APIs · head to head
Backendless vs Hasura

Backendless
APIs
Visual app development platform with REST APIs and cloud backend
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Hasura
APIs
GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Backendless free tier limited to 50 API requests per minute and 20 database tables; Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
- They diverge on capability: Backendless covers REST API, Hasura covers GraphQL API.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Backendless and Hasura actually diverge.
| Attribute | Backendless | Hasura |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Cloud, Visual builder | Web |
| Founded | 2012 | 2017 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).
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
- Cloud functions
- Visual builder support
Only in Hasura
- GraphQL API
- Real-time subscriptions
- Access control
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- REST APIs
- Self-hosted support
- Docker support
Both cover
- Webhooks
- Cloud support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Backendless
- API Developmentnot Hasura
- API Gatewaynot Hasura
- API Testingnot Hasura
- API Documentationnot Hasura
- Microservicesnot Hasura
Hasura
- Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Backendless
- Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Backendless
- Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Backendless
- Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot 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
Hasura
- Active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
- Private DDN requires Base or Advanced plan
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
Hasura
Free- DDN FreeFree
- Unlimited models
- 1 supergraph developer
- 15-minute observability retention
- DDN Base$5/month
- Per active model billing
- Unlimited developers
- 30-day observability retention
- DDN Advanced$30/month
- Per active model billing
- Federated collaboration
- Multi-repo CI/CD
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.
Choose Hasura if
- You need graphql api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time subscriptions.
Questions people ask
- Is Backendless or Hasura better?
- Neither clearly leads. Backendless starts at Free and Hasura at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Backendless or Hasura?
- Backendless starts at Free and Hasura at Free.
- Does Backendless or Hasura run on more platforms?
- Backendless runs on Cloud, Visual builder. Hasura 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 Hasura is typically brought in for.
- What can Backendless do that Hasura cannot?
- Backendless covers REST API, Real-time database, Cloud code, Custom integrations. Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Both handle Webhooks, Cloud support.
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.
SourceHasura: How much does Hasura cost?
Hasura DDN Free is free. DDN Base starts at $5/active model/month, and DDN Advanced starts at $30/active model/month.
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.
SourceHasura: What is an active model in Hasura pricing?
An active model is defined as any model or command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly.
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.
SourceHasura: Is there a free version of Hasura?
Yes, Hasura DDN Free is always free and includes unlimited models, 1 supergraph developer, and 15-minute observability retention.
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.
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.
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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Backendless
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