AppwriteBackend as a ServiceAppwrite is a BSD-3-Clause backend platform with auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging and hosting; use the cloud or self-host.Open sourceSelf-hostedFreemiumViews · 7 daysTop 16%
Backend as a Service
Backend platforms that bundle a database, authentication, storage and APIs so teams can ship apps faster.
7 results in Backend as a Service
Active Pro listings from this category appear first. Your sort applies within Pro and Free results.
AppwriteBackend as a ServiceAppwrite is a BSD-3-Clause backend platform with auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging and hosting; use the cloud or self-host.Open sourceSelf-hostedFreemium17 views57,878 stars
Deta SpacePaaS & App DeploymentDeta Space was a personal cloud where people installed apps into their own private space and developers published them. Deta shut it down on October 17, 2024 and moved to Deta Surf; only archived documentation remains.CommercialWeb platformFreeViews · 7 daysTop 7%
Payload CMSCMS & Website BuildersOpen-source, code-first CMS and application framework for Next.js and TypeScript. One config generates an admin panel, REST and GraphQL APIs, auth and access control on MongoDB, Postgres or SQLite.Open sourceSelf-hostedViews · 7 daysTop 16%
PocketBaseBackend as a ServicePocketBase is a lightweight, self-hosted backend that ships as one executable with an embedded SQLite database, authentication, file storage and a realtime API.Open sourceSelf-hostedViews · 7 daysTop 10%
PuterSelf-Hosting PlatformsPuter is an AGPL-3.0 internet computer: a desktop environment in the browser with files, apps, website and worker hosting, plus the Puter.js SDK for AI, storage and auth. Use puter.com or self-host the Docker Compose stack.Open sourceSelf-hostedFreemiumViews · 7 daysTop 16%
StrapiCMS & Website BuildersStrapi is an MIT-licensed headless CMS in JavaScript and TypeScript with a visual Content-Type Builder, generated REST and GraphQL APIs, i18n, roles and plugins, self-hosted on Node.js or on Strapi Cloud, with paid Growth and Enterprise features.Open sourceSelf-hostedFreemiumViews · 7 daysTop 1%
SupabaseBackend as a ServiceSupabase gives each project a dedicated Postgres database with auth, REST and GraphQL APIs, realtime, edge functions and storage.Open sourceSelf-hostedFreemiumViews · 7 daysTop 16%
Shortlists for Backend as a Service
Explore collections with tools relevant to this category, grouped by deployment, source model or workload.
Open-source headless CMS for developers →
2 matching tools from this category
Self-hosted IT tools →
6 matching tools from this category
IT tools with an API →
6 matching tools from this category
How to choose backend as a service tools
Backend as a service platforms bundle the server side of an application into one product: a database, user authentication, file storage, auto-generated APIs, realtime subscriptions and serverless functions. Front-end and mobile developers can ship working apps without assembling these pieces separately. Options range from a single executable with an embedded database to managed platforms built on a full relational database, and many can run in the vendor's cloud or on your own servers.
Who uses these tools
- Front-end developers building apps without backend staff
- Mobile developers needing auth and data sync
- Small teams prototyping products quickly
Capabilities to compare
- Database with generated REST or GraphQL APIs
- Built-in authentication and social login
- File storage with access rules
- Realtime subscriptions to data changes
- Serverless functions for custom logic
Operating considerations
- Migration effort if you outgrow the platform
- Access rules written in platform-specific syntax
- Database engine and how data can be exported
- Usage-based pricing for storage, bandwidth and functions
Selection checklist
- Build a small feature with sign-in, data and file upload to see how fast each platform works.
- Check whether you can self-host the same version, giving you an exit from the managed service.
- Review how row or document permissions are defined and test them with an unauthorised account.
- Confirm that backups, point-in-time recovery and data export meet your requirements.
What belongs in this category: A product belongs here when it provides a ready backend with data storage, authentication and APIs as one package, rather than a standalone database, an identity provider or an application hosting platform.
Backend as a Service on iThub in figures
iThub lists 7 tools in Backend as a Service. 6 of 7 are open source, 6 of 7 can be self-hosted, 7 of 7 have a free, freemium or open-source pricing model and 6 of 7 offer an API.
- Tools listed
- 7
- Open source
- 6
- Self-hostable
- 6
- Free to start
- 7
- With an API
- 6
- Web app
- 5
- Desktop app
- 1
Recently added: Strapi, Deta Space, Payload CMS, Puter
Typical use cases
- Launching a mobile app with accounts and synced data
- Prototyping a product without writing a custom backend
- Adding realtime features such as live dashboards or chat
- Running a small internal tool on one lightweight server
Trade-offs to model
- A single-binary backend is simple to run anywhere, while a platform on a full relational database scales further but has more parts.
- Managed hosting removes operations work, whereas self-hosting keeps data under your control and avoids usage-based billing.
Common mistakes
- Leaving default access rules open during development and shipping them to production unchanged.
- Putting complex business logic into client code because the backend makes direct data access easy.
Compare Supabase and Appwrite →Browse self-hosted PaaS platforms →Browse all backend as a service tools →
Decision resources
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Alternatives
Alternatives to Strapi →0 tools selectedCompare selected