Top 10 PaaS Providers

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is playing an influential role in boosting software development work rate. Indeed, PaaS is also known because of its automatic deployment, scalability, reduction in capital cost and many other features.

Due to these characteristics, the use of this cloud computing type has enlarged in the past few years. According to Statista’s researcher Kimberly Mlitz, the market value of PaaS could reach around 71 billion USD by 2022. However, this value was only 4 billion USD in 2015.

Nevertheless, users still have many confusions about the use of PaaS, the right service providers and advantages. That’s why in this article, we are going to explain top PaaS providers, their characteristics and major benefits with readers.

The article will follow the structure below:

• What is cloud computing?
• What is PaaS?
• PaaS benefits
• Top 10 PaaS service providers
• Comparison Table
• Conclusion

Want to know more? Keep reading.

What is Cloud Computing?

To boost efficiency, creativity and delivery of quickly scalable resources, the provision of information technology assistance through the internet refers to cloud computing.

These cloud computing resources typically consist of storage, analytics, database, server, networking and software. Organizations prefer cloud computing because of its inexpensive nature, where they only pay for what they use.

Amazon Web Services, IBM, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure are the top cloud computing providers. Businesses use these cloud computing platforms for distinct services.

Likewise, finance-related companies use them to inspect transaction scams in real-time. Programming companies use them to develop software and keep their users’ data safe.

Withal, if we talk about its classes, then it is categorized into four major kinds. Indeed, these cloud computing classes are Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Backend as a Service (BaaS).

What is PaaS?

An environment to build, operate and administer an application without managing the complex functionalities of cloud infrastructure is known as PaaS.

Undoubtedly, Platform as a Service (PaaS) permits the developers or companies to emphasize the ingenious aspects of the software other than the typical chores.

For example, these conventional tasks could be security amendments or management of application’s updates. Luckily, with PaaS, programmers only need to focus on developing, testing, and deploying an application.

Moreover, scalability, provision of middleware, fast development and easy licensing are also some perks that PaaS offers. Withal, if we discuss top PaaS cloud providers, then Amazon Elastic Beanstalk, Dokku and Google App Engine are the trustworthy ones.

What are the Advantages of Using a PaaS Platform?

PaaS platform provides a variety of benefits to its users, but we are going to discuss the core ones here:

Cost-Effective

The major benefit of using Platform as a Service is its cost-effective characteristic. First of all, when companies go with PaaS, they don’t have to pay for physical infrastructure. Indeed, businesses don’t need to spend anything on particular server tools or hardware.

Similarly, it is also not required to consume several hours on managing and establishing the stack. Moreover, most PaaS providers offer a pay-as-you-go pricing model where you pay for what you use.

Quick Development

The development of any software is also quick with PaaS. Yes, with PaaS, developers provide the coding script and conduct the app trail only. The remaining operations are done by the Platform as a Service provider.

This fast creation of an application also speeds up the marketing procedure. Indeed, companies get more time for marketing with cloud computing infrastructures.

Scalability

This PaaS environment also allows developers to utilize reusable code to remodel or expand the app’s features anytime. Yes, it is seamless to scale up or down a particular application with PaaS.

Particularly, the scaling system of PaaS permits the delivery of vital resources and robotic allotments. Therefore, it is convenient to expand or modify an application with fewer or more users with such characteristics. 

Regular Updates

Consistent and steady updates are considered essential for the success of any application, and PaaS also fulfils this requirement. Mainly, if you are using a self-build stack, then your software would be updated timely.

In this way, developers don’t have to give their time to install new updates or integrate the latest features. These timely updates also improve the performance of applications.

Multiple Platform Development

It is always challenging for businesses to build applications for different platforms separately. However, PaaS doesn’t give this headache to companies.

The giant PaaS providers permit companies to build an application for various platforms. This model of cloud computing saves the time and cost of development uses for different platforms.

Best for Custom Solutions

Platform as a Service class of cloud computing always fascinates the innovative developers and businesses that want custom solutions. As compared to the rivals, PaaS providers don’t force clients to go with pre-built solutions.

In fact, these PaaS platforms create a complacent environment for users where they can design the best solutions for their businesses. So, if you want to develop with entire freedom without the condition of using ready-made cloud solutions, then PaaS is the best choice for you.

Top 10 PaaS Providers

Although numerous cloud vendors are offering PaaS services but here we are sharing the best PaaS providers with their necessary details. 

Back4app

Back4app is a reputed backend service that has been operating since 2015 and has more than 1,000 customers in more than 100 countries. It works with an amalgamation of open-source technologies, and it’s a great option to accelerate application development.

Core Features

• Build & Deploy
• Docker containers
• Out-of-the-box GitHub integration
• Managed and scalable infrastructure
• Easy-to-understand and predictable pricing

Heroku

Heroku is one of the most famous names among the top Platform as a Service provider. This dynamic PaaS provider was launched in 2017. It is based on a managed container system with data services and an impressive ecosystem. Moreover, the most popular dev tools are integrated with it to improve the development experience.

Core Features

Heroku OpEx — Heroku Operation Experience is one of the most useful features for developers to track the app health. It helps the developers to troubleshoot the common issues related to the application. Heroku provides the tools that alert the users if anything goes wrong with the app, like app health, performance, etc.

Security — Heroku always considers security as the most important aspect. That is why it never compromises security. In addition, Heroku maintains HIPAA, SOC, PCI and ISO compliance to strengthen the safety of its cloud infrastructure.

Deploy Code & Execute — Programmers only need to deploy the written code in Node, Ruby, PHP, Python, Go, Scala or Clojure. Then, Heroku’s build system will automatically produce an app that is ready for execution.

Heroku DX — Heroku provides an app-oriented path for developers named Heroku Developer Experience. Developers do not need to manage infrastructures or servers. The developers can directly deploy the applications through famous tools like Git. Heroku dashboard is accommodating to manage and deploy applications easily and quickly.

AWS Elastic Beanstalk

Amazon is always among the top providers when it comes to cloud technology. Amazon Web Services are worth using PaaS providers. Indeed, Amazon grants Platform as a Service with the name of AWS Elastic Beanstalk.

AWS provides this service to set up, manage and scale an application easily. It supports different programming languages and tools, including Java, .NET, Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go & Docker.

Core Features

Elastic Load Balancing — AWS provides the feature of Load Balancer, which helps in improving the performance of the application. It automatically distributes the application traffic towards different targets. It provides various kinds of load balancers that help in high availability, automatic scaling and security.

Health Monitoring — Amazon CloudWatch is a feature that AWS provides to monitor the resources and applications performance. It helps in gathering the metrics related to your app’s health & track them. You can also create a customized dashboard to analyze these metrics anytime.

Auto Scaling — AWS Auto scaling characteristic is very beneficial to maintain the application resources according to the need. You can easily add or remove resources with a click when demand increases or decreases.

Quick & Simple — You can deploy your applications easily by using development tools like Git. You can also use AWS console or IDEs to manage and deploy your applications on AWS.

Dokku

Dokku is one of the smallest Platform as a Service providers, and its monthly subscription starts from $10. Dokku provides extraordinary and easy to use features to deploy, supervise and maintain the applications.

In addition, you can customize Dokku PaaS and extend it by writing plugins in any language. This open-source PaaS helps in deploying virtual servers effortlessly. The CLI interface of Dokku is accommodating and easy to use as compared to other PaaS providers.

Core Features

Easy Deployment — By using Git, you can easily deploy your applications on Dokku PaaS in just a few commands. You do not need to understand the infrastructure of Dokku to make the deployments. You can deploy your application by using the Git command line. You may also use Docker or Tarfile deployment methods.

Extensible Platform — Dokku lets you customize your Platform as a Service. You can write Dokku plugins in any language and make them online, so others can use those features. It is seamless to contribute to the PaaS community with Dokku.

Backup and Recovery — Dokku provides the data backup opportunity. You can take backup for recovery in case of data loss. You can recover your data in seconds through this backup.

Resource Management — Dokku provides the facility to manage the server resources easily and quickly anytime. Developers can add resources to your server anytime to upgrade it. Moreover, programmers can also reserve resources for later use.

DigitalOcean App Platform

DigitalOcean App Platform is a very simple and easy to use PaaS provider where developers can deploy, scale and administer their applications. The developer desires to write the code and deploy it with a click. Therefore, with this PaaS provider, there is no effort except writing the code.

Core Features

Fully Managed — DigitalOcean App Platform is a fully managed platform for developers to set up their applications. The developers do not need to understand and handle the infrastructure. DigitalOcean manages the provision of infrastructure, database, etc.

Easy Scaling — This PaaS provider allows users to scale apps horizontally and vertically. This is a very inexpensive solution for the customers. With this convenient scaling, customers can add and remove the resources according to their time centric requirements.

Multiple Languages Support — DigitalOcean App Platform supports multiple languages, including Python, Node, Ruby, Go, PHP & Hugo. This platform also backs the frameworks of these languages. If you have the application written in some other language, then you can deploy it by providing a Docker file in the source repository of the project. It means that you can deploy any application on this platform.

Google App Engine

Google Cloud introduced this PaaS platform in 2008. Google App Engine is the platform where you can build and scale your applications on a fully managed platform. Yes, it is entirely serverless. It helps in building and deploying applications written in popular languages. It also supports managing resources easily from the command line.

Core Features

Extendable & Flexible — Google App Engine supports most of the famous programming languages, including Node, JAVA, Ruby, etc. If you have written your application in a language that is not supported by Google App Engine, then you can deploy it by using Docker container. Furthermore, you can bring any library to extend it according to the need.

Fully Managed — Developers do not want to lose their focus from coding. That is why Google App Engine is fully managed. Moreover, it is also not required to administer this infrastructure.

App Security — Google App Engine helps in maintaining the security of the application by defining access rules. App Engine implements firewall and SSL/TLS certificates by default on your applications without adding any additional cost.

Versioning — App versioning is beneficial for developers to handle different versions of applications. Google App Engine supports hosting different versions of applications for development and testing.

Red Hat OpenShift

Red Hat OpenShift is one of the most popular cloud service providers. As a PaaS provider, it grants the platform where you can easily create, set up and manage your applications without interfering with the infrastructure.

In addition, developers can also deploy it on public, private or hybrid cloud according to their needs. It is also effortless to maintain and scale applications on the cloud by using this Platform as a Service provider.

Core Features

Easy & Continuous Deployment — Red Hat OpenShift helps the developers in deploying and updating the application easily and quickly. Deployment is automated on OpenShift with default triggers. So whenever the developer pushes the code after changes, it automatically updates on the server without any further task.

Interactive User Interface — Red Hat OpenShift provides an interactive dashboard where customers can easily manage most of their work. The easy to use and interactive interface of the dashboard is conducive to perform certain tasks on it.

Command Line Interface — Command Line Interface of Red Hat OpenShift is very helpful for performing tasks with broader functionalities. The complex functionalities can be performed using the CLI of OpenShift.

Certified Kubernetes — Red Hat OpenShift Platform is the part of CNCF Certified Kubernetes program. Through this, Red Hat OpenShift ensures the compatibility and interoperability between your container workloads.

Engine Yard

Engine Yard is an American Platform as a Service provider company that is based in San Francisco, California. Engine Yard is focused on a few languages, but those languages are in demand. These languages are Ruby, PHP & Node JS. Moreover, this PaaS solution is also used for deploying and managing applications on AWS.

Core Features

Quick & Easy — This Platform as a Service solution is very easily operated. You can deploy and manage your applications on the cloud with no operational support, which means that this is the best solution if you need quick management.

GIT Push Deployment — Most of the developers need to update the project again and again due to continuous changes in the project. By using Engine Yard, you can deploy projects and conduct these modifications quickly by using the GIT push command after connecting the GIT repository with your platform.

Application Logs — Log Aggregation capabilities of Engine Yard PaaS solution are beneficial to analyze the app errors. You can also diagnose performance problems using this feature of Engine Yard.

Backup & Recovery — Backup service is beneficial to recover files and data in case of data loss. This PaaS solution automatically runs the backups and database. Replicas are also created automatically.

AWS Lambda

AWS Lambda is another one of the most popular Platform as a Service solutions introduced by Amazon launched in 2014. It is a serverless computing service where you can execute your applications on the cloud without managing or provisioning the servers.

It takes all the responsibility of running the application and resources management like compute execution power. Coders can write Lambda functions in any programming language to automate things and perform complex functions.

Core Features

Continuous Scaling — AWS Lambda provides the feature of continuous scaling, which means that it will scale the application according to the workload. You will not have to worry about the performance of applications because of this feature of Lambda.

No Server Management — Lambda is a completely serverless Platform as a Service solution for the developers. Undoubtedly, they do not have to manage the infrastructure. They can upload the code through Zip or image file and execute it.

Cost Optimization — Lambda only charges for the compute that customers use. The customers do not need to buy any over-provisioned infrastructure or package where they need to pay for the feature which is not being used. It charges for the resources and features that you use every millisecond and does not overcharge.

Lambda Functions — The developers can write the Lambda function to perform different functionalities in any language and use serverless and container tools.

Salesforce Lightning Platform

Salesforce introduced one of the best Platform as a Service providers with the name of Lightning Platform. You can use the Salesforce Lightning platform to easily form, set up and maintain your applications without managing the infrastructure.

Furthermore, it provides the tools and features to optimize the apps’ speed and performance. As a result, you can use this platform to build and manage your applications more productively without taking yourself into unnecessary things.

Core Features

Lightning App Builder — The lightning platform provides the feature of Lightning App Builder, which is helpful if you are not a programmer and want to build an app. You can create an application by using this application builder without writing a single line of code.

Ready to Go Components — The lightning platform provides the pre-built components that can be used in the app if you need any of its functionality. In addition, it helps script the code only, which is necessary to write. Thus, it also saves your time and effort.

Easily Manage Applications — The Lightning Platform of Salesforce is straightforward to use where you do not need to manage anything other than developing and updating the applications. Everything other than developing the apps is being done by this PaaS provider.

Pivotal Cloud Foundry

Cloud Foundry is a large-scale cloud computing services provider. It introduced the Platform as a Service solution with the name of ‘Pivotal’ in 2013.

Pivotal Cloud Foundry platform is the PaaS solution where you can deploy and manage your application and resources instantaneously. Developers also do not need to consume much time because of easy deployments means and interface.

Core Features

Automated Deployments — This platform is straightforward to use to deploy apps. You can use pre-existing tools to deploy your apps and updates with a few clicks.

External Load Balancers — Load balancers are very helpful for the better performance of the applications. Pivotal Cloud Foundry grants the load balancing to every PAS Router IP address. It helps the traffic to be divided equally, and the application can give its best performance.

Manage Users — You can create different types of users to manage different tasks on this PaaS solution.

PaaS Providers Comparison Table

Conclusion

The use of PaaS providers is increasing because of their exciting advantages. However, it is still difficult for businesses to adopt the right PaaS provider.

That’s why this article explained the advantages of Platform as a Service with the top PaaS providers. Hopefully, this guide would assist you in picking the righteous option for your project.

FAQ