The best 10+ Firebase Alternatives in 2023

Are you looking for alternative app development platforms to Firebase? Here are the 10+ Firebase alternatives for application development.

Firebase is Google’s app development platform. It will help you to build, improve, and grow your application in a smooth and standardized way. 

It offers a robust feature set that focuses on three main pillars:

• Helping you to build apps faster
• Releasing apps with confidence, performance, and stability
• Increasing user engagement after releasing the app 

The platform works well for mobile and web applications, and Google designed it to increase the general productivity of creating digital products. 

The core features of Firebase include NoSQL databases, real-time queries, scalable hosting, data storage, file storage, REST APIs, authentication, machine learning, and analytics. 

The main problems Firebase solves are allowing you to build apps faster, shifting your focus from infrastructure to creating more robust user experiences, and scaling applications without managing infrastructure. 

Why look for Firebase Alternatives? 

If Firebase is so good, you may wonder why to look for alternatives. Here are some reasons:

• It’s not open-source and has vendor lock-in
• Pricing model is complex and hard to predict
• It’s not self-hosted it only supports the Google Cloud hosting option
• The free tier is not available for all services
• Both databases are NoSQL, and there is no SQL option 
• Complex and deep queries may be slow 
• GraphQL APIs are not available on the regular setup
• It does not work in countries like China
• It does not offer the flexibility to adapt its code like open-source solutions

Want to know more? Please read the detailed review below to find the best Firebase competitors:

Top 10+ Firebase Alternatives

Here is an infographic with ten of the best Firebase alternatives, and below is a detailed description of each provider’s features and pricing.

Here are ten of the best alternatives to Firebase and keep reading to learn more about these Firebase like solutions:

Back4App

Back4app is a reliable Firebase alternative that works with an amalgamation of open-source technologies. The platform is straightforward to use and has a low learning curve. 

For instance, it offers features like a relational data model, scalable hosting, REST and GraphQL APIs, notifications, authentication, and storage. You can build relational data models and run deep queries using a robust serverless environment. 

Back4app is a great option to build web and mobile apps super fast, scale without the complexity of managing server-side infrastructure and focus on the user interface. The pricing is affordable and easy to understand. 

It offers a fully managed service, and the support team is available 24/07. The company has been operating since 2015, and it has customers like Accenture, Fight List, 1001 Apps, etc. 

Pricing

Back4app’s pricing is easy to understand and predictable. 

• The services are free to start
• Serverless hosting starts at $25/month
• Dedicated hosting starts at $500/month

Core Features

• Data model
• GraphQL and REST APIs
• Serverless functions
• Notifications
• Authentication

Why use Back4app as a Firebase alternative? 

Some developers consider Back4App better than Firebase for the following reasons:

• It’s an amalgamation of open-source tools
• No vendor lock-in
• Multi-cloud deployment options
• It’s a Firebase self-hosted alternative
• Allow you to perform complex relational queries
• Dedicated hosting and Enterprise plans
• It’s a Firebase alternative in China

Read the article Back4App vs. Firebase to better understand the differences between both platforms.

Keep reading to discover more Firebase similar platforms. 

Parse

Parse is a comprehensive application stack that will help you build applications faster. It is an open-source backend framework that uses the Apache-2.0 license and is free to use and download. It is a terrific free Firebase alternative.

For example, the core features of Parse include an easy-to-use dashboard, graphical database interface, APIs, and object storage adapters to multiple services like S3, etc. 

Another advantage of Parse is the multi-cloud deployment options. Considering that the entire framework is open-source, you can download the repositories on Github and self-host your application in any major cloud like AWS, Digital Ocean, Google Cloud, etc. 

Parse has been running for a long time, and a large and engaged developer community supports it. It has more than 35k Github stars, and it is a thoroughly tested framework for developing applications faster.

Pricing

Parse is free to download, and there is no license cost.

Core Features

• Spreadsheet like database
• REST and GraphQL APIs
• Authentication
• Storage Adapters
• Push-Notifications

Why use Parse as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• No vendor lock-in
• Multi-cloud deployment options
• Large developer community supporting it
• Thoroughly tested framework

AWS Amplify

AWS Amplify allows web and mobile developers to create full-stack applications with a set o fit-to-purpose tools and features. 

Using AWS Amplify, it is possible to configure a backend in minutes, ship faster, and scale effortlessly. The platform integrates with other AWS services like Dynamo DB, Lambda, S3, Cognito, AppSync, etc. 

Building an application using AWS Amplify is easy and involves steps like creating the backend, connecting it to the application, managing users, and creating the UI. 

For example, the most common use cases include building data models, hosting progressive web applications, hosting static sites, and user authentication. 

Pricing

AWS Amplify pricing charges per variable, like builds per minute, files stored, and data transferred. 

• Free tier to start
• Pay as you go model above the free threshold 
• $0.01 per build per minute
• $0.023/GB per month
• $0.15/GB served

Core Features

• Data Store
• Authentication
• Analytics
• APIs
• Notifications

Why use AWS Amplify as a Firebase alternative? 

• Backed by AWS
• Ready to use integrations with AWS services
• Frontend UI elements

Backendless

Backendless is a visual application development platform. It has been operating since 2012, and it is one of the first Backend as a Service solutions launched. 

Using Backendless, it is possible to create realtime applications, location-aware apps, and mobile and web apps. The visual app builder makes the experience of developing apps intuitive, easy to manage, and fast. 

Backendless supports customers over Slack, forums, and documentation. The company also offers professional services for custom development projects. The client showcase includes Bettercast, Bank al Ethiad, BTC Market Ticker, and Second Warehouse.

Pricing

Backendless offers three different pricing categories. 

• Backendless Cloud – Free tier and paid plans start at $25/month
• Backendless Pro – Under quotation 
• Managed Backendless – Under quotation

Core Features

• Visual app builder
• APIs
• Real time databases
• Authentication
• Notifications

Why use Backendless as a Firebase alternative? 

• It offers a visual development tool kit
• It provides several integrations with tools like Bubble, Zapier, AppGyver, etc
• It offers on-premise deployment 
• It offers dedicated plans
• It provides a spreadsheet-like database

Kuzzle

Kuzzle recently updated its website and now offers three different products. The first one is an IoT suite designed to streamline the deployment of IoT applications. The second one is a backend to facilitate the development of web and mobile applications.  The third one is a Platform as a Service focused on IoT deployment.

Both products are open-source and are great options for data management and IoT development. Using Kuzzle, you can create projects for Smart Cities, Smart Logistics, Smart Buildings, etc. 

The application stack is free to download, and you can self-host an application or use Kuzzle’s cloud to host it. The platform offers multiple SDKs options, including Javascript, C#, Dart, and Golang.

The company has operated since 2015 and has customers like Biogen, La Poste, Veolia, and SNCF on its portfolio.

Pricing

• Free to download
• Support plans of €500, €1,000, and Premium under quotation
• Professional Services, Training, PoC under quotation

Features

IoT Backend

• Sensor connectors
• Data visualization
• Dashboard generator
• Device manager
• Security and user administration

General Purpose Backend

• Realtime engine
• Multiprotocol API
• Security
• Authentication
• SDKs

Why use Kuzzle as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• It has fit-to-purpose IoT features
• No vendor lock-in
• It offers professional services and training
• It offers tailor-made support plans

Supabase

Supabase allows developers to build a backend in less than 2 minutes. It is an excellent Firebase alternative that works with open-source technologies and enables you to host an app on a self-host environment or directly with Supabase cloud.

The platform allows you to build realtime chat apps, SaaS products, web crawlers, ToDo lists, Kamban boards, website builders, etc. It supports multiple technologies, including Flutter, Angular, React, Vue, etc. 

Supabase is quite a young company and has been running since 2020. Although it is a new player in this market, it has a large and engaged developer community to support the open-source repository. It has more than 45k stars and 3k forks on Github.

Pricing

• Free Tier
• Pro Plan – Starting at $25 per month
• Enterprise – Under quotation

Features

• Database
• Dashboard
• Authentication
• Storage
• Instant APIs

Why use Supabase as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• A growing community of developers 
• It works with Postgres relational database
• It offers multiple deployment options
• No vendor lock-in

appwrite

Appwrite is a backend server for Flutter, Mobile, and Web developers. It is open-source, secure, and provides a self-hosting solution that is easy to use. It is a great open source Firebase alternative.

Appwrite supports multiple SDKs, including Flutter, Web, Apple, and Android. It recently launched Pink, an open-source design system to build reusable interfaces.

Even though it is a young company that launched in 2019, it has grown its open-source repository massively and has more than 28k Github stars. 

Pricing

The project is free to download on the Github repository. Appwrite will launch the cloud version of the product shortly, and the price is still not available on the website.  

Features

• Database
• Storage
• Geo & Localization
• Functions
• Console

Why use appwrite as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• A growing community of developers 
• Focus on Flutter developers
• Simplicity
• Verbose documentation

Hasura

Hasura is another excellent open-source alternative to Firebase. It provides a GraphQL engine that allows the creation of apps and APIs up to ten times faster than traditional development. 

The way the platform operates is slightly different from Firebase. Rather than delivering a database-centric suite of products, it offers a best-in-class GraphQL instant API and allows users to connect it to external databases.

It supports multiple database options, including Postgres, SQL Server, Amazon Aurora, and Google Big Query. Hasura offers you a free-to-download version or hosted cloud option. 

The company has operated since 2017, and the client showcase includes names like Netlify, BBVA, Walmart, and Atlassian. 

Pricing

• Hasura Cloud
  • Free tier
  • Professional – Starts at $1.5/hour
  • Enteprise – Custom pricing
• Self-Hosted
  • Community edition – Free
  • Enterprise edition – Under quotation

Features

• GraphQL API
• Caching
• Security
• Monitoring
• CLI

Why use Hasura as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• It supports NoSQL and SQL databases
• It works with external databases
• It offers Enterprise plans
• Low-latency

Nhost

NHost is another open-source option for Firebase. The platform works with an amalgamation of open-source technologies, including GraphQL, Postgres, and Hasura.

NHost is a serverless backend and helps you build web and mobile applications. It makes developing a backend an easy task and removes the complexities of managing infrastructure. 

The company started operations in 2019 and currently supports clients like HyperLab, Servehub, NautaCapital, and Terminator.

Pricing

• Free tier
• Pro plan for $25/month
• Enterprise plan under quotation

Features

• Realtime database
• GraphQL API
• Authentication
• File Storage
• Emails

Why use Nhost as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• It supports GraphQL
• SQL Database
• No vendor lock-in

Deployd

Deployd is an effective open-source deployment and API design platform that empowers you to build web and mobile applications without hassles.

Getting your idea to production is as easy as a four-step process using Deployd. You can get an API up and running with one command, deploy using plug-and-play resources, and manage your APIs using a friendly dashboard.  

Pricing

Deployd is free to download and self-host.

Features

• API Engine
• CRUD operations
• Dashboard
• Realtime functionality 

Why use Deployd as a Firebase alternative? 

• It’s open-source
• No vendor lock-in
• Best in class API Engine

Other Firebase Alternatives

Additional Firebase Alternatives are:

• Azure Mobile App Service – Microsoft’s backend service
• Game Sparks – Game backend that AWS will retired in 2022
• Playfab – Game backend supported by Microsoft 
• 8Base – Low-code JavaScript framework
• Firehose – Pub/Sub server to build realtime web apps
• Atmosphere – Framework for building Asynchronous web applications 
• Couchbase – NoSQL cloud database. It’s a database like Firebase.
• NativeScript – JavaScript empowered with native APIs
• RxDB – JavaScript database for realtime applications
• LoopBack4 – Framework for building APIs and Microservices

Please refer to our BaaS Comparison Tool for additional details about Google Firebase alternatives. 

Conclusion

Firebase is a robust app development platform from Google. It supports you in developing an application fast and improving it during the entire development and production cycle. 

Although it offers excellent benefits, its limitations rely on not being open-source, vendor lock-in, lack of SQL databases, and unavailable in multiple countries like China. 

This article explored multiple Firebase alternatives, provided an overview of each solution, and highlighted the core features, pricing structure, and advantages over Firebase. 

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