Softwr

Software · head to head

Backendless vs Parabola

Backendless logo

Backendless

Software

Visual app development platform with REST APIs and cloud backend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Parabola logo

Parabola

Software

Visual flow automation for modern teams

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; Parabola the Basic plan allows 1 user and 1,000 credits with limited AI
  • They diverge on capability: Backendless covers Real-time database, Parabola covers Visual workflow builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Backendless and Parabola actually diverge.

Attributes where Backendless and Parabola differ
AttributeBackendlessParabola
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsCloud, Visual builderWeb
Founded20122015

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

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

Only in Parabola

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Data transformation
  • Conditional logic
  • Looping
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Scheduling
  • 300+ apps

Both cover

  • REST API
  • Webhooks

What people use each for

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

Backendless

  • API Developmentnot Parabola
  • API Gatewaynot Parabola
  • API Testingnot Parabola
  • API Documentationnot Parabola
  • Microservicesnot Parabola

Parabola

  • Workflow automation for operations and finance teamsnot Backendless
  • Data integration across 1,000+ sourcesnot Backendless
  • Automation and reporting workflowsnot 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

Parabola

  • The Basic plan allows 1 user and 1,000 credits with limited AI
  • No price is published for either the self serve or the business tier
  • Credits are consumed when agents run, and further credits are bought pay as you go
  • Role based access control, SSO, version history and SLAs all sit on the unpriced business 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

Parabola

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Parabola review.

Which should you pick?

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.
Backendless review

Choose Parabola if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data transformation.
Parabola review

Questions people ask

Is Backendless or Parabola better?
Neither clearly leads. Backendless starts at Free and Parabola at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Backendless or Parabola?
Backendless starts at Free and Parabola at Free.
Does Backendless or Parabola run on more platforms?
Backendless runs on Cloud, Visual builder. Parabola 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 Parabola is typically brought in for.
What can Backendless do that Parabola cannot?
Backendless covers Real-time database, Cloud code, Custom integrations, Cloud functions. Parabola covers Visual workflow builder, Data transformation, Conditional logic, Looping. Both handle REST API, 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Backendless

More on Parabola

Keep looking

Other head to heads