.

What are the best alternatives to Back4app?

The highest-ranked Back4app alternatives right now are Parse Platform, Firebase and Backendless. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 Back4app alternatives