Parse Platform
The open-source Parse Server backend and SDKs, community-run since the original Parse service closed.
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About Parse Platform
Parse Platform is the community-maintained continuation of Parse, the mobile backend service Facebook bought and later shut down, releasing the server as open source. Parse Server is a Node.js application that gives you a data API, user accounts, sessions, file storage, cloud code functions, live queries and push notifications on top of MongoDB or PostgreSQL. There are SDKs for JavaScript, iOS, Android, Flutter, PHP and others, and Parse Dashboard provides an admin interface for browsing data. Because it is just a Node app, you can run it on any host or container platform and scale it horizontally behind a load balancer, or use a managed host such as Back4app. It is free under the Apache 2.0 licence. The project is mature and stable rather than fast-moving, so documentation and patterns can feel older than those of newer platforms, and you are responsible for hosting, updates and security yourself.
Best for: Teams that want a mature, vendor-neutral backend server they host themselves.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and Apache-licensed with no vendor lock-in
- Runs on MongoDB or PostgreSQL
- SDKs for most mobile and web platforms
- Managed hosting available if you change your mind
Why people leave
- You handle hosting, scaling and security updates
- Documentation and patterns feel dated
- Slower development pace than venture-backed platforms
Top Parse Platform alternatives
See all 5- 1
Back4app66.5Managed Parse Server hosting, so you keep the same APIs without running servers.
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Appwrite62.6Newer open-source backend with a broader set of built-in services.
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Supabase59.6Postgres-based backend with a much more active ecosystem.
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PocketBase57.2Far simpler self-hosted backend for small projects.
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Firebase55.3Fully managed alternative if you no longer want to host anything.
Why people left Parse Platform
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Parse Platform: common questions
Is Parse Platform free?
Yes. Parse Platform is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Parse Platform open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at parse-community/parse-server. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Parse Platform run on?
Parse Platform is available for Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to Parse Platform?
The highest-ranked Parse Platform alternatives right now are Back4app, Appwrite and Supabase. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.