Pick a Backendless replacement by why you're leaving. If you want self-hosting and control, an open-source backend fits. If you're building a real-time app in code, a reactive backend suits you, and if you'd like to skip code altogether, a no-code database and app builder is the closer match.
A warning before the list: Backendless puts the front end, the logic and the backend in one visual builder, and most tools here don't. They're code-first backends, so you'll bring your own front end and someone to wire it up. With that said, here are nine options for founders and developers, in no particular order, starting with the full list.
Nine backends, listed alphabetically
Unranked. Each description follows the vendor's own account of its product.
Appwrite
Best for: Developers who want auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging and sites from one open-source platform, which the vendor pitches as all the services you need.
Back4app
Best for: Launching an app backend on a low-code cloud platform with ready-made components and AI tools; the vendor promises no infrastructure hassles.
Baserow
Best for: People without coding skills building databases and applications, per the vendor, on an open-source no-code platform.
Budibase
Best for: Building apps, automations and AI agents around systems you already run, on an open-source platform the vendor aims at modernising processes.
Convex
Best for: TypeScript developers wanting database, functions, sync, search and file storage in one reactive backend; the vendor's line is zero glue code.
Directus
Best for: Teams with an existing database who want instant REST and GraphQL APIs and a no-code interface on top, self-hosted if they like.
PocketBase
Best for: Solo developers and small projects wanting a realtime database, authentication, file storage and an admin dashboard in what the vendor calls one file.
Strapi
Best for: Content-first projects; the vendor calls this open-source TypeScript headless CMS a content framework you control from content model to live API.
Zoho Catalyst
Best for: Teams wanting frontend, backend, AI and DevOps tools from one cloud suite; the vendor says everything an app needs after the code is written is built in.
How the nine compare at a glance
| Tool | Approach | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Appwrite | Open-source developer platform | Auth, databases, storage and functions in one place |
| Back4app | Low-code backend hosting | Launching a hosted app backend quickly |
| Baserow | Open-source no-code database | Non-developers building databases and simple apps |
| Budibase | Open-source low-code app platform | Internal apps and automations around existing systems |
| Convex | Reactive TypeScript backend | Real-time apps written entirely in TypeScript |
| Directus | Backend and headless CMS | Instant APIs over a database you already have |
| PocketBase | Open-source backend in one file | Small apps and prototypes you self-host |
| Strapi | Open-source headless CMS | Content-heavy apps and sites fed through an API |
| Zoho Catalyst | Full-stack cloud platform | Frontend, backend and DevOps from one cloud vendor |
What changes when you leave a visual builder
A visual builder hides a lot of plumbing. Leave it and that plumbing becomes your job, or your developer's. The upside is control: you choose the database, the hosting and the front end framework, and you're not tied to one vendor's way of doing things. The downside is time, because something has to connect the screens your users see to the data underneath.
For self-hosting and control
PocketBase, Appwrite, Strapi and Directus can all run on infrastructure you manage. They range from a tiny single-file backend for prototypes to a full platform with auth, storage and functions, plus two content-first options that put an API in front of your content or your existing database. This is the route for founders who've been burned by lock-in or who must keep data in a particular place.
For a real-time app written in code
Convex is the code-first option here: everything is TypeScript, and the vendor's pitch is that data stays in sync without glue code. It suits developers building collaborative or live-updating apps who are happy to write the front end themselves.
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For skipping code
Baserow and Budibase are the nearest thing to the no-code side of Backendless. Both are open source, and both let less technical people build databases, internal apps and automations. They won't replace a custom consumer app, but for an internal tool they're often enough.
For one cloud provider
Back4app and Zoho Catalyst are hosted suites. You get a managed backend with ready-made pieces and never touch a server. That suits small teams who want to ship fast and are comfortable with one provider running everything.
Advice for founders choosing a backend
Be clear about who'll build and maintain the app before you compare features. If you have no developer, a code-first backend is a project you can't finish, however good its docs are. If you do have one, ask them which language and hosting they already know, because familiarity saves more time than any feature list. Then check how you'd get your data out again, since that's the part of a backend switch that hurts most.
For related lists, see my roundups of Firebase alternatives and Xano alternatives, plus my guide to the best backend as a service platforms.
A weekend proof of concept
- Pick one screen from your current app that reads and writes real data, such as sign-up or a simple list.
- Choose two candidates from different groups above, so you're comparing two approaches rather than two near twins.
- Rebuild that one screen on each, using test data, and note every step that needed a developer.
- Try exporting the test data from each, so you know the way back out works.
- Keep the option your team could run without heroics, and plan the full move from there.
Do you make backend or app platform software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is a backend as a service?
It's a set of building blocks for an app: a database, user sign-in, file storage and server functions, so you don't build and run them from scratch. Some are hosted for you and some you can run yourself.
Do I need a developer to switch from a visual builder?
Usually, yes, if you move to a code-first backend. You'll need someone to build the front end and connect it to the data. No-code database tools are the exception for simple internal apps.
Is open source the same as free?
Not quite. Open-source code is free to use under its licence, but you still need hosting, updates and someone to look after it. Many open-source projects also sell a hosted version.
Can I move my data out of Backendless?
Check the export options in your current account and test a small export before you commit to anything. Plan for user accounts and files separately, because they often need their own migration steps.
What's a headless CMS?
A content system that stores and manages content but leaves the display to you, serving it through an API to a website, an app or any other screen.
Is self-hosting safer than a hosted backend?
Not by default. You get control over where data lives, but security then depends on how well you patch and configure the server. Data protection rules vary by country, so check what applies to you.
