How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Supabase is the strongest default for teams that want PostgreSQL, auth, storage, and edge functions in one place, with a free plan for prototypes.
- Firebase still leads for mobile apps that need deep Google integration and a very large set of services, but its usage billing needs careful monitoring.
- Open source options such as Appwrite and PocketBase give you a clear exit path, because you can run the same software on your own server.
- Convex is the best fit for TypeScript teams building live, collaborative interfaces, while Xano fits teams that prefer visual backend logic.
- Usage priced platforms look cheap at first, so model egress, active users, and function calls before you commit.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Supabase | PostgreSQL apps with auth and storage | $25 per month | Yes |
 Firebase | Mobile apps on Google Cloud | See website | Yes |
 Appwrite | Self hosted open source backends | $10 per month | Yes |
 Convex | Real time TypeScript apps | $25 per developer/month | Yes |
 Backendless | Visual backend logic and push | $15 per month | Yes |
 Xano | No code production backends | $85 per month (billed annually) | Yes |
 Nhost | GraphQL apps on PostgreSQL | $25 per month | Yes |
 Back4App | Managed Parse apps with flat pricing | $15 per month (billed annually) | Yes |
 PocketBase | Small self hosted apps | $0 per month | Yes |
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The best backend as a service
#1Supabase
Best for: PostgreSQL apps with auth and storage4.6/5 on
G2 (232 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit supabase.com
Starting price$25 per month
Free planYes
Supabase suits developers who already think in SQL and want a database they can inspect, query, and move with standard PostgreSQL tools. You get auth with social logins, file storage, realtime subscriptions, and edge functions around the same project, so a small team can ship a full product without stitching together four vendors. The dashboard is clear, the documentation is deep, and the open source code means self hosting stays possible if your needs change.
The catch is billing. The Pro plan starts at $25 per month, but compute, disk, egress, storage, and monthly active users are metered on top of that base in many setups. A quiet prototype stays cheap, while a media heavy app or a large user base needs a spreadsheet model before launch. Keep the spend cap in mind, watch egress early, and treat the free plan as a place to build and learn, not as production hosting.
What we like- Full PostgreSQL with row level security
- Auto generated APIs from your schema
- Auth, storage, realtime, and edge functions included
Watch out for- Free projects pause after one week of inactivity
- Usage charges for compute, egress, and active users can add up
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Firebase remains the broadest backend platform in this list. A mobile team can add auth, a realtime or document database, file storage, hosting, push messaging, analytics, and crash reporting from one console and one set of SDKs. That breadth matters when you want to move fast and you already use Google services. The Spark plan lets you start without a card, and the Blaze plan adds the same free allowances before charging for extra usage.
The honest limit is cost control. Firestore charges by operation, storage, and egress, and a chatty app that polls or re reads data can run up a bill that surprises a small team. Phone auth can also add SMS charges by region. Set billing alerts on day one, design queries to read only what the screen needs, and keep an eye on download volume if your app serves many files.
What we like- Huge service set, from Firestore to hosting and messaging
- Strong mobile SDKs for iOS and Android
- No cost Spark plan for early development
Watch out for- Pay as you go Blaze billing can spike with reads and downloads
- No self hosted option, so migration takes real work
Starting price$10 per month
Free planYes
Appwrite is a good pick when control matters as much as speed. The same platform runs on your own server or on Appwrite Cloud, so you are not locked into one hosting choice from the start. It covers databases, auth, file storage, functions, messaging, and site hosting, with SDKs for web, mobile, and server languages. Teams that want a clean console and a portable data model will feel at home quickly.
Cloud pricing starts with a free plan, then a Start plan from $10 per month, then Pro from $25 per month, with bandwidth, storage, executions, and active users bundled into each tier. That bundle is easier to predict than a long list of meters, though heavy bandwidth still pushes you upward. Self hosting removes the platform fee but adds your own time for updates, backups, and monitoring, so count that time in the total cost.
What we like- Open source with a free self hosted option
- Databases, auth, storage, functions, and messaging in one console
- Cloud Start plan keeps early production costs low
Watch out for- Smaller extension and integration library than Firebase
- Self hosting still needs Docker and server care
Starting price$25 per developer/month
Free planYes
Convex fits React and TypeScript teams building dashboards, collaborative editors, chat, and other screens where data changes often. You write queries, mutations, and actions in TypeScript, and subscribed clients update when the data changes. That removes a layer of sync code that usually takes days to get right. Search, file storage, and scheduled work are built in, which keeps the stack small.
The trade is the data model. Convex uses its own document database, not PostgreSQL, so teams with heavy reporting needs or existing SQL queries should check the query model carefully before switching. Pricing starts free, then Professional at $25 per developer per month, with usage on top at higher volumes. A solo builder pays little, while a ten person team pays for ten seats even if only two people touch the backend daily.
What we like- Queries stay live, so screens update without manual refresh logic
- End to end TypeScript types reduce a whole class of bugs
- File storage, search, scheduled functions, and cron jobs included
Watch out for- No SQL database, so SQL skills and tools do not transfer directly
- Per developer pricing grows with team size
Starting price$15 per month
Free planYes
Backendless stands out for teams that want to build backend logic visually and still keep code options open. Its Codeless builder lets non developers and developers alike shape data rules, API logic, and workflows without writing every branch by hand. Push notifications, a realtime database, user management, and a UI builder sit in the same platform, which helps small product teams ship a complete app from one account.
Pricing starts with a free Springboard plan for learning and prototypes, then Scale plans from $15 per month for production apps. The part to watch is add ons. Function packs extend limits for storage, security, and API use, and they can stack up if you add several at once. Pick the fixed billing option if variable daily billing makes your budget hard to predict, and test the visual logic on a real feature before you build your whole product around it.
What we like- Visual Codeless logic builder for backend rules
- Built in push notifications and realtime database
- Unlimited developer seats on cloud plans
Watch out for- Codeless logic is proprietary and does not move to another platform
- Function pack add ons can raise the monthly total
Starting price$85 per month (billed annually)
Free planYes
Xano is built for teams that want a production backend without writing backend code. You model data in PostgreSQL, build APIs with a visual function stack, add business logic, and connect any front end through generated OpenAPI documentation. Paid plans add dedicated infrastructure, branching, background tasks, and compliance coverage, which makes Xano a serious choice for client work and for internal products that must pass review.
The price is the main barrier. The free plan covers building and testing, but the Essential plan is $85 per month billed annually, and Pro is $224 per month billed annually. That is fair for a business app with revenue, and steep for a side project. Realtime apps also need an external solution for live updates, so factor that tool into the plan if chat or live collaboration is central to your product.
What we like- Visual function stack with strong API tooling
- Dedicated infrastructure from the first paid plan
- Direct database access and branching on paid plans
Watch out for- First paid plan costs more than most rivals here
- No native realtime features, so live apps need workarounds
Starting price$25 per month
Free planYes
Nhost appeals to teams that prefer GraphQL over REST. Hasura turns your PostgreSQL schema into a GraphQL API with permissions, so front end developers can request exactly the fields a screen needs and nothing more. Auth, storage, serverless functions, and realtime subscriptions round out the platform, and the open source components mean you can inspect how the pieces fit together.
Pricing mirrors Supabase at the entry level, with a free Starter plan and Pro from $25 per month, plus compute credits and usage beyond included limits. The free plan pauses after a week of inactivity, so it suits building and demos rather than always on services. If your team already uses GraphQL, Nhost can feel faster than hand writing REST endpoints. If your team only knows REST, the learning curve may cancel out that speed.
What we like- PostgreSQL plus Hasura GraphQL gives flexible API queries
- Auth, storage, and functions in one project
- Open source parts keep your data portable
Watch out for- GraphQL first design adds learning time for REST only teams
- Free projects pause after inactivity
Starting price$15 per month (billed annually)
Free planYes
Back4App is the managed home for Parse Server, an open source backend framework with a long history in mobile apps. You get a spreadsheet style data browser, REST and GraphQL APIs, live queries for realtime updates, cloud code in JavaScript, and push notifications. Because the core is open source, you can export your data and run Parse yourself if you ever need to leave, which is a comfort that closed platforms cannot offer.
The MVP plan starts at $15 per month billed annually, with 500,000 requests, 1 GB of data storage, 250 GB of transfer, and 50 GB of file storage. Higher tiers raise those limits and add compliance features, while dedicated hosting starts at $400 per month billed annually. Small apps get good value at the entry tier, but teams that need dedicated resources should budget for that jump early and test live query behaviour under real load.
What we like- Built on open source Parse Server, so you can self host later
- Flat monthly tiers make budgeting simple
- Live queries, push, and GraphQL and REST APIs included
Watch out for- Parse query style differs from SQL, so SQL teams need adjustment
- Dedicated plans cost far more than the entry tier
Starting price$0 per month
Free planYes
PocketBase is the simplest backend in this guide, and that simplicity is the point. One executable gives you an embedded SQLite database, realtime subscriptions, user auth with OAuth providers, file storage, and an admin dashboard. You can run it on a laptop for development or on a small virtual server for a small production app, with no monthly platform bill and no vendor account in the path.
That design has clear limits. SQLite and a single server scale vertically, not by adding many servers, so high concurrency apps and large teams will outgrow it. The project also states that full backward compatibility is not guaranteed before version 1.0, so upgrades need testing. For prototypes, internal tools, side projects, and small apps with modest traffic, PocketBase gives you the fastest path from idea to a working backend.
What we like- Single binary with embedded SQLite, auth, and admin UI
- Very fast to run locally or on a small server
- No platform fee, since you host it yourself
Watch out for- Single server design limits horizontal scaling
- Pre 1.0 status means breaking changes remain possible
How we chose
We compared pricing pages, public documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, and we checked each product for a database, auth, storage, functions, and a real path to production. We favoured tools with clear published pricing, a free way to start, and documentation that explains limits in plain numbers. Where a price could not be confirmed on the vendor pricing page, the guide says so rather than guessing a number.
What to check before you pick a backend
Database fit comes first
Start with the queries your app will run every day. A relational app with joins, reports, and strict rules fits PostgreSQL tools such as Supabase, Nhost, and Xano. A live feed, chat thread, or collaborative document fits a realtime document model such as Convex or Firebase.
Model the bill at three sizes
Price the same app at prototype size, at your first 10,000 users, and at 100,000 users. Include egress, storage, active users, function calls, and any per developer seats. Usage platforms often win at the first size and lose at the third, while flat plans do the reverse.
Check the exit path
Ask how you export data, whether the core is open source, and what happens to auth users if you move. Open source tools and standard PostgreSQL give you the widest exit.
Test auth and realtime on a real feature
Build one real feature during the trial: sign up, a protected data view, and a live update. That small build exposes SDK quality, permission rules, and error messages faster than reading feature lists.
Frequently asked questions
What is backend as a service?
Backend as a service is a managed platform that provides a database, user auth, file storage, server functions, and APIs, so you can build a front end without running your own servers. You still design your data model and rules, but the vendor handles hosting, scaling, backups, and security patches for the platform itself.
Is Supabase better than Firebase?
It depends on your data and your team. Supabase fits SQL teams that want PostgreSQL and a portable database, while Firebase fits mobile teams that want a very broad Google service set and realtime sync. Compare query patterns, billing meters, and migration options for your app rather than picking on brand alone.
Can I self host a backend as a service?
Yes, with some tools. Supabase, Appwrite, Nhost, Back4App, and PocketBase all offer self hosted or open source options, though the effort ranges from one binary for PocketBase to a multi service setup for Supabase. Firebase, Convex cloud, and Xano cloud do not offer the same self hosted path, so check the docs for the exact option you need.
How much does a backend as a service cost?
Entry costs in this guide range from free self hosting to $85 per month for Xano Essential, with most managed entry plans between $10 and $25 per month. The real monthly total depends on usage, including egress, storage, active users, and function calls, so model those meters at your expected traffic before you choose.
Do I still need a developer with a backend as a service?
Yes, for most production apps. These platforms remove server setup and common backend plumbing, but you still need someone to design data, write auth rules, handle edge cases, and review security.
What happens if my app grows past the free plan?
You move to a paid plan and, on usage priced platforms, pay for the resources beyond the included limits. Free plans often pause after inactivity or cap projects, so move to paid hosting before you launch anything people depend on.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://supabase.com/pricing
- https://firebase.google.com/pricing
- https://appwrite.io/pricing
- https://convex.dev/pricing
- https://backendless.com/pricing
- https://xano.com/pricing
- https://nhost.io/pricing
- https://www.back4app.com/pricing/backend-as-a-service
- https://pocketbase.io/docs/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.