- 3.1 Key Features
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- 12.1 Key Features
What is a Mobile App Backend?
Mobile applications consist of two segments: one is frontend, and the second is backend. The frontend is the client-side of an app, easily approachable by the end user. It could be the menus, buttons, or app UI.
Contrarily, the mobile app backend is the behind-the-scenes component of an application. It is only approachable by dev teams.
A mobile backend typically comprises a database, networking, storage, and further server-side functionalities.
Businesses usually prefer BaaS platforms to host their mobile app backends. These Backend as a Service (BaaS) providers authorize the programmers to emphasize critical operations and client-side tasks, and they take care of server-side operations.
In this regard, Back4app, Firebase, Appwrite, Backendless, and AWS Amplify are the best mobile app backend hosting providers.
Top 10 Mobile App Backend Hosting Providers
Let’s have a quick overview of the top-notch hosting options before elaborating them in detail:
- Back4app – Low-code BaaS platform to build and host highly scalable advanced applications
- Firebase – A suite of fully managed backend development services powered by Google
- 8Base – Highly scalable serverless Backend as a Service platform that is designed on top of AWS
- Appwrite – An open-source backend server to deploy mobile and native apps on the fly
- Backendless – Robust platform to host backends with minimal coding and visual real-time DB
- AWS Amplify – An AWS-backed cloud computing platform that configures applications swiftly
- DigitalOcean App Platform – Platform as a Service (PaaS) solution to deploy codes without administering server-side infrastructure
- Apple CloudKit – Best BaaS solution for building and hosting iOS apps and backlogging data in iCloud
- Kumulos – A handy mobile user engagement tool best for push notifications and in-app messaging
- Supabase – An easy-to-use BaaS solution famous among users as a Firebase alternative
1. Back4app
Back4app is an open-source web and mobile app backend hosting provider with a community of 300k developers across 100+ countries.
It lets you begin hosting mobile apps with it after the registration or sign-in steps.
Then, it is simple to craft and host the server-side of your app using the ‘My Apps’ page. This page lets you choose a PostgreSQL or NoSQL database to support your project.
After this phase, you can access the dashboard and perform further activities.
Hereof, if your mobile app requirements are around 25k monthly requests, 1GB file, and data storage, you can benefit from its free tier offering.
Nevertheless, if you need more instances, you can employ MVP, pay-as-you-go, or dedicated plans. The monthly cost of its paid programs kicks off from $15/month per app.
Key Features
- Realtime Database – It is robust to launch a real-time database with Back4app. You just have to outline your relational content utilizing SDKs, GraphQL, or REST APIs. In this way, your mobile app could backlog and display all data modifications and answer the queries spontaneously.
- Storage – This platform empowers you to store database-linked files quickly. The agile CDN enables you to serve and gather data, including ads, videos, and images.
- Easy to Use – Back4app is an open-source, highly extensible backend hosting provider that you can easily use. Its open-source nature allows you to connect with popular technologies like Node.js, Docker, GraphQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, etc. Similarly, this low-code platform needs less expertise to deploy a mobile app.
- Notifications – Push notifications are not only helpful in authorizing mobile app users, but they also enhance user engagement. Tailored mobile notifications can increase your mobile applications’ revenues and retention ratio.
- Authentication – User authentication and management are crucial for successfully running a mobile app. Back4app delivers a ready-to-use user management system to its customers. With this feature, you can enable signup phases through distinct social or email accounts.
2. Firebase
Firebase is an all-in-one application development and backend hosting platform that works under Google’s flagship.
With seamless integration with technologies like Google Play, Jira, Slack, AdMob, and Android Studio, it could be an ideal platform to run server-side operations.
It is straightforward to begin using Firebase if you are registered on Google. Register on Firebase through a Gmail account and start adding projects. Hereof, it provides excellent support for Android and iOS applications.
Fortunately, Firebase doesn’t impose the condition of inserting credit card credentials if your requirements are under a no-cost plan.
Correspondingly, this backend platform only bills for utilized instances because its Blaze Plan follows a pay-as-you-go policy.
Key Features
- Realtime Databases – Realtime and Cloud Firestore are two databases of Firebase. Both are famous for their spontaneous data updates, queries, and content-gathering properties. If we talk about their communication approach, they follow NoSQL patterns.
- Crashlytics – A real-time crash reporting feature is vital for identifying the actual reasons for a glitch. Hereof, Firebase has this tool, which performs very well in fixing and finding such bugs and errors.
- Cloud Storage – If you need advanced cloud storage like Shopify and Google Photos, employ this Firebase feature. It robustly stores and presents user-generated content via Firebase SDKs.
- Remote Config – Firebase administers the mobile app features to customize the display and overall functioning of an application using this trait. It becomes convenient for businesses to expand revenues and user engagement by providing more personalized properties.
- FCM – Firebase Cloud Messaging is a freeware tool of this CSP that is responsible for push notifications. It has the ability to carry and send messages across different web and mobile devices. Luckily, you don’t have to write a script to access this feature.
3. 8Base
8base is a fully managed and highly extensible Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider.
Frontend developers must join this platform with client-side code, and 8Base takes care of backend infrastructure.
It is a great platform to auto-generate the GraphQL API without consuming time on server-side preparations.
Similarly, DevOps-free BaaS hosting, role-based access, relational schemas, and backing of AWS products make it a supreme choice for functional applications.
In this regard, 8Base has three hosting solutions: Self-host, Dedicated Environment, and Multi-tenant.
The Free plan costs you nothing for CLI access, serverless functions, backend dev, and GraphQL API. However, its Developer and Professional programs bill you $25/month and $50/month with improved instances.
Key Features
- API-Based Data Access – Role-based access through APIs simplifies the dev tasks and is also crucial for data security. Although it is possible to grant field and table-grade access without writing codes but, you can also add custom scripts to define permissions.
- Authentication – 8Base comes with enterprise and more than 30 social registration and login means. By the same token, native authentication is applicable for 500 users of your mobile app.
- Functions – It is easy to craft a tailored Typescript or JS business logic and add it to any integrated development environment. You can also build functions in the form of Webhooks, GraphQL resolvers, etc.
- Support for Frontend Technologies – 8Base backs a significant number of frontend technologies. So, it becomes easy for dev teams to get backend hosting for any of their mobile apps. These client-side technologies are React, Angular, Ionic, Flutter, Android, and Vue.
4. Appwrite
Do you need an open-source backend hosting provider with a sleek but user-friendly interface and several other features?
If yes, you can consider Appwrite. This BaaS platform has all the characteristics that a significant vendor confers to create web, Flutter, and mobile applications.
Around 20k companies have benefited from Appwrite for their more than 90k projects. By the same token, it has entertained 1 billion requests with 99.99% uptime.
If we talk about the pricing, this backend solution also has a free tier.
Indeed, you can employ 2GB storage, 5 functions/project, 10GB bandwidth, and 75k app users/month for free.
The starting price of its Pro program is $15/month. You can perform 3.5 million executions with 300GB bandwidth and 150GB storage under the Pro package.
Key Features
- Realtime Updates – Appwrite utilizes Realtime API to conduct different functions in the meantime. It uses this API for spontaneous subscriptions, database management, customized permissions, and storage operations.
- User Management System – Highly secure user authentication and management are other attractive features of this cloud service provider. It facilitates the developers with more than 30 sign-in methods, including magic URLs, OAuth, and email.
- Databases – This hosting provider grants NoSQL database support to backlog, query, and serve data. Moreover, it follows the CRUD strategy to ensure data continuity.
- Functions – It deploys the functions in fully secure runtime environments utilizing Git repositories. Yes, you can host your app code on GitHub and link it with Appwrite to perform backend configuration. Hereof, it backs 13 programming languages and 30 runtimes.
5. Backendless
Backendless is a reliable mobile app backend hosting provider that you can use with zero or minimal coding.
This low-code/no-code BaaS vendor serves SQL and NoSQL data in real-time. Its developer-friendly interface lets you customize data and build functions with great ease.
Similarly, if you need a highly scalable platform to create a high-performing mobile backend, you should choose Backendless.
Its drag-and-drop features allow you to add more instances swiftly when your app gains more users.
Its free plan provides 1GB file storage, 50 API requests per minute, 1MB cloud code deployment, and 10 DB tables.
Withal, the monthly billing of the Pro program outsets from $15 for 100 DB tables, 20MB cloud code deployment, unmetered API requests, and 10GB file storage.
Key Features
- Backendless Database – Whether you want to adopt NoSQL or are willing to choose SQL data structure to support your backend, Backendless is the answer. It has a visual DB dashboard where you don’t have to script the code for configuration or API connection.
- Pub/Sub Messaging – Backendless uses Publishing API and Subscription API to deliver backend messages to app users. However, it is essential for app users to be subscribers to get notifications in real-time.
- Codeless – This platform confers a complete graphic environment to programming teams to construct and add cloud code logic. Hereof, developers can benefit from timers, API services and event handlers.
- User Management – This feature is helpful in backlog user data and authorizing the app users. Backendless adopts APIs to administer passwords, verify emails, and modify user roles.
6. AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify is a managed backend hosting service that comes with robust backing of Amazon Web Services.
Businesses and developers can adopt AWS Amplify to craft and host native mobile and cross-platform applications. Hereof, it is seamless for dev teams to integrate with 200+ products of AWS.
Like other BaaS platforms, it has all the facilities, such as authentication, real-time updates, push notifications, and analytics.
Withal, if we discuss the scalability scope, AWS Amplify has an edge over other platforms because of its worldwide infrastructure.
The backend development costs you nothing. Yes, AWS Amplify enables you to use Amplify Studio, CLI, and Libraries for free.
Besides, hosting an app for 12 months on this CSP is free. Mainly if your project requires 15GB data transfer, 1k build minutes, and 500k SSR monthly.
However, if your needed resources exceed the free offerings, you must follow a pay-as-you-go billing structure.
Key Features
- API – Amplify has REST and GraphQL APIs to sync it with other renowned products of AWS. These API services authorize you to connect with Lambda, Aurora Serverless, and Amazon DynamoDB in a breeze.
- DataStore – This is a contemporary storage engine responsible for serving data on distinct devices, including mobile, web, and desktop. It lets the developers present the content without writing extra lines of code.
- CI/CD Workflows – The availability of full-stack CI/CD workflows to deploy backends with Git is another appealing trait. It is simple to sync your AWS Amplify account with a Git platform to commit and push the repository. Free SSL certification, password, and user management are further pros in this regard.
- Analytics – You can easily track all activities of your mobile app users through Amazon Kinesis and Pinpoint. This property is also valuable when it comes to improving user engagement with data insights.
7. DigitalOcean App Platform
DigitalOcean is a renowned CSP founded in 2011. Although this platform is popular among users because of its IaaS products and services but, the use of the App Platform could be ideal for deploying backends.
App Platform is basically a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering of this cloud vendor that enables dev teams to make their app scripts live on the servers quickly.
In this regard, developers must emphasize the deployment of the code because the DigitalOcean App Platform is responsible for managing server-side infrastructure.
The Starter package allows you to use the App Platform without paying anything. However, if you want shared CPU, vertical scaling, and further advanced properties, you can go with a Basic plan.
The monthly cost of the Basic program is $5. Correspondingly, selecting a Professional plan with $12/month is beneficial to access a dedicated CPU.
Key Features
- Fast Deployment – The App platform is a great solution for robustly setting up your codes on servers. You can simply host your code on Git platforms like GitLab or GitHub and publish the repositories in an isolated environment. Withal, don’t forget to link your Git account with this CSP.
- Alerts & Insights – This PaaS provider informs you of all deployment events with all essential details. Similarly, it offers in-depth insights about the consumption of backend resources.
- Support for Languages – The App Platform confers backing to various programming frameworks and languages. Some of them are Node.js, PHP, Java, and Django.
- Scalability – High scalability is another exciting feature of this PaaS solution. App Platform has vertical and horizontal scaling traits, unlike other backend hosting providers.
8. Apple CloudKit
Are you finding a top-notch backend hosting provider for Apple devices? If yes, don’t ignore CloudKit.
This Backend as a Service (BaaS) platform works best when merging iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and iPadOS applications with iCloud.
It is seamless to backlog data in containers while using Apple CloudKit. Also, this platform doesn’t mix one app’s data with others because of its functional zones and databases.
On the other hand, if you discuss the pricing, it has a free tier offering if you need around 40 requests/second, 10GB storage, and 2GB transfer.
Its paid plan acts upon a pay-as-you-go pricing pattern. So, you only have to pay for the server-side resources you consume.
Key Features
- Database – You can store your app data in three DB types: shared, private, and public. In this way, it becomes easy for developers to share data with their team or keep it secret.
- Easy Setup – This is an easy-to-use BaaS solution where you don’t have to select or install the servers. You can quickly begin the app creation process after signing up on Apple CloudKit.
- CloudKit Console – The control panel permits the developers to access and view all data, from the server’s functioning to the overall activity of your app users. Yes, the Console shows developers all the details, including logs, dates, and database actions.
9. Kumulos
Kumulos is a smart and powerful mobile app messaging platform that provides a complete overview of the user experience.
It works as a mobile marketing hub that sends highly tailored push notifications to mobile app users.
By the same token, it shares all real-time user engagement insights. Moreover, you can also use this platform to analyze the app’s health and performance on the fly.
The core clients of Kumulos are Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and ATP Tour.
Key Features
- Personalized Push Notifications – This vendor generates highly personalized push notifications to increase user retention. You can specify the time and notification template and tailor the content to enhance the engagement.
- Geo-Targeting – Kumulos allows the backend programmers to get all the details regarding the location of the end user. In this way, creating particular campaigns for different regions and countries becomes easy.
- Easy Integration – This platform lets businesses integrate their backends with various systems and technologies. The pre-installed integration engine only takes a few clicks to sync with other services.
10. Supabase
Supabase is another powerful mobile app hosting solution with open-source capabilities. It is basically considered an alternative to Firebase, but it doesn’t come with cons like vendor lock-in and closed-source nature.
This hosting service is getting more popular among users because of its smooth interface and affordable pricing.
The free tier authorizes you to get 5GB bandwidth, 1GB file storage, and unmetered API requests. The Pro plan bills you $25/month for 250GB bandwidth and 100GB file storage.
Key Features
- Open-Source Auth – A fully integrated and open-source user management system is a primary advantage of using Supabase. Hereof, this BaaS platform has enterprise logins and social registration for businesses and individuals, respectively.
- Database – It has portable and in-built PostgreSQL database support. Therefore, you can store and extend data in the meantime.
- Storage – You can backlog all kinds of content under its storage feature. The best thing is that you can preview all types of stored data, including videos or files while using Supabase.
- Realtime – The development of real-time applications is easy with Supabase. This platform supports multiplayer gaming, location, shared whiteboard, and in-app chat mobile and web applications.
Conclusion
Finding a backend hosting provider for your mobile app is a daunting task. That is why this article presents all low-code to no-code BaaS and PaaS platforms to host server-side parts of an application. However, you should employ an option that fits the requirements of your project.
Zunaira Tarif began as an academic writer but swiftly transitioned to off-page SEO. With over five years at Fiverr, she's a sought-after technology writer and SEO specialist. Beyond Fiverr, she pens tech and survival blogs, with notable pieces on VPNs and digital trends. As an Influencer Marketer, Zunaira seamlessly merges digital marketing with content mastery.
