Back4App is a backend-as-a-service platform built on Parse Platform, offering hosted databases, APIs, and cloud code. Compare 2026 pricing and features.
Back4App is a backend-as-a-service platform, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, built around the open-source Parse Platform. When Facebook shut down its hosted Parse service in 2017, Back4App became one of the main companies offering managed hosting for Parse Server, letting developers keep using the open-source Parse data model and SDKs without operating their own infrastructure.
The platform gives mobile and web developers a managed PostgreSQL-backed database, REST and GraphQL APIs, user authentication, push notifications, cloud functions, and file storage out of the box, aimed at cutting the time needed to stand up backend infrastructure for a new app.
Back4App has grown as a largely bootstrapped, self-funded company rather than through large venture rounds, and has expanded beyond core BaaS hosting into containerized app deployment and AI-assisted backend scaffolding tools.
Back4App's core backend platform provides a hosted database with REST and GraphQL API access, real-time queries, and Cloud Code for running custom server-side logic and scheduled jobs, all built on the open-source Parse Platform so applications remain portable and can be self-hosted if needed.
Built-in user authentication and management, push notification support, and file storage cover common app backend requirements without needing separate third-party services. Daily automated backups are included even on the free tier, with longer retention on paid plans.
Back4App Containers extends the platform to deploying containerized applications and static sites, while a newer AI Agent feature lets developers describe backend requirements in natural language to help scaffold cloud architecture.
Back4App's Free plan supports prototyping with 25,000 requests per month, 250MB database storage, 1GB data transfer, and 1GB file storage, with no credit card required. The MVP plan starts at $15/month per app (with annual billing offering a discount) and raises limits to 500K requests/month and 50GB file storage.
The Pay As You Go plan starts at $80/month per app, supporting up to 5M requests/month, 250GB file storage, and compliance features like SOC 2 and ISO 27001, while the Dedicated plan starts at $400/month per app with dedicated infrastructure, unlimited requests, and HIPAA support.
An Enterprise plan offers custom pricing with on-premises deployment, dedicated engineering support, and multi-region availability. Overage charges apply on all metered plans for extra storage, transfer, and requests beyond plan limits.
Back4App is used as a backend-as-a-service platform, giving developers a hosted database, APIs, authentication, and cloud functions built on the open-source Parse Platform.
Back4App has a free plan for prototyping, then paid plans starting at $15/month (MVP), $80/month (Pay As You Go), and $400/month (Dedicated), plus custom Enterprise pricing.
Yes, Back4App is a managed hosting provider for the open-source Parse Platform, which was originally created by Parse Inc. before Facebook's acquisition and later shutdown of its hosted service in 2017.
Back4App was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Back4App is a hosted commercial service, but it is built on the open-source Parse Platform, meaning applications can be self-hosted or migrated away if needed.
Yes, Back4App provides both REST and GraphQL API access to its hosted database.
Back4App targets individual developers, startups, and small-to-mid-size engineering teams building mobile and web apps who want a managed backend without running their own servers.
Yes, Back4App's free plan includes 25,000 requests/month, 250MB database storage, and 1GB file storage with no credit card required.