Softwr

Software · head to head

Automate.io vs Backendless

Automate.io logo

Automate.io

Software

Connect and automate your cloud applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Backendless logo

Backendless

Software

Visual app development platform with REST APIs and cloud backend

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Automate.io no longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down; Backendless free tier limited to 50 API requests per minute and 20 database tables
  • They diverge on capability: Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Backendless covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Automate.io and Backendless actually diverge.

Attributes where Automate.io and Backendless differ
AttributeAutomate.ioBackendless
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
PlatformsWeb, MobileCloud, Visual builder
Founded20142012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Automate.io

  • Multi-step automations
  • Conditional logic
  • Data mapping
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • API integrations
  • 500+ apps
  • Slack

Only in Backendless

  • REST API
  • Real-time database
  • Cloud code
  • Custom integrations
  • Cloud functions
  • Cloud support
  • Visual builder support

Both cover

  • Webhooks

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Automate.io

  • Workflow Automationnot Backendless
  • Data Integrationnot Backendless
  • Process Automationnot Backendless
  • App Integrationnot Backendless
  • API Connectivitynot Backendless

Backendless

  • API Developmentnot Automate.io
  • API Gatewaynot Automate.io
  • API Testingnot Automate.io
  • API Documentationnot Automate.io
  • Microservicesnot Automate.io

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Automate.io

  • No longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • Existing automations were not portable to Notion, so users had to rebuild elsewhere

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

Automate.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 tasks/month
    • 2 automations
  • Starter$15/month
    • 5000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited automations
    • Email support
  • Professional$50/month
    • Unlimited tasks
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

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 Automate.io if

  • You need multi-step automations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want conditional logic.

Choose Backendless if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Visual builder.
  • You also want real-time database.

Questions people ask

Is Automate.io or Backendless better?
Neither clearly leads. Automate.io 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, Automate.io or Backendless?
Automate.io starts at Free and Backendless at Free.
Does Automate.io or Backendless run on more platforms?
Automate.io runs on Web, Mobile. Backendless runs on Cloud, Visual builder.
Can I use Automate.io for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Automate.io best used for?
Automate.io is most often used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration. Of those, workflow automation and data integration are not what Backendless is typically brought in for.
What can Automate.io do that Backendless cannot?
Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Conditional logic, Data mapping, Error handling. Backendless covers REST API, Real-time database, Cloud code, Custom integrations. Both handle Webhooks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Backendless: 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.

Source
Backendless: 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.

Source
Backendless: 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.

Source
Backendless: Does Backendless support offline functionality?

Backendless supports real-time sync and offline capabilities for mobile apps, allowing data to sync when connectivity is restored.

Source
Backendless: 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.

Source
Backendless: 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

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