MBaaS Overview
What is a mobile backend as a service?
MBaaS is a mobile middleware substitute. It utilizes software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) to integrate server-side sources of apps in the cloud. With the help of this cloud computing model, developers can also access databases, servers and storage to function their mobile applications successfully.
Similarly, if we talk about the utilization of Mobile Backend as a Service solutions, then it is gradually enhancing. According to the global forecast of MarketsAndMarkets, the size of the MBaaS industry will reach 5.9 billion USD by 2025. This MBaaS market growth was only 2 billion USD in 2020. In simple words, MBaaS has great scope to flourish in forthcoming years because of its dynamic features.
The top MBaaS vendors are Back4App, Parse, Backendless, Kinvey, AWS Amplify, 8Base and Firebase.
Advantages of MBaaS
Although MBaaS grants a variety of benefits to its users but we are only discussing the significant advantages of MBaaS here:
Reduce Time to Market to Create Applications
Application creation is not only super easy and fast with MBaaS solutions, but it also reduces time to market. Surely, startups don’t need to take care of server-side operations so they can quickly convert their idea into the actual product. It also leads to a quick product launch.
Similarly, Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) platforms also simplify distinct development tasks and tests. Therefore, it saves a lot of time of businesses and coders that they invest in building mobile applications.
Less Time Managing Servers
Server management is definitely a hectic job for all sizes of businesses. Basically, server management consists of different jobs, including hardware administration, security updates, scaling, software supervision and backups. However, when companies go with MBaaS vendors, they don’t need to worry about managing servers.
With mobile backend services, businesses just need to emphasize the client-side operations of their mobile application. Yes, MBaaS platforms take full responsibility for server-side functionalities.
Economical
Compared to custom mobile app development, MBaaS providers are very economical. Most of these best MBaaS vendors offer a pay-as-you-go pricing policy due to which users only pay for used resources. Indeed, with mobile BaaS solutions, you don’t need to bear the cost of hosting and server-side maintenance.
Highly Scalable
Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) providers are very scalable compared to custom solutions. They are equally useful for a startup, a large enterprise or SMBs. You can commence your mobile app development journey with their free tier plans and can switch to any premium program whenever you want.
By the same token, users can also reduce or extend required resources anytime while using these MBaaS providers.
Please read the article Advantages of MBaaS to know more about this subject.
Top 10 MBaaS Providers
MBaaS Providers
Here are ten of the best MBaaS providers.
1. Back4App
Back4App is one of the credible low-code MBaaS providers that has been serving the mobile app development industry since 2015. This open-source-based backend development platform helps the coders to build server-side of both web and mobile applications. The learning curve is low and it is a straightforward platform to use.
To make the mobile app development journey smooth and quick, it confers REST and GraphQL APIs. Correspondingly, businesses also benefit from comprehensive SDKs support for various frameworks, cloud services, business logic, and languages with Back4App.
If we talk about the customer satisfaction ratio of this MBaaS provider, then we will find several clients. Likewise, Blackburn Labs found a 4 times reduction in their time to market when they utilized Back4App. Correspondingly, 1001 App uncovered this backend solution 80% cost-efficient compared to custom app development.
Features
User-Friendly Interface — The interface of this MBaaS provider is very simple to deal with. Indeed, it is convenient to manage and add rows or columns. Its dashboard also looks like a spreadsheet that enables the users to conduct editing activities smoothly. Similarly, users can quickly refresh the browsers and import CSV through its Database Browser.
Notifications — Whether you want email or push notifications to engage more users for your mobile application, it is easy with Back4App. In this regard, it permits the app developers to create iOS, Android, social media and email notifications.
Live Query — Parse Server enables the Back4App customers to benefit from real-time queries. You just need to click on Server URL and Live Query to get this feature.
Relational Database — With predefined connections between data, it follows relational data structures. You can also visit its ‘Relational Schema on Back4App’ to explore more about it.
SDKs — It depends on cross-platform Parse SDKs that back numerous frameworks and languages, including JS, Flutter, Unity, .Net, Node.js, and React Native.
Pricing
The pricing structure of Back4App is usually divided into 3 major sections:
Free — Novices and startups typically elect the Free plan of Back4App, where they can get 25k requests and 1 GB storage for free. They also don’t need to insert credit cards for this program.
Shared — The monthly cost of this Shared plan begins at $25. Daily backups and auto-scaling are typical properties of the Shared program. Withal, to launch your MVP, you just have to pay $15/month under the Basic plan of Shared Hosting.
Dedicated — Businesses should prefer a Dedicated plan to obtain advanced security and dedicated VMs. The monthly charges of this plan commence from $250.
However, if your mobile app backend development demands don’t meet with these plans, then proceed with an Enterprise plan for a custom solution. You will have to contact the sales team to access the Enterprise program and share your requirements in this regard.
2. Parse
Parse is also a trusted MBaaS provider that Facebook accrued in 2013. This open-source Mobile Backend as a Service platform is not only good for conducting server-side operations of mobile apps, but it is also a perfect choice for full-stack development.
Undoubtedly, developers can rapidly build applications with file storage, user authentication and notification backing of Parse. The leading companies that use Parse as a backend solution are Avvo, 500px, Pegg and Weebly.
Features
Libraries & SDKs — This MBaaS solution owns an extensive library of open-source SDKs. You can view them with complete guidance on GitHub. These SDKs include popular frameworks and languages like Unity, Flutter, Android, JavaScript, Swift and much more.
Parse Servers — It confers REST servers to mobile app builders. Similarly, it is also easy to access Parse server adapters and modules.
Community Support — Parse platform has a user-friendly and big community. You can conveniently find different resources on GitHub. Or you can even visit the official website of the Parse platform and can proceed with the ‘Community Forum’ of Parse. By the same token, with tags like ‘parse-platform’, you can also explore helpful discussions and solutions related to this MBaaS vendor.
Easy Integration — Coders can also smoothly connect Parse with other useful applications such as Auth0, Stripe, Twilio, Google Cloud and PaySimple.
Pricing
This MBaaS platform is free to use for all sizes of businesses. But small costs could be involved when you utilize and integrate it with other backend development tools.
3. Firebase
The robust backing of Google and its cloud products makes Firebase one of the ideal mobile BaaS providers. Firebase doesn’t only help the programmers to create server-side of their mobile applications, but it also ensures to make apps successful. In this regard, it offers three types of products: build, release & monitor and engage.
As an open-source and cross-platform solution, Firebase is the primary choice of startups, novices and SMBs. With this mobile backend solution, you can start your mobile app development journey within a few clicks.
The preeminent technology giants that utilize Firebase are Alibaba, NPR, Playbuzz and Halfbrick Studios.
Features
Databases — Firebase grants two databases to its users. The first one is Realtime Database that syncs and gathers data within no time. The second database is Cloud Firestore which depends on NoSQL documentation. This database effectively works for iOS, web and Android projects.
Firebase Cloud Messaging — Target messages are very significant for advanced mobile applications. Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) enables businesses to send notifications and messages for free. It doesn’t only provide support for web apps but also works for iOS, Android, C++ and Unity applications.
Cloud Storage — With the help of the cloud storage property of Firebase, businesses can rapidly supply and gather user-generated data. This data could be videos and photos etc.
Firebase Authentication — This feature of Firebase permits the users to sign-in with numerous social media and other accounts. Yes, it enables the users to sign-in to an app with GitHub, Facebook, Twitter and Google.
Pricing
The pricing structure of Firebase could be split into the following two tiers:
Spark Plan — This is basically a no-cost plan of Firebase where users can utilize a variety of products without paying anything. With 1 GB database storage, 5 GB cloud storage and 10 tests per day, it allows developers to use this plan for free.
Blaze Plan — Blaze program of Firebase typically follows a pay-as-you-go pricing policy. Yes, you just need to pay for used resources for this plan. Luckily, you can estimate the charges for your project by using Blaze Calculator.
4. Backendless
Backendless is one of the best MBaaS providers that comes with an easy to manage visual app builder. Mark Piller made this no-code platform public in 2012. Like other MBaaS solutions, it can also be used as a full-stack development vendor.
Backendless is not only a top MBaaS choice for startups and small businesses, but it also works when you are dealing with millions of worldwide app users. BetterCast, BTC Market Ticker and YTCount are notable customers of Backendless.
Features
Database — This mobile BaaS provider relies on both SQL and NoSQL databases and smoothly administers the data flow across distinct platforms. In this regard, it is also assisted by a graphical browser. The provision of data spontaneously is another benefit of Backendless. You can operate it in actual time in Cloud Code and Console.
Secure — To keep your venture secure, it provides excellent file security. The data access is also only granted according to the role of different users. Indeed, its role-based policies, tier models, API and messaging security features really boost the safety levels of an application.
Pricing
Users can distinguish the pricing structure of Backendless into the following two categories:
Individuals & Small Businesses — This platform confers the Backendless Cloud model to startups and SMEs. Its Springboard plan doesn’t take anything in the name of monthly charges. Withal, Cloud 9 and Cloud 99 bill $25/month and $99/month, respectively.
Medium to Large Enterprises — This model includes two plans: Backendless Pro and Managed Backendless. The pricing structure of these plans is not predefined. You will have to click on the ‘Request Pricing’ tab to inquire about these programs.
5. AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify is a top MBaaS provider that is known for promptly building mobile applications. With the dynamic backing of Amazon Web Services (AWS), you can’t only create server sides of mobile applications but also build full-stack and highly scalable projects.
The top brands that have benefitted from AWS Amplify are Knowt, Amazon Music, Credit Genie and Orangetheory Fitness.
Features
DataStore — With the powerful support of GraphQL, this mobile BaaS platform enables the applications to store and sync the data quickly. It works for React Native, iOS and Android frameworks when it comes to building mobile applications.
Authentication — App users can sign-in with different accounts, including Facebook, Amazon, Google and much more.
Analytics — The analytical data of these mobile apps could be tracked with the help of AWS products like Amazon Kinesis and Amazon Pinpoint.
Amplify Studio — Businesses can take advantage of the visual interface of Amplify Studio for authorization and data modeling. They can also conveniently connect app templates with Amplify CLI.
Pricing
Here are two basic pricing tiers of AWS Amplify:
Free Tier — If your project only needs 1K monthly building minutes, then you should proceed with Free Tier. It also serves the users with 5 GB of hosting data storage.
Pay-As-You-Go — This plan costs $0.01 per build minute from users. Fortunately, businesses only need to pay for used resources with this program.
6. Kinvey
If you are in search of a highly productive and purpose-built MBaaS provider to create the backend of your mobile app, then you shouldn’t ignore Kinvey. It is a straightforward and cloud-based Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) solution that backs a variety of industries, including insurance, manufacturing and healthcare.
EleMech, Inc and The Techstars Stack are notable companies that showed their affiliation with Kinvey on StackShare.
Features
Fast App Development — This vendor empowers the developers with attractive UX/UI design elements to build applications within less time.
Secure — Kinvey offers enterprise-level security and cloud architecture to businesses to build more reliable mobile applications.
Front-End Agnostic — Companies can also smoothly integrate the server-side of mobile apps with client-side operations. But the help of REST API and SDKs are required to conduct this task.
Pricing
The yearly charges of Progress Kinvey begin from $2500 under its Starter plan.
7. 8Base
The coders who want to build a mobile application with basic JavaScript skills and frontend scripting must consider using 8Base. This MBaaS vendor grants one of the most reliable and robust serverless backend solutions.
You just need to become the beta user of 8Base to start using this fantastic mobile BaaS platform. TradeBlock, Photag and Livo are renowned customers of 8Base.
Features
Serverless Functions — Users can smoothly proceed in the serverless environment of this MBaaS vendor. In this regard, it provides powerful support in the form of GraphQL API, database triggers and Webhooks. Luckily, users can also extend and reduce the serverless functions according to their needs.
User Management — 8Base Auth facilitates the customers with a variety of authentication methods. Yes, you can’t only register here with email and password, but you can also use your already made accounts. The use of OpenID is also valuable in this regard.
Support for Frontend Technologies — Developers can easily connect with frontend technologies, including 8Base App Builder, React, Vue, Ionic, Angular, Gatsby and Android.
Pricing
Here are the basic four pricing models of 8Base:
Free — You can use 8Base workspace without paying anything under this plan. This freemium plan covers 1K database rows, 500 MB base storage and 5 client app users.
Developer — With unlimited users and 50 GB of data storage, the monthly cost of this plan is $25.
Professional — Businesses just need to pay $150/month to acquire this plan. It offers 250 GB base storage and 5,000,000 database rows.
Custom — It is the best plan if you want to explore unlimited resources for your enterprise. But you will have to consult the sales team to know the quotes.
8. Kumulos
Kumulos is an easy to adopt MBaaS platform that could be used in 19 different countries of the world. It is very straightforward to build messaging and mobile applications with Kumulos in the presence of multi-tenancy MBaaS properties.
Betty Blocks, Twilio, Estimote and SendGrid are technology partners of Kumulos.
Features
Quick Integrations — This platform backs almost all kinds of devices and frameworks. You can also quickly connect Kumulos with React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Ionic, Swift, Android and Cordova.
Custom Server-Side Code — Kscripts empowers businesses to create custom codes and APIs for mobile app development swiftly.
Open-Source SDKs — As a beginner, you can easily find SDK resources of Kumulos on platforms like GitHub.
Pricing
Kumulos offers a yearly pricing structure to its users. However, you will have to fill out the form that is available on its Pricing Page to get a quote for your mobile app project.
9. NHost
NHost is another one of the best MBaaS providers that offers a serverless infrastructure to developers and businesses. With 1.7k stars on GitHub, NHost is a fast-growing backend solution. It is becoming famous among users because of its handy setup and serverless functions.
ServerHub, Antler and HyperLab are prominent customers of this MBaaS vendor.
Features
Image Transformations — If your mobile app deals with images and pictures, then their transformation and resizing are very handy with NHost. Moreover, you can also quickly optimize the image sizes to get better results.
No Vendor Lock-In — It is known as a Firebase alternative, but it has a competitive edge over this rival because it doesn’t impose vendor lock-in.
Data Safety — It entertains its users with strict security policies to proactively safeguard their data. In this regard, it also specifies the user permissions and defines roles.
Pricing
Here are the main pricing programs of NHost:
Starter — This fermium plan covers 1 GB real-time database, 5 GB file storage and 10 GB network traffic.
Pro — This paid plan of NHost provides 25 GB file storage, 50 GB network traffic and 10 GB for a real-time database and starts at $19/month.
Enterprise — With more than 500 GB file storage and 1K GB network traffic, it is the most premium pricing model of NHost. By the way, you can contact the sales department to know the pricing of this program.
10. Apache Usergrid
Apache Usergrid is also a valuable MBaaS provider with 1k stars and 435 forks on GitHub. This mobile backend solution empowers the developers and businesses to emphasize building applications, not the servers. Yes, this vendor takes complete responsibility for backend functionalities.
It aids the businesses in saving time that they consume in writing complex backend codes and taking care of server-side infrastructures.
Features
SDK Support — It provides complete SDKs for Android, .NET, Java, Ruby, iOS and Node.js projects.
Tested & Trusted — With hundreds of global users, Apache Usergrid is a high authoritative platform. Apigee, Korea Telecom and Globo are prominent companies that are using this MBaaS platform.
Pricing
Apache Usergrid doesn’t share anything about its pricing policy on its official site. Probably, you can contact their sales team to know more about its pricing structure.
Conclusion
Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) solutions are becoming very popular among users because of their server-side infrastructure and easy setups. However, electing a single MBaaS provider from distinct big names is challenging. So, this article shares the delicate details about the best mobile BaaS providers with their features and pricing models.
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