Firebase for enterprise

Enterprises are looking more and more for ways to accelerate application development. Firebase, it’s a great product from Google and would be the natural choice for that. However, it has limitations that may prevent enterprises from using the platform. Some examples are proprietary lock-in, lack of enterprise contracts, and not offering infrastructure environment customization.

If that is your case, please keep reading this article, and I will explain why Back4app is a great enterprise alternative for Firebase.

What is Back4app?

Back4app is a low-code backend platform to build mobile and web applications.

Core Features

Here is a summary of Back4app’s features:

• Scalable Database with a spreadsheet like interface
• APIs (REST and GraphQL)
• Cloud Functions for business logic
• Authentication
• Notifications
• File Storage

What’s the differences between Back4app and Firebase?

Why use Back4app for your enterprise needs?

Proprietary vs Open-Source

Back4app works with Open-Source technologies and has no vendor lock-in. Examples are Parse Server, Postgres, NGIX, etc. On the other hand, Firebase is a proprietary technology from Google. It’s a black box that you have few control over it.

SQL vs. NoSQL Databases

Back4app works with SQL and NoSQL databases. Customers can choose between these two database options depending on the application needs. Second, Back4app allows customers to run databases by themselves and to connect it to a multi-tenant dashboard. On the other hand, Firebase works only with two NoSQL proprietary databases (Firestore and the Real-Time Database). Also, there is no flexibility in terms of hosting options or on-premises deployment.

Complex Queries

Scaling complex queries is sometimes challenging on NoSQL databases. Even after the improvements achieved with the Firestore database, their NoSQL structure may prevent high-performance querying for specific use cases. Back4app delivers more flexibility in this regard and provide customers with the option to create cross-table relations at the schema level on a NoSQL database or querying over a Postgres database.

Hosting Options

Enterprises usually require more flexibility in terms of hosting, either selecting a preferred cloud provider, private clusters for deployment, or even on-premises solutions. That’s the case with Back4app. On the other hand, Firebase will only offer a shared and standardized Google Cloud deployment.

Application Performance

Back4app works with open-source technologies and we are able to customize the source-code or infrastructure settings to deliver the best performance possible to our customers. That’s not possible with Firebase because the technology is proprietary and there is no flexibility in terms of hosting.

Support

Back4app delivers tailor-made support options for large clients. Just tell us your requirements, and we will provide support options that will meet your needs. However, Firebase does not provide Enterprise contracts, pricing, or support.

Want to know more about Back4app?

Please schedule a call using the link below:

Enterprise Call

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