API Management · head to head
Appwrite vs Backendless
Appwrite
API Management
Open-source Backend as a Service with REST API and SDKs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Backendless
API Management
Visual app development platform with REST APIs and cloud backend
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Appwrite smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase; fewer third-party integrations and extensions; Backendless free tier limited to 50 API requests per minute and 20 database tables
- They diverge on capability: Appwrite covers Authentication, Backendless covers Real-time database.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Appwrite and Backendless actually diverge.
| Attribute | Appwrite | Backendless |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker | Cloud, Visual builder |
| Founded | 2019 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Appwrite
- Authentication
- Database
- Multiple SDKs
- File storage
- Docker support
- Self-hosted support
- Kubernetes support
Only in Backendless
- Real-time database
- Cloud code
- Custom integrations
- Webhooks
- Visual builder support
Both cover
- REST API
- Cloud functions
- Cloud support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Appwrite
- API Development
- API Gateway
- API Testing
- API Documentation
- Microservices
Backendless
- API Development
- API Gateway
- API Testing
- API Documentation
- Microservices
Both are used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation, microservices, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Appwrite
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase; fewer third-party integrations and extensions
- Analytics, crash reporting, and A/B testing not included (Firebase includes these)
- Requires infrastructure management for self-hosted deployments; not fully managed like Firebase Cloud
- Mobile app support not as mature as Firebase's native iOS/Android SDKs
Backendless
- Free tier limited to 50 API requests per minute and 20 database tables
- Smaller community and integration ecosystem compared to Firebase or AWS
- Customization beyond codeless tools requires developer expertise
- Limited documentation for advanced use cases and edge cases
Pricing, plan by plan
Appwrite
Free- Cloud FreeFree
- 75K MAU
- 10GB storage
- Unlimited projects
- Cloud Pro$15/month
- More storage
- Priority support
Backendless
Free- FreeFree
- 50 API requests/minute
- 20 database tables
- 1 GB file storage
- Scale Variable$15/month
- Unlimited API requests/month
- 100 database tables
- 10 GB file storage
- Scale Fixed$15/month
- Same as Scale Variable
- Fixed monthly pricing
Which should you pick?
Choose Appwrite if
- You need authentication.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker.
- You also want database.
Choose Backendless if
- You need real-time database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Visual builder.
- You also want cloud code.
Questions people ask
- Is Appwrite or Backendless better?
- Neither clearly leads. Appwrite starts at Free and Backendless at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Appwrite or Backendless?
- Appwrite starts at Free and Backendless at Free.
- Does Appwrite or Backendless run on more platforms?
- Appwrite runs on Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker. Backendless runs on Cloud, Visual builder.
- Can I use Appwrite for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Appwrite best used for?
- Appwrite is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
- What can Appwrite do that Backendless cannot?
- Appwrite covers Authentication, Database, Multiple SDKs, File storage. Backendless covers Real-time database, Cloud code, Custom integrations, Webhooks. Both handle REST API, Cloud functions, Cloud support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Appwrite: Can Appwrite be self-hosted?
Yes. Appwrite is fully open-source and self-hosted with a single Docker command. Self-hosting is completely free with no feature restrictions, unlike the managed Appwrite Cloud.
SourceBackendless: Does Backendless have a free tier?
Backendless Free plan ($0/month) includes 50 API requests per minute, 20 database tables, 1 GB file storage, 1 visualization, 2 security roles, and basic cloud code capabilities.
SourceAppwrite: What is Appwrite Cloud's pricing?
Appwrite Cloud offers a free tier with unlimited projects, 75K monthly active users, and 10GB storage with no time limit. Pro plan starts at $15/month per organization member. Scale plan at $599/month includes dedicated resources and SOC 2 compliance.
SourceBackendless: What features does the Scale plan include?
Scale plan ($15+/month) provides unlimited API requests per month, 100 database tables, 10 GB file storage, 5 visualizations, 10 custom API keys, daily backups, free SSL certificates, and 1,000 real-time connections.
SourceAppwrite: What programming languages does Appwrite support?
Appwrite provides SDKs for 15+ languages including JavaScript, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin, Python, Ruby, PHP, .NET, and more, offering more language flexibility than Firebase.
SourceBackendless: Can I add more storage or increase API limits?
Yes, Backendless offers Function Packs ranging from $5-$399/month to increase specific limits such as storage, API requests, or security features.
SourceAppwrite: What backend services does Appwrite provide?
Appwrite includes Auth (with multi-factor auth), Databases, Storage (with compression and encryption), Serverless Functions, Messaging, Realtime subscriptions, and Sites (for hosting static and full-stack apps).
SourceBackendless: Does Backendless support offline functionality?
Backendless supports real-time sync and offline capabilities for mobile apps, allowing data to sync when connectivity is restored.
SourceAppwrite: Does Appwrite include real-time capabilities?
Yes. Appwrite's Realtime service covers all platform services by default through WebSocket subscriptions, enabling real-time updates across databases, functions, and messages.
SourceBackendless: Is Backendless Pro available for self-hosting?
Yes, Backendless Pro Community Edition is available under free licensing for core functionality. Managed Backendless is a paid option for self-hosted deployments with request-based pricing.
SourceAppwrite: How does Appwrite compare to Firebase on costs?
Appwrite offers better cost predictability. Firebase's pay-per-read/write model can lead to unexpected bills with runaway queries, while Appwrite's self-hosted model only requires paying for your own infrastructure with completely predictable costs.
SourceBackendless: What are Backendless's integration limitations?
While Backendless supports many integrations, it has a smaller integration library compared to competitors. Finding solutions to edge cases or complex setups may require more development effort.
Source