Software · head to head
Backendless vs Spring Cloud Gateway

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

Spring Cloud Gateway
Software
API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices
- 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; Spring Cloud Gateway released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
- They diverge on capability: Backendless covers REST API, Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Backendless and Spring Cloud Gateway actually diverge.
| Attribute | Backendless | Spring Cloud Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | open-source |
| Platforms | Cloud, Visual builder | Java, Spring Boot |
| Founded | 2012 | 1998 |
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 Spring Cloud Gateway
- Routing
- Path Rewriting
- Circuit Breaker
- Spring Boot
- Spring Security
- Spring Cloud
- Java support
- Spring Boot support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Backendless
- API Development
- API Gateway
- API Testing
- API Documentation
- Microservices
Spring Cloud Gateway
- 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.
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
Spring Cloud Gateway
- Released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
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
Spring Cloud Gateway
Free- Open SourceFree
- Core Spring Cloud Gateway
- Community support
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 Spring Cloud Gateway if
- You need routing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Java, Spring Boot.
- You also want path rewriting.
Questions people ask
- Is Backendless or Spring Cloud Gateway better?
- Neither clearly leads. Backendless starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Backendless or Spring Cloud Gateway?
- Backendless starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free.
- Does Backendless or Spring Cloud Gateway run on more platforms?
- Backendless runs on Cloud, Visual builder. Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot.
- 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.
- What can Backendless do that Spring Cloud Gateway cannot?
- Backendless covers REST API, Real-time database, Cloud code, Custom integrations. Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot.
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.
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.
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.
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
More on Spring Cloud Gateway
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