What are the best Open Source mBaaS?

George Batschinski
11 min readOct 20, 2019

At present, more and more mobile applications are being developed to open new doors of technology for the users. However, when it comes to developing a mobile application, the use of mBaaS can help you to reduce the amount of energy and time, which is required to manage the backend processes of the application. mBaaS also being referred to as Mobile Backend as a Service. It is basically a pre-built infrastructure that is cloud-hosted to enable mobile and web applications to access backend storage, APIs, and social networks, etc. In the simplest words, mBaaS is an effective way to empower application developers with ready to use backend resources so that the process of application development can be more efficient and easier.

Why you need a mBaaS — Mobile Backend as a Service?

We are living in a society that is dominated by mobile devices at the present time. These devices are changing the way of communication entirely. Mobility is the key element in modern businesses and it is highly important to remain competitive and relevant in every field of life. However, when it comes to taking benefit of the best technologies available at the present time then without any doubt use of mBaaS will be a perfect opportunity which you can ever use in this regard. Are you wondering why it is an amazing option for you to choose? Well, there are a lot of reasons for you to prefer these services. However, you must know that mBaaS is an amazing cloud computing model that has the ability to save a lot of your time, energy and efforts in the best possible way. mBaaS has the ability to provide more effective, efficient and better ways for the developers to connect their backend services with cloud storage and backend processing in the best possible way.

At the present time, people are utilizing mobile phone applications like never before and accessing these services through web, tablets, laptops, smartphones, various other similar devices. While it is obviously difficult to manage and create an engaging user experience across multiple devices. However, mBaaS can reduce the time and energy which are required to launch mobile initiatives through simplifying the backend integration process. It is because mBaaS is helping developers to get connected to various data sources and focus more on the creativity of front-end solutions. Even more, the use of mBaaS has the ability to give flexibility to the developers that can allow them for true innovation. This is the most effective way for developers to link to amazing cloud-based backend storage and other utilities such as file storage, push notifications, configuration and monitoring, social integration, messaging ques, etc. It is a perfect alternative to the traditional processes of backend development which is helping the developers to bring more services to the users in an efficient mobile format.

Benefits of a mBaaS

Do you want to know how BaaS can help you in different ways? Well, here are some of the most important benefits of BaaS which you must know to get a better idea in the best possible way.

1. Save engineering costs

When it comes to the code than with mBaaS the code in which developers do not have to write lengthy codes as it seems in traditional backend development processes. With the help of this development, the cost will certainly reduce to a great extent. Even more various features like real-time data access, file storage, backend APIs, etc. are also included in the mBaaS services which will ultimately make the development process more scalable and cost-effective.

2. Focus on core features

If you have to work for the backend services of your mobile applications from the ground then you have to integrate multiple propriety services or systems to manage backend services of your mobile application. Along with various other services you also have to manage high data ranges and varied formats. There are a lot of things which you have to manage from scratch without mBaaS. While mBaaS is providing all of these services ready to use which will save a lot of your time and will help you to pay more attention to the front end or other core features of your application in the best possible way.

3. Shorter marketing time

mBaaS is not only minimizing the time which is required to build infrastructural elements of application but it also saves the marketing time in a more effective way. mBaaS has the ability to provide default backend services set which can help in expediting the entire process of development as the developers do not have to spend any time to build this in the applications which they are creating while using mBaaS.

Five Best Open Source mBaaS

Here are some of the best open-source mBaaS which you must consider to get more benefits in the best possible way.

1. Back4App

Back4App is one of the most amazing and easiest development tool solutions which is designed perfectly for web and mobile applications. It is providing an easier and quicker way to develop, manage and host your application at a single platform in the best possible way. This can be a more effective solution for the people who are using parse server for their application management.

Back4App is playing the role of a centralized hub for application program interface and backend. This can be a more effective solution that has the ability to provide more convenience to the developers and will allow them to focus more on the front-end services. Most interestingly, it can help the developers to host mobile and web applications along with IoT up to 80% faster than others. It is because it can help the developers to create their required APIs within few minutes in the best possible way.

Even more, Back4App is using open source technology and is having multiple integrations and tools for products that are making the developers able to implement their application projects faster and better in a more effective way. This is also known as one of the most amazing and effective hosting providers all around the globe. With Back4App developers have no need to reinvent the wheel.

Benefits of Back4App

Here are some of the most amazing benefits of Back4App which you must know:

  • One of the best open-source BaaS and a backend generator.
  • Plenty of features including easy data management, real-time database access, logs viewer, and much more.
  • Real-time database with LiveQuery
  • It can help you to scale the available solutions as per your needs.
  • Well-optimized storage options.
  • It can manage various parse server versions easily

Pricing plans

Back4App is offering the most versatile pricing plans which are easier to scale as per the needs of the developers. Free plan available. The basic pricing plan of this platform is starting from $5 which includes 50k API calls, 1 GB database storage, 10 GB file storage, 10 GB data transfer. However, you can easily increase your package if you need more.

2. Parse

This is the time to focus on more amazing and highly creative features to enhance user experience with your mobile applications in the best possible way with the help of Parse services. Well, here it is highly important for you to notice the fact that the mBaaS market took remarkable or significant traction with the parse of Facebook. However, although at the present time Facebook is not providing support for the Parse project anymore but still parse is doing well in the industry of application backend development in the best possible way. Parse is the early leader of this industry which is still useful for various application developers and helping them to manage the backend of their applications in a more effective way. Most interestingly, Parse is an open-source solution that can help you to manage the thing in a more efficient and cost-effective way. It is one of the most amazing and easy to use mBaaS solution which you can consider for your benefits.

Most of the developers love to build the small solutions of middleware with Parse because it is easier than various other similar platforms to utilize. Most interestingly, parse comes with everything which you may ever need to manage, and develop application backend in the best possible way. it is including interesting features such as different client SDKs, SSL hosting, databases and user management system, etc. User session management is one of the most important things which normally developers love in the Parse. It is because the docs here are quite well-thought.

Benefits of Parse

Well, do you want to know more about Parse? So, it is time to have a look at the most amazing benefits of parse to get a better idea about one of the best open-source mBaaS:

  • Parse is quite easier access to in-app purchases more effectively.
  • It helps the developers to manage different sources such as push notification, User authentication, email verification, File storage adapters, etc. in the best possible way.
  • Easier to download and utilize.
  • Most interestingly, a huge developers’ community is supporting Parse.

Pricing plans:

Parse is a free to download framework. Self-hosted options start at $5 at services like Back4App or Digital Ocean.

3. Backendless

Backendless is one of the best open-source mBaaS service providers which is offering a complete toolset that is designed in a perfect way to help the developers by making backend tasks easier for them in the best possible way. Most amazingly, the pro version of Backendless is capable of allowing the developers to run the services on their own servers in a more effective way with ease. It has the ability to provide entire services that can be required to build the backend of any mobile application including hosting for NodeJS scripts, tracked usage analytics, API engine for scaling the application up, cloud backend, and a huge marketplace with amazingly packed features.

Backendless is a perfect takeout for generic services. It is because along with the most basic APIs such as database, file, user, geolocation, and messaging, etc. the company is also offering the best user-defined services in the best possible way. Every service which you want to develop for your application project will be given with a unique API through Backendless. The most amazing and coolest thing about this service is each of your required API will be generated by Backendless automatically. While developers can easily manage and utilize those automatically generated APIs in their projects with ease. This is one of the most amazing things which is setting Backendless apart from various other similar service providers in the best possible way.

Benefits of Backendless

If you want to know why Backendless is one of the most amazing open source mBaaS then it is highly important for you to have a look at the following benefits:

  • It offers effective analytics and management tools
  • The key to the services of Backendless is its APIs which are easier to extend as per the needs of the application or developer.
  • It can backend development easier.
  • It has plenty of features to provide effective support to the developers.
  • Technical support service is also available

Pricing plans:

Its basic plan is starting from free option while its paid services are starting from $15 per month with the options of increasing plan limits as per need of the projects.

4. AWS Amplify

Amazon amplify is one of the most amazing solutions which is helping the developers to create serverless applications that are easier to integrate with the frontend based on JavaScript. Most amazingly, AWS amplify is containing an easy to use, easy to navigate and a great user interface to get done with the backend services process in the best possible way with ease. AWS is containing a huge library which can help the users to connect serverless backend solutions which are serverless with their mobile frontends. This functionality itself is great because it can manage hosting, backend data, and other important backend services in a more effective way. Well, at this point it is highly important for you to know that the services of AWS amplify are quite easier to integrate into Android, iOS, React, and various other web frameworks along with React Native. Even more, it also comes with a complete style guide that has the ability to develop effective UI components which can work with the AWS amplify in a more effective way.

Benefits of AWS Amplify

Do you want to know why AWS Amplify is one of the most preferable mBaaS services which you can ever consider? Well, here are some of the most important benefits which are highly important for you to know to get a better idea about the things:

  • AWS Amplify has provided an easy to use and declarative API for cloud operations
  • It can help the developers to build and deploy cloud-powered mobile and web-based applications.
  • It can go well with various frameworks including the frontend based on JavaScript.
  • Developers are allowed to use and scale entire AWS services that are being offered with Amplify.
  • It can work for multiple vendors, organizations and buyers in the best possible way.

Price Plans

When you want to get benefit from AWS Amplify then you have to pay as you go for the services which you want to utilize.

5. Skygear

Skygear is one of the most powerful open source backend service options which has the ability to support mobile and web applications in the best possible way. It has the ability to provide help as an open-source platform for Android, iOS, and React JS SDK for the development of backend. It is one of the most effective development kits for the web, IoT and mobile application solutions which can enable the developers to deal with the backend services in a more effective way with ease. This can be the best backend solution to utilize for everyone ranging from the beginners to the enterprises. It is offering an amazing range of features that can be ranged from Access Controls/Permissions, Deployment Management, etc. to provide more help to the developers.

Even more, Skygear has the ability to help the developers and allow them to deploy cloud functions or microservices to the production with just a simple and easy command line. Most interestingly, you can easily invoke various functions in your application with the help of configured SDKs which are being offered by Skygear.io. With the help of this amazing service provider, you can get a better opportunity to leave the entire backend troubles away and can easily push your code with more creativity. Most interestingly, it contains the entire range of features which can be required for any application to get done with the backend services in a more effective way.

Benefits of Skygear

Here are some of the most amazing benefits of Skygear.io which are highly important for you to know to get more information about this amazing service in the best possible way:

  • Easier to use platform.
  • It is offering more out of the box and highly innovative services to enjoy
  • You can use the community edition (open source) of the skygear.io for free.
  • It is supporting Python, Go and Node.js currently.
  • An expert team is available for assistance.

Price plans

Skygear is offering open source community edition for their services free while to get rid of server management hassle you can easily purchase their service plans.

Conclusion

mBaaS is all about helping the developers to magnify their application idea by making it easier to go further and faster to accomplish the things which were looking tougher to reach before in the best possible way. The market for mBaaS is one of the most growing and effective cloud service delivery models. You can easily find some of the Best Open Source mBaaS services with ease which will help you to manage the mobile backend services in a more efficient and cost-effective way. These services are growing with every passing day and surely, we are going to see more exciting things happening which will be certainly worth to give a try.

Would you like to know more about mBaaS? Please read the article below:

What is a Backend as a Service

Originally published at https://blog.back4app.com on October 20, 2019.

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