Free Backend as a Service

Server-side technologies have been very enterprising since the last decade. Significantly, free Backend as a Service (BaaS) platforms have become prevalent among businesses and dev teams.

An Allied Market Research reportanticipates that the BaaS industry’s market size will hit 28.7 billion USD by 2032.

Also, it is crucial to know this market size was only 3.1 billion USD in 2022. So, this forecast report professes the BaaS industry is expanding with a compound annual growth rate of 25.3%.

Correspondingly, another report by Future Market Insights claims that the global BaaS market will reach 27.0166 billion USD by the end of 2033. This figure was only 3.0114 billion USD in 2023. 

This data presents the rapid adoption of this cloud computing service. However, it is also significant for firms and developers to choose a sterling Backend as a Service (BaaS) solution with a free tier offering.

So, this article will showcase the best options with their essential details. 

What is a Backend as a Service?

BaaS, or Backend as a Service, is a cloud computing design that permits dev teams to hire server-side functionalities for building and deploying backends.

Indeed, BaaS solutions allow you to emphasize the frontends of IoT, mobile, and web applications, and these vendors ought to provide backend services. 

Here, BaaS or MBaaS providers offer pre-built features like authentication, database management, notifications, SDKs, and APIs. Therefore, developers don’t have to spend time scripting long codes. 

The prominent Backend as a Service (BaaS) providers that come along with costless plans are Back4app, Firebase, AWS Amplify, Kuzzle, and Supabase.  

What are the Benefits of a Backend as a Service?

Let’s delve into the major benefits of this cloud-based model:

• Backend vendors deal with server-side logic, DB and user administration, making it quick for businesses to build and run applications. Yes, fast development and less time to market are its key benefits.

• Unlike conventional development, these cloud-based services are cost-efficient. Most of them only bill you for consumed resources. Besides, fully managed and off-premises infrastructure are primary advantages.

• Rapid scalability, more emphasis on core business, improved security, and compliance are also leading perks of using these services.

What are the Key Features of a Backend as a Service?

Here are the pressing features of Backend as a Service:

Data Model

Data models are crucial in managing database systems. They clearly depict data parts and the relationships between different data frameworks and points. You can design them based on your needs and obtain useful information. 

APIs

Another BaaS feature is the availability of readymade APIs or application programming interfaces for server-side programming.

BaaS vendors let developers interact with third-party services and various backend functionalities using APIs.  

Serverless Functions

Serverless functions enable dev teams to add powerful server-side logic to applications. In this regard, you only ought to write JS code without managing servers and employing DevOps.

Reduced operational overhead and accelerated time to market are also perks of this feature. 

Notifications

Notifications are crucial for attaining and retaining application users. Fortunately, when you use BaaS platforms, they provide fully tailored notifications to draw users’ attention.

Besides, this pre-installed functionality doesn’t need any coding from developers.

Top 10 Free Backend as a Service

Here are the top-notch vendors that help in generating backends:

1. Back4app

Established in 2015, Back4app is an open-source Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider that handles server-side functions. This low-code vendor makes it easy to run and craft backends for mobile and web applications. 

In this regard, it caters to real-time data models to backlog adequate information. Similarly, Back4app supplies GraphQL and REST APIs for connecting various operations.

You can open an account on this platform without conveying credit card details and start using its chargeless services. 

This vendor is suitable for all sizes of businesses because it allows you to scale up and down instances anytime.

Hereof, Back4app grants both horizontal and vertical scaling. Moreover, GDPR-compliant traits give it an edge over rivals.

Further advantages of using Back4app include a multi-cloud setup, detailed documentation, predictable pricing, and efficient performance.

Features

• Database – Real-time database support is a primary characteristic of cloud solutions. Back4app enables dev teams to illustrate, store, and fetch non-relational and relational datasets. This feature has the powerful backing of SDKs and APIs to perform such tasks. 

• Cloud Code Functions – This feature is conventionally utilized for computing server-side logic in applications. This trait allows you to seamlessly connect different Back4app aspects, such as DB and user management systems, by serving a single agenda. 

• Authentication – Back4app unburdens its clients from the headache of managing app users. Indeed, this vendor has a full-stack user management system that handles password encoding, signups, and more. 

• Push Notifications – You can robustly deploy notifications to engage application users. Developers can approach this functionality with a few clicks without writing additional programming code.

Back4app Pricing

Back4app has a straightforward, low-cost pricing structure with a free tier. First of all, if we share its Free Plan, it is chargeless for 25,000 req/month, 1 subscribed app, 1GB file storage, and 250MB data storage. 

Secondly, the primary cost of the MVP program is $15/per/month if you bill annually. Ticket support, 50GB file storage, 2GB data storage, and 500,000 req/month are key highlights of this package. 

2. Firebase

Founded in 2011, Firebase is another exclusive backend development option on our list. Powered by Google Cloud, Firebase is an ideal platform for building, running, hosting and deploying cross-platform applications. 

It provides a complete set of computing services, from a database and remote configuration to AI technologies, to help businesses and developers.

Some of its prominent features are Cloud Firestore, Genkit, Cloud Messaging, Cloud Functions, and Firebase ML.

Similarly, Firebase supports a wide range of frontend technologies such as Java, JS, Kotlin, Swift, Objective-C and Dart.

You can begin using this vendor if you have a Google account. It doesn’t ask for credit card details to utilize its no-cost plan.

Ample community support, easy third-party integrations and ML functions are further advantages of creating apps with Firebase. 

Features

• Data Connect – This novel Firebase trait authorizes dev teams to query, gather and secure SQL schemas through Cloud SQL. Yes, it supports PostgreSQL. However, the other two databases, Firestore and Realtime DB, are only eligible for NoSQL data structures. 

• Authentication – Another crucial aspect of this vendor is a fully managed and protected user management system. It provides built-in authentication functionalities with end-to-end encryption and a highly customizable signup interface.

• Firebase ML – Most developers want to use an MBaaS platform that backs machine learning projects. Fortunately, Firebase is a reliable option in this regard. Developers can employ Firebase ML to discipline custom models or choose Cloud Vision APIs to perform ML tasks here.

• Cloud Messaging – FCM is traditionally used to generate target messaging and set up highly tailored push notifications. This feature is also ultimately linked with Google Analytics, so you can monitor end users’ reactions. 

Firebase Pricing 

Firebase categorizes its pricing structure into pay-as-you-go and no-cost offerings. Firstly, the Spark plan doesn’t cost anything for generous instances. Its pivotal features are 50,000 MAUs, 50,000 reads/day, and 5GB of cloud storage. 

Conversely, Blaze plan pursues a pay-as-you-go policy. You are only billed for exerted backend resources. 

3. Backendless

Backendless is an incredible MBaaS choice for non-technical personnel because of its no-code nature. This open-source platform relies on pre-built APIs to perform distinct server-side operations. 

Similarly, its features, such as graphical DB representation and visual UI builder, give it an edge over other vendors.

Furthermore, Backendless doesn’t compromise on application performance. You can seamlessly build, deploy, and run high-performing apps using this solution.

It also allows you to extend the backend resources anytime. Yes, if you begin your programming journey from its free tier, you can switch to paid offerings anytime.

Codeless logic, real-time data, caching and pre-designed templates are further benefits of using Backendless.

Features

• UI Builder – This BaaS vendor is a full-stack app development platform with a visual UI builder. Yes, you can’t only develop backends but can also deal with the client side of apps using this trait.

• Database Management – Developers don’t need to write scripts to manage databases. Fortunately, Backendless has a visual database supporting SQL and non-relational schemas. 

• User Engagement – Backendless offers developers various features to engage app users. These include landing pages, email marketing, and push notifications, which can be employed without writing any code.

• API Services – This platform is known for delivering secure and pre-installed plugins, SDKs and APIs to conduct different backend tasks. Some of them are instant APIs and AI audio and image plugins. 

Backendless Pricing

Backendless offers two pricing models: the Free Plan and the Scale Plan.

The Free Plan is a freemium solution that delivers 15,000 data objects, 1GB of disk space, and 2 cloud code scripts for nothing. The Scale Plan follows a fixed pricing model and bills $15+ monthly.

4. Kuzzle

If you are handling enterprise-grade data science and IoT projects for construction and logistics industries, Kuzzle should be your preference.

This is another open-source Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider on our list that offers both on-premises and cloud solutions.

Founded in 2017, Kuzzle has facilitated 1 million product downloads and has 4 million connected devices. Its NoSQL database support, advanced backend technologies, and rapid scalability are further advantages.

Features

• Multi-Protocol API – Developers can conveniently customize API protocols according to their requirements. However, APIs’ default settings back MQTT, HTTP, and WebSocket.

• Real-Time Engine – This functionality is responsible for serving data in the meantime and conferring a spontaneous UX. It lets you approach the database and pub/sub notifications on the fly.

• SDKs – Kuzzle has a wide range of SDKs that authorize dev teams to build backends for numerous frontend technologies. Yes, these SDKs support React, Dart, JS, Vue, Angular, and several others.

• User Authentication – Employing a user authentication feature with Kuzzle is simple. This platform lets you verify a new user through 500+ approaches.

Kuzzle Pricing

Kuzzle Backend is free to install to build web, IoT and mobile applications. Its community support also costs you nothing. However, on-demand technical support could be paid. 

5. 8Base

8Base is another simplified application development platform that comes with a powerful backing of artificial intelligence (AI).

Like other BaaS vendors, it lets you focus on core business and takes responsibility for all server-side chores. 

It concludes backend operations into five straightforward steps: data modeling, data querying, defining roles, and running serverless functions. 

Features

• Authentication – 8Base uses a secure authentication system to validate the app users. For an initial 500 subscribers, you can employ its native auth support. Similarly, you can also hire a third-party authentication provider for your projects. 

• File Handling – With robust backing of AWS S3, file handling is very smooth with 8Base. You can safely deploy files and access them within a few clicks. 

• Easy Integrations – 8Base utilizes APIs to connect backends with third-party solutions. Indeed, it is simple to link your server-side with Stripe, Salesforce, and several other services.

• Frontend Technologies – This vendor allows you to choose a client-side technology. Yes, it is compatible with popular frontend solutions like Vue, React, Swift, Android, Flutter, and Gridsome.

8Base Pricing

For 100,000/month API calls, 2GB bandwidth, 2500 DB rows and 0.5GB file storage, 8Base costs you nothing under its Free Plan. Withal, this BaaS vendor bills you $25/month for its Developer package. 

6. Appwrite

Are you finding a highly extensible open-source BaaS provider for your upcoming project? If yes, you shouldn’t skip Appwrite.

This platform has delivered 90k projects and 1 billion requests to 20,000 firms. It is a reliable app builder with 99.99% uptime and 42k+ repository stars on GitHub.

Appwrite enables you to choose a frontend language and leverage its exclusive features, such as authentication, functions, and storage. Its user-friendly dashboard also requires minimal coding.

Features

• Auth – Appwrite has multiplex auth methods to confirm users. You can verify them through over 30 authentication mechanisms. 

• Database – The highly responsive DBMS of Appwrite makes it quick to query, filter, and backlog data. It follows modern permission procedures and offers tailored data validation. 

• Storage – Administering and uploading files is uncomplicated with Appwrite. This platform has pre-installed capabilities for storing and compressing all types of data.

• Messaging – This feature allows businesses to interact seamlessly with app users. Firms can send in-app messages and push notifications using this function.

Appwrite Pricing

Appwrite facilitates prototypes and students with a Free plan. Under this program, you can access 2GB storage, 75,000 MAUs, and 10GB bandwidth. On the other hand, the starting cost of its Pro plan is $15/month/member. 

7. Supabase

Supabase is one of the finest cloud service providers you can utilize as an alternative to Firebase.

This open-source vendor is known for its scalability, 100% portable database and edge functions. Therefore, with 68k+ GitHub repository stars, Supabase could be an ideal free BaaS provider.

Moreover, its support for 20+ frameworks and community-designed templates differentiate it from rivals. Besides, it is compliant with HIPAA and SOC 2 Type II.

Features

• Portable Database – PostgreSQL is a broadly used database with improved indexing and an MVCC optimization approach. Supabase bestows open-source Postgres DBMS to its users.

• Auth – Multiplatform authentication is another appealing attribute of this vendor. You can deploy authentication through different social and email accounts.

• Storage – Scalable object storage is a dominant Supabase feature. It uses distinct APIs to store data ultrafastly. You can also preview backlogged files anytime.

• Realtime – Supabase provides extraordinary support to real-time applications. It relies on WebSockets to give the apps spontaneous functionality. 

Supabase Pricing

If your project requires 1GB file storage, 50,000 MAUs, and 5GB bandwidth, you can use the Free plan. This program costs nothing. Conversely, the pro plan costs $25/month. 

8. NHost

NHost is a purely open-source Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider with a free tier.

Its sleek dashboard lets developers ship and configure backends within minutes. Later, dev teams can emphasize client-side operations and core business. 

Correspondingly, you can deploy your Git-hosted script using NHost. This cloud service offers a fully managed cloud infrastructure, fast development, and improved GraphQL. 

Features

• Database – NHost has a Postgres DB you can handle like a spreadsheet. For sure, you don’t need technical expertise to add and edit data and tables.

• GraphQL API – This vendor grants GraphQL API the ability to federate data, enable real-time subscriptions, and query data on the breeze. Hasura GraphQL Engine endorses this API to speed up trigger functions.

• Auth – Managing users is duck soup with NHost. You can employ enterprise-level authentication within seconds for your mobile and web applications. In this regard, you can also set up enterprise SSO, multi-factor authentication and WebAuthn integration.

• AI Toolkit – AI’s role is snowballing in all walks of life. Businesses are also benefiting from AI in advancing their backend development tasks.   

NHost Pricing

With a 1GB database, automated deployments, and 5GB egress, Starter is NHost’s free tier offering. Users must pay $25/project/month for the Pro plan. 

9. AWS Amplify

AWS Amplify is an authoritative, full-fledged app development platform powered by Amazon Web Services. Indeed, this vendor is suitable for crafting backends and generating highly tailored frontends. 

AWS Amplify is an appropriate BaaS provider for building cross-platform, native mobile, single-page, SSR, and static applications easily.

It takes only a few hours to convert your idea into a lively and responsive web or mobile app.

Features

• DataStore – It  is a compelling storage engine that gathers all types of data on the cloud. Whether you are offline or online, you can approach this data through visual models.

• Authentication – Completely administered user directory and customized signup UI are other benefits of Amplify. This feature comes with readymade UI elements and dedicated authorization.

• APIs – AWS Amplify offers GraphQL and REST APIs to aid server-side functions. You can also integrate AWS Amplify with other services via these API protocols. 

• Amplify Hosting – This vendor lets you host your web and mobile applications with maximum uptime and zero configuration. CI/CD workflows also speed up the development process hereof.

AWS Amplify Pricing

AWS Amplify is free of charge for 500,000 SSR monthly request counts, 5GB CDN storage and 1000 build minutes. You can also use the AWS Calculator to predict the pricing.  

10. PocketBase

PocketBase is an innovative open-source backend development platform. It uses SQLite for database management and is considered a trusted solution for mobile and SaaS projects.

You can simply download its version, which is compatible with your device, and begin using this platform.

This vendor also features a user-friendly admin dashboard, file storage, and support for popular frontend technologies.

However, this is an evolving platform, so it is not advised to use it for complicated or enterprise-grade projects.

Features

• Real-time Database – PocketBase stores, searches, and analyzes data in the meantime using REST APIs. This DBMS offers advantages such as Quick response to events and fast deployments.

• Authentication – You can empower application users to register using any social or Git platform. Some of them are GitLab, Google, GitHub and Facebook.

• Easy Migrations – PocketBase doesn’t come with vendor lock-in, so developers can smoothly migrate their apps from one platform to another. Its pre-installed migration command plays a significant role in this regard. 

PocketBase Pricing

PocketBase is a free-to-install Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider. Knowing that you are downloading an appropriate app version and size is crucial.

Conclusion

Having reviewed the top-rated BaaS vendors, it is difficult to rank a single option as the best freemium BaaS provider.

Yes, all of these listed Backend as a Service (BaaS) providers have a free tier and unique features. You should choose them according to the exigencies of your project.

Thus, decide wisely!