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Backendless vs GitHub Actions

Backendless logo

Backendless

Software

Visual app development platform with REST APIs and cloud backend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GitHub Actions logo

GitHub Actions

Software

Automate your software workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Backendless free tier limited to 50 API requests per minute and 20 database tables; GitHub Actions private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Backendless and GitHub Actions actually diverge.

Attributes where Backendless and GitHub Actions differ
AttributeBackendlessGitHub Actions
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsCloud, Visual builderWeb
Founded20122008

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 Backendless

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

Only in GitHub Actions

Nothing recorded that Backendless does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Backendless

  • API Developmentnot GitHub Actions
  • API Gatewaynot GitHub Actions
  • API Testingnot GitHub Actions
  • API Documentationnot GitHub Actions
  • Microservicesnot GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions

  • Running CI builds and tests on pushes and pull requestsnot Backendless
  • Automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repositorynot Backendless
  • Scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automationnot Backendless

Where each one falls short

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

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

GitHub Actions

  • Private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed
  • Artifact storage is only 500 MB on GitHub Free and 2 GB on Team, and it is shared with GitHub Packages storage
  • Larger runners are always charged for, even on public repositories and even when plan quota remains
  • Windows runners cost $0.010 per minute against $0.006 for a 2-core Linux runner, so the same workflow costs more per platform
  • macOS runners are charged at a higher per-minute rate than Linux runners
  • Failed runs consume minutes, so a job that fails after 5 minutes and is re-run for 10 uses 15 minutes of quota
  • Storage is billed on hourly accrual in GB-Hours, so deleting artifacts stops future charges but does not remove charges already accrued in the cycle
  • Cache storage is a separate 10 GB per repository allowance and peak hourly usage above it is charged
  • Minutes are charged to the repository owner, not the person who triggered the run, and anyone with write access can trigger runs
  • Without a valid payment method on file, workflows are blocked as soon as the quota is exhausted

Pricing, plan by plan

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

GitHub Actions

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitHub Actions review.

Which should you pick?

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.
Backendless review

Choose GitHub Actions if

  • You want to start without paying.
GitHub Actions review

Questions people ask

Is Backendless or GitHub Actions better?
Neither clearly leads. Backendless starts at Free and GitHub Actions at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Backendless or GitHub Actions?
Backendless starts at Free and GitHub Actions at Free.
Does Backendless or GitHub Actions run on more platforms?
Backendless runs on Cloud, Visual builder. GitHub Actions runs on Web.
Can I use Backendless for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Backendless best used for?
Backendless is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what GitHub Actions is typically brought in for.
What can Backendless do that GitHub Actions cannot?
Backendless covers REST API, Real-time database, Cloud code, Custom integrations.

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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Related pages

More on Backendless

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