Top 20 Best PaaS Platforms

PaaS or Platform as a Service cloud computing tier is considered the most appealing among other models such as SaaS and IaaS.

It frees businesses from software, infrastructure, DevOps costs and maintenance expenses. According to a forecast report of Grand View Research, the PaaS market size will surpass 206.30 billion USD by 2028 with a growth rate of 19.3%. This report also claims that the market value of Platform as a Service was 74.55 billion USD in 2022. 

It means using PaaS platforms is rapidly increasing among businesses and the programming community. However, the availability of numerous PaaS providers makes it challenging to elect a single platform. Therefore, this article shares one of the best PaaS providers with all of their core competencies to aid companies and developers in decision-making.

Top 20 Best PaaS Platforms

Here are 20 of the best PaaS platforms available on the cloud market.

Back4App

Back4App is a reliable cloud service provider that provides excellent support to build, deploy and host mobile and web applications.

This cloud platform was initially public in 2015. Now, 220,000 developers from 200 countries of the world have successfully joined Back4App. Also, its support for Node.js, Docker, Redis and PostgreSQL projects is exceptional.

Similarly, the free-tier BaaS and container services of Back4App also make it a trusted platform for startups and SMEs. Furthermore, this CSP confers ‘Enterprise Edition’ to fulfil the customized needs of megacorps. 

Features

Container Services – This open-source CSP enables businesses and developers to approach container services for free to create and set up their applications. You just need to provide your script to Back4App through the GitHub repository. It will build and deploy your app within minutes. 

Realtime Database – Realtime database is one of the most appealing advantages of Back4App. In this regard, it permits the coders to gather and access data spontaneously. Users can even get the data when they go offline. 

Blockchain Storage – This property gives Back4App a clear edge over its competitors. Undoubtedly, the apportion distribution of files keeps hackers away from your data. Quick scalability, fault tolerance and geo-availability are also some benefits of blockchain storage. 

SDKs & APIs – REST & GraphQL APIs and SDKs enable the development teams to build server-side applications within seconds. Luckily, these toolsets confer strong support to 7 generally used programming languages.

File Storage – It is highly secure, cost-efficient and smooth to gather your data on the cloud using the ‘File Storage’ feature of Back4App. Additionally, you can also seamlessly connect these data files with the database. 

Heroku

Heroku is one of the finest Platform as a Service providers that commenced its cloud services in 2007. In the beginning, this PaaS vendor was only supporting Ruby-based applications.

But now, it provides support to a variety of commonly used scripting technologies, including Python, Node.js, PHP, Java, Go, Scala and Clojure. 

With this PaaS platform, it is effortless to deploy and manage an application for startups, enterprises and SMEs. SharinPix, Bonobos and GiveGab are satisfied users of Heroku. 

Features

Data Services – Heroku is considered the best PaaS provider because of its fully-administered data services. Undoubtedly, Apache Kafka, Redis and Heroku Postgres aid programmers in staying productive with rapid access to data. Moreover, these data products of Heroku are open-source and easy to extend. 

Heroku Runtime – A completely administered runtime environment is another great feature of Heroku. This function utilizes lightweight but smart containers called dynos to run applications. Hereof, developers can choose distinct dynos types with a different number of process kinds and RAM capacities according to their requirements. 

Highly Scalable – This PaaS platform also enables businesses to enhance instances with horizontal and vertical scaling options rapidly. Similarly, autoscaling is another advantage of using this cloud service if your app occasionally receives high surges in traffic. 

Heroku Developer Experience (DX) – Continuous Delivery (CD) and Continuous Integration (CI) assists the developers to build and deploy applications without any disturbance. It provides excellent infrastructure and software support in this regard. Similarly, its dashboard is user-friendly whether you are a novice or a seasoned coder.

Render

With predictable pricing, a user-friendly interface, auto deployments and reliable hosting, Render is another delicate PaaS provider on our list. Render grants prompt deployment support that typically consists of three steps. Yes, you just need to choose the service type, deploy the branch and press Git Push. 

However, if we talk about the core services that Render provides are Cron Jobs, PostgreSQL, Redis, Web Services, Dockerfiles, and Background Workers.

Features

Autoscaling – Render already offers a trusted manual scaling option to its users. Fortunately, this cloud service provider announced to open autoscaling feature for enterprise, team and organization plans from January 1st, 2023. With this feature, users just need to define their maximum needs in terms of CPU, instances and memory utilization; Render will extend them automatically.

Zero Downtime Deploys – This Platform as a Service provider doesn’t let your app down in case of any failure. In this regard, Render doesn’t only conduct regular health checks of the app, but it also has the ability to restart the application in such conditions. 

Managed PostgreSQL & Redis – Developers can seamlessly create PostgreSQL and Redis database applications or outsource the database support through URLs when they use Render. These fully managed databases also ensure data persistence.

Infrastructure as Code – IaC is another appealing feature of Render that allows the developers to determine the databases, environment groups and services in the render.yaml file. It is helpful, especially when dealing with multiple applications or environments. 

Engine Yard

Engine Yard is one of the pioneer PaaS platforms that was initially introduced in 2006. With a 99.99% uptime guarantee and 98% customer satisfaction ratio, Engine Yard has provided assistance for more than 12k applications. 

Especially if you are working on Ruby projects, you should prefer a fully-managed Kubernetes cluster, DevOps and infrastructure of Engine Yard. Freshdesk, 3Play Media and Comestri are prominent companies that use this CSP for different tech stacks. 

Features

Load Balancers – Engine Yard utilizes Classic Load Balancers of AWS that are also commonly known as ELBs or Elastic Load Balancers. These Load Balancers play a significant role to allocate traffic to distinct servers. In this way, servers don’t overload and their speed remains uninterpreted. 

Autoscaling – It is seamless to extend resources like memory, CPU and further instances with this PaaS vendor. Yes, it offers autoscaling to improve the performance of applications. 

Infrastructure Optimization – Engine Yard follows AWS practices to improve an application’s overall performance, and pre-built infrastructure optimization is one of them. These fully optimized stacks allow you to deal with your applications with great scalability and rapid deployments. 

Private Clusters – The availability of a secured Kubernetes cluster is another striking feature of Engine Yard. These private clusters avoid the problems of performance disturbance because of neighbouring apps. In this regard, they also don’t charge anything extra. 

Cloud Foundry

With more than 325k lifetime commits and 3500 contributors, Cloud Foundry is another reliable cloud service on our list. This PaaS platform enables businesses to set up applications and scale their resources within a few keystrokes. Also, with Cloud Foundry, developers just have to emphasize the app because this CSP takes care of infrastructure.

Features

Load Balancing – It would be disastrous to overburden a server. Moreover, it can also lead the app failure. So, the load balancing feature of Cloud Foundry has the ability to distribute the load over distinct servers. Components like cloud controller, Gorouter and BOSH are also beneficial hereof. 

Language & Framework Support – Cloud Foundry provides exceptional support for a variety of programming languages and frameworks. Java, PHP, Node.js, Go, .NET, Ruby and Python are prominent ones in this regard. 

Community Support – Developers can get help from available resources through GitHub when they use Cloud Foundry. Similarly, you can also explore community support for this CSP on YouTube, Slack, Stack Overflow and Twitter. 

Deployment Automation – This Platform as a Service provider grants numerous tools to programmers to easily deploy their applications. Moreover, development teams don’t have to make any changes in their script during the deployment process. 

Fly.io

Fly is a Chicago-based PaaS platform that was launched in 2017. This cloud platform assists the developers in building and deploying databases and full-stack applications. In addition, the presence of Fly’s physical servers in multiple cities of the world also gives it an edge over other PaaS vendors. 

The core technologies that Fly backs are Rails, Rust, Docker, Django, Phoenix, Go, Remix and Crystal. 

Features

PostgreSQL Clusters – It is seamless to launch a PostgreSQL cluster with Fly. However, Fly PostgreSQL is responsible for server infrastructure, basic provisioning and global networking. It is also important to know Fly PostgreSQL is not fully managed. 

Support for Heroku Apps – If you want to upgrade your Heroku application, Fly is the right choice. Its dynos for web applications are more than 60% swift.

Community Support – Fly confers a community forum for developers to ask all of their queries. It is definitely a place where novices can sort out a variety of their Fly problems under the supervision of a professional programming community. 

Railway.app

Railway.app is one of the reliable PaaS services that gives its users infrastructure support with 75+ templates. Development teams just need to come up with their programming script on this platform, and Railway.app will take care of further deployment.

Features

Autoscaling – This PaaS service has the ability to fulfil the app demands and server loads automatically. In this regard, it also maintains its 99% uptime property.

Railway CLI – The command line interface of Railway integrates your script with your projects. Withal, you can install Railway CLI through Scoop, Homebrew or Node Package Manager. 

Database Services – PostgreSQL, Redis and MySQL are prominent databases you can utilize through this cloud platform. Furthermore, it is straightforward to administer your data and connect their databases through plugins and ‘railway run’, respectively.

User-Friendly Interface – Undoubtedly, the interface of the Railway.app is so easy to deal with. You can create a new environment, invite members, see analytics and conduct project settings with only a few keystrokes. 

Google App Engine

Google App Engine is an eminent Platform as a Service provider that has the powerful backing of Google’s data centres and GCP.

Google released this PaaS platform in 2007. Now, it offers more than 20 products with an always-free tag. Programming teams and businesses can also access 28 free instances on a daily basis when they choose Google App Engine.

Features

Zero Server Management – Google App Engine facilitates its users with a fully managed environment where you don’t have to do any administration for your servers and further hardware or software stacks. 

App Versioning – If you want complete deployment, testing or development support for different application variants, then Google App Engine is the suitable place. It provides an environment to host, stage and set up different versions of applications.

Diagnostic Support – This PaaS platform also owns the robust backing of Google. Therefore, the use of Google’s Cloud Monitoring, Analytics, Cloud Logging and Debugging tools could be very beneficial in this regard. 

AWS Elastic Beanstalk

AWS Elastic Beanstalk is one of the finest application deployment platforms that Amazon released in 2011. This infrastructure administration service doesn’t only aid in easy web app deployments but can also extend, upgrade and configure applications spontaneously. 

Features

Multiple Deployment Options – This PaaS service doesn’t only confer different deployment practices like rolling, immutable deployment, rolling with extra bunches etc. Moreover, with Elastic Beanstalk, you can also set up the script through Visual Studio, CLI and Eclipse.

Quick Customization & Scaling – Developers get the freedom to customize with Spot and EC2 instances of AWS. Similarly, auto-scaling permits programmers to extend the resources according to their project needs. 

Monitoring – The presence of more than 40 attributes like logging, tracking, health checks and permissions makes monitoring easy. 

Dokku

If you are looking for the simplest PaaS employment or the finest alternative to Heroku, Dokku should be on your list. It is straightforward to build, deploy and extend an application using Dokku.

Features

Plugins Support – Dokku provides massive plugin support for installations. Although all popular plugins are available on this PaaS platform but you can also create your own plugins.

Inexpensive – Dokku is an open-source and freemium platform. This cloud service also fastens the development and time-to-market speed of applications. 

Platform.sh

Platform.sh is another reputed Platform as a Service provider that is known because of its dynamic workflows, credible cloud hosting and continuous deployment properties. It provides a unified environment to deal with a variety of frameworks and languages.

Features

Unified Development – Developers can develop app clones spontaneously for all Git branches. Also, the majority of services are administered in a cluster. 

Easy Deployment – Whether you are deploying a complicated or simple app, it is straightforward. You just need to put the code; this PaaS platform takes care of infrastructure, data management, provisioning, compliance, security etc.

Red Hat OpenShift

Red Hat OpenShift is another big name among PaaS services that permits businesses to build, deploy and manage advanced applications. It confers companies the freedom to choose a cloud environment and a fully-managed or self-controlled solution. 

Features

Powerful Ecosystem – OpenShift confers numerous integrations, including network providers, extra cloud storage and integrated development environments.

Highly Flexible & Scalable – Coders can extend thousands of resources and instances within seconds by using OpenShift. Similarly, this PaaS solution also gives several choices like on-premises, cloud and hybrid deployments. 

Container Portability – You will find great portability between programming teams and the deployment environments of this cloud service. 

CapRover

CapRover is an excellent solution for all startups and novice developers searching for free and open-source PaaS platforms. The powerful backing of DigitalOcean also makes it a reliable option for the programming community.

Features

Cluster Ready – Developers can adhere to new nodes and generate clusters within no time. This PaaS unquestionability sets up Nginx with load balancers.

Smooth Deployments – It is convenient to deploy applications with CapRover. You just need to visit the dashboard, utilize the CLI and webhooks and then proceed with Git Push.

User-Friendly Interface – The interface of the CapRover dashboard is user-friendly. New users can also benefit from a video tutorial that is available on the official site of CapRover. 

DigitalOcean App Platform

If you are looking for an affordable and fully-managed infrastructure to deploy, test and build your applications, then consider the DigitalOcean App Platform. Its Starter plan doesn’t cost you anything, and the monthly fee of the Basic program begins from $5.

Features

Fast Deployments – This PaaS platform empowers the developers to set up their scripts precisely from GitLab and GitHub repositories.

Scalable – App Platform can scale your project vertically and horizontally without giving you a shock of overcharges. 

Rollback – It is seamless to rollback the last set-up or activity of your applications with the App Platform. Also, it has the ability to monitor the progress of your app with great clarity. 

Mendix aPaaS

This is basically an aPaaS or Application Platform as a Service provider that confers a cloud infrastructure to build, test, deploy and administer application services.

More than 300k programmers are already using the services of Mendix. So, it is the right PaaS platform if you want reliable community support for your upcoming project.

Features

One-Click Deployments – Whether you want an on-premises, public or private cloud deployment for your app, Mendix aPaaS needs a few clicks. You just need to visit the Mendix Studios, share Model Repository and proceed with SDKs. 

Highly Productive – Mendix claims to overcome the time to market by 50% and team effort by 70%. 

Azure Pipelines

If you need a free-to-begin cloud or self-hosted environment for your macOS, Linux, or Windows applications, then go with Azure Pipelines. Luckily, you can deploy and host 10 open-source projects here for free.

Features

Continuous Testing – DevOps Server of Azure helps coders continuously test their applications to avoid failures. This constant testing is valid for all kinds of frameworks, environments and programming languages. 

Powerful Workflows – Container jobs play a robust role here in delivering rapid code executions and regular builds.  

Salesforce aPaaS

With the robust support of Heroku and Force.com, Salesforce also offers PaaS services to its users. Salesforce delivers the most reliable software and hardware resources to its users in this regard with a free trial opportunity.

Features

Easy Customization – Salesforce is considered the leader of aPaaS solutions because of its highly productive environment and customization options for all programming technologies. 

App Builder Wizard – The Lightening App Builder Wizard enables developers to create and deploy apps from scratch. Moreover, this feature also benefits smooth third-party integrations, reusable components and app exchange. 

AppFog

AppFog is an open-source PaaS platform that is designed on the top of Cloud Foundry. It is known to remove all barriers developers face while deploying and building innovative applications on PaaS.

Features

Support for Web Applications – AppFog gives out-of-the-box support to web applications, their URLs and multiple runtime environments. 

Temporary Applications – To speed up the development process, IT departments can build and deploy temporary applications with AppFog. These apps could be online for months, years or days but still beneficial to launch MVP.

Clever Cloud

Clever Cloud is a France-based Platform as a Service provider that permits businesses to emphasize code and deals with all infrastructure needs. Sigfox, Solocal and Devoxx are prominent companies that use Clever Cloud for different tech stacks.

Features

Managed Services – Clever Cloud promises fully-managed services with built-in security and autoscaling properties. 

Support for Enterprises – If you are running a mission-critical application or an enterprise and need special help, consider using Clever Cloud Premium. It is packed with priority support for big enterprises. 

Scalingo

Scalingo is another one of the best PaaS providers that grants backing for more than 50 runtime environments and languages. This platform also claims 100% fast deployment and a reduction in expenses.

Features

Europe-Based Data Centres – Scalingo hosts all of its data on Europe-based servers and data centres. You can elect this PaaS if your target audiences are Europe based. In this regard, this PaaS provider complies with ISO 27001, GDPR and HDS.

High Availability – With 99.9% SLA, Scalingo is also considered one of the highly available PaaS Platforms. You can also access its database within seconds.

Conclusion

It is onerous to shortlist a single PaaS platform among a variety of choices. However, it is better to pick a Platform as a Service solution that meets all of your requirements. Hopefully, this thorough guide with insight details will help startups, developers, SMEs and enterprises in this regard.