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No-Code · head to head

Corteza vs Parse Server

Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Parse Server logo

Parse Server

APIs

Open-source Backend as a Service platform with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Corteza planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.; Parse Server deployment complexity and scaling challenges require operational expertise
  • They diverge on capability: Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Parse Server covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corteza and Parse Server actually diverge.

Attributes where Corteza and Parse Server differ
AttributeCortezaParse Server
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, DockerNode.js, Express, REST API, GraphQL API
CategoryNo-CodeAPIs
FoundedUnknown2011

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

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 Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

Only in Parse Server

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Authentication
  • Node.js
  • Cloud functions
  • File storage
  • Webhooks
  • Node.js support

What people use each for

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

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot Parse Server
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot Parse Server
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot Parse Server
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot Parse Server

Parse Server

  • API Developmentnot Corteza
  • API Gatewaynot Corteza
  • API Testingnot Corteza
  • API Documentationnot Corteza
  • Microservicesnot Corteza

Where each one falls short

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

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation.
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something.
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them.
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves.

Parse Server

  • Deployment complexity and scaling challenges require operational expertise
  • Requires database management skills for MongoDB or PostgreSQL administration
  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Firebase or cloud alternatives
  • Query depth bypass vulnerability allowing denial-of-service attacks via complex REST/GraphQL queries
  • Stored XSS vulnerability through SVG file uploads requires patching

Pricing, plan by plan

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and services$undefined/year
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

Parse Server

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Self-hosted Parse Server
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Choose Parse Server if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Express, REST API, GraphQL API.
  • You also want graphql api.
Parse Server review

Questions people ask

Is Corteza or Parse Server better?
Neither clearly leads. Corteza starts at Free and Parse Server at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Corteza or Parse Server?
Corteza starts at Free and Parse Server at Free.
Does Corteza or Parse Server run on more platforms?
Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker. Parse Server runs on Node.js, Express, REST API, GraphQL API.
Can I use Corteza for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Corteza best used for?
Corteza is most often used for a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee, an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost, an integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commercially, a mid-size european company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount grows. Of those, a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee and an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost are not what Parse Server is typically brought in for.
What can Corteza do that Parse Server cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management. Parse Server covers REST API, GraphQL API, Authentication, Node.js.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

Parse Server: Is Parse Server self-hosted or cloud-managed?

Parse Server is entirely self-hosted and open-source, running on your own infrastructure with no monthly subscription required; you manage the MongoDB or PostgreSQL database and deployment.

Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

Parse Server: What databases does Parse Server support?

Parse Server works with MongoDB and PostgreSQL as data stores, giving you flexibility to choose your preferred database system for your application.

Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

Parse Server: What APIs does Parse Server provide?

Parse Server automatically generates both REST and GraphQL APIs based on your application schema, and you can extend these with custom queries, mutations, and remote schemas.

Source
Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

Parse Server: What SDKs are available for Parse Server?

Parse provides native SDKs for iOS (Swift/Objective-C), Android, JavaScript/Node.js, PHP, and .NET, plus REST and GraphQL access for any other platform.

Source
Parse Server: Does Parse Server include user authentication?

Yes. Parse Server includes out-of-the-box user management with support for email/password authentication, OAuth providers (Facebook, Twitter, Google, GitHub, LDAP), push notifications, and campaigns.

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