Backendless Review — Joute's Take

The Essentials in 20 Seconds

• No-code backend as a service: database, auth, APIs, push notifications, file storage
• Visual interface to define tables, relationships, and business logic
• Around since 2013, stable and mature
• Pricing: $25/month for the Cloud plan

Verdict: Backendless is a complete no-code backend. Stable, but less modern than Supabase or Firebase in 2026.

What is Backendless

Backendless is a no-code backend platform covering the classic needs of a mobile or web application: database, authentication, REST APIs, push notifications, file storage, and business logic via codeless blocks or JavaScript code.

Founded in 2013, it's one of the oldest BaaS players. That longevity is a stability advantage but also a handicap against more modern tools.

Strengths

Complete backend without code

Auth, database, APIs, notifications, files: all in the interface. For a mobile app or a PWA, Backendless covers 90% of backend needs without a single line of server-side code.

Codeless Blocks

A visual business logic system. You build workflows with drag-and-drop blocks. Useful for validations, transformations, and simple automations.

Self-hosting available

Backendless can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure. An option that Supabase offers too, but Firebase doesn't.

Limits

Dated UX

The interface shows its age. Compared to Supabase or Firebase's UI, navigating Backendless takes extra effort.

Smaller community

Fewer tutorials, fewer templates, fewer resources than Firebase or Supabase. If you get stuck, online resources are scarcer.

Pricing

• Free: strict limitations
• Cloud: $25/month, moderate usage
• Cloud99: $99/month, serious commercial usage

Alternatives

• Supabase for a modern open-source PostgreSQL backend
• Firebase for the Google ecosystem with excellent DX
• Xano for a more modern no-code backend focused on APIs

Verdict

Backendless remains viable, especially if you have specific hosting constraints or want a Firebase alternative without Google dependency. For new projects without specific constraints, Supabase is generally preferable in 2026.

FAQ

Does Backendless support complex SQL queries?

Via the REST API and custom queries. The visual query builder has limitations for highly complex queries.

Can you use Backendless with Flutter?

Yes. There's an official Flutter SDK. Other platforms (iOS, Android, React Native, Angular, Vue) are also supported.

Is migrating away from Backendless easy?

Data can be exported as JSON or CSV. The codeless business logic is harder to migrate since it's proprietary.

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