Backendless Pricing Guide 2025: Plans & Features Explained
Choosing the right app development platform means understanding exactly what you're paying for—and whether those features will actually get your app to market.
Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Backendless is a low-code platform that provides frontend, backend, and database tools, but requires basic to intermediate programming knowledge to use effectively.
When evaluating these platforms, what matters most is app success: launching your MVP as fast as possible and reaching the biggest audience. That means publishing not just a web app, but true native iOS and Android apps directly to the app stores—unlocking millions of potential users and essential features like push notifications. Below, we break down Backendless pricing tiers and features to help you determine which platform will actually get your app into users' hands.
Backendless pricing tiers start at only $15/month but can go up to more than $7,000/year—which would actually be a fantastic deal for organizations with their own server infrastructure.
Read on to learn:
- Intro to Backendless and use cases
- Pricing plans and features
- Is it worth the price?
- Why Adalo is a better alternative
Let's take a closer look at Backendless and some optimal use cases.
Adalo: An Easy Backendless Alternative
Don't know anything about tech or programming but still want to create an app? Adalo, an AI-powered app builder, is your perfect choice. Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. Unlike Backendless's low-code approach that requires programming knowledge, Adalo uses a simple drag-and-drop interface—similar to photo-editing software—that anyone can master.
Adalo creates database-driven web apps and true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. One build publishes to web, the Apple App Store, and Google Play Store. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch in days rather than months. If you can sign into an email account, you can create an app with Adalo.
Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.
The platform's AI Builder promises prompt-based app creation and editing, with features like Magic Start that generates complete app foundations from descriptions. Tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically—what used to take days of planning happens in minutes. Magic Add lets you add features by simply describing what you want in natural language.
You'll also get heaps of power: Adalo lets you customize nearly every pixel of your app so its color, components, and layout fit your exact needs. Plus, you'll be able to connect to thousands of third-party integrations, like Zapier, Airtable, and Mixpanel.
After you create your app, you can publish it on the web, in the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store, potentially allowing you to reach millions of users. Over 3 million apps have been created on Adalo, with the visual builder being described as "easy as PowerPoint."
Start creating your app for free with Adalo.
What is Backendless?
Backendless is a low-code web app and native mobile app builder that provides the tools to create every part of an app: frontend, backend, and database. Since it's a low-code platform, having a basic to intermediate understanding of programming, APIs, and database structures is beneficial.
Non-techies might struggle with the steeper learning curve with Backendless, but resources and community support can assist in overcoming initial challenges.
It's super important to have some coding knowledge, or at the very least, the general logic that makes up the structure of most coding languages. This is because you'll use Backendless's coding language, Codeless, to build your app's backend logic.
There's no limit to the type of app you can create with Backendless. Choose a premade template for an ordering, internal business, or e-commerce app, or start building your project from scratch.
Backendless Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Version | Free | Unlimited monthly API calls, 20 data tables with 15,000 objects/table |
| Scale Plan | Starts at $15/month | 100 databases with 100,000 objects/table, 10GB of file storage |
| Pro Version: Single Server | Starts at $7,200/year | Run your app on your server, nested grouping API, bolstered security, support |
| Pro Version: Clustered Servers | Contact Sales | Run your app on multiple servers, scale to any size |
| Managed Backendless | Contact Sales | 24/7/365 monitoring of your app by team of experts |
Backendless Pricing Tiers
Backendless has two major pricing tiers, one for individuals and small businesses and the other for medium to enterprise-level organizations. The pricing tiers for individuals and small businesses are hosted on Backendless's cloud space, so they function like most SaaS.
However, the plans for medium businesses and above allow you to host your app on-premises (on a business's on-premises servers). This feature gives you much more control over your app's security and scalability than you'd get from a cloud-based service.
Cloud-Based Hosting: Individuals and Small Business Tier
These plans are ideal for folks looking to learn the Backendless building interface or to create a simple start-up app for their small business.
Free Version
The free version provides enough tools and features to learn Backendless's building interface. You can tinker with the Codeless language, build a simple backend, and experiment with a custom API key to set permissions for different users.
You can build up to 20 data tables with 15,000 objects and up to 1GB of file storage and publish your app on the web.
Scale Plan ($15/month)
You can add more juice to your app by providing more robust features than the Free Plan. For instance, you'll get 10 customized API keys, up to 100 databases with 100,000 objects each, the capability to connect your database to up to 1,000 real-time objects to harvest data, 500,000 monthly push notifications, and much more.
The Scale Plan also allows you to add features a la carte. This is a great option for folks who know precisely which extra features they want to add, as they'll only need to pay for what they use, resulting in potential savings.
For instance, here are some of the additional features you can add:
- 10 GB File Storage: $20/month
- 100,000 data objects: $10/month
- 50 data tables: $20/month
- 10 custom API keys: $50/month
Backendless provides over 20 a la carte features—you can find them all by accessing the website.
Backendless Pro: Medium to Enterprise-Level Tier, On-Prem
Got your own servers? Backendless lets you run your app directly on-prem, giving you full control over scaling, security, and other functionalities.
What about app-building capabilities? The on-prem versions allow for what Backendless calls the Limitless Edition, which is exactly what it sounds like: You'll be able to build unlimited apps with unlimited databases and records, unlimited API calls, unlimited push notifications, and other features that will induce drool from the mouths of your tech and IT teams.
You'll also get access to the Backendless Marketplace, where you can find developer-made tools like database connectors and code generators, which you can download to your server to boost your app's performance. And you'll get priority support from the Backendless team if you run into any problems.
Backendless has 3 pro-level plans:
- Single-server ($7,200/year): You can run your app from one on-premises server or a developer's hard drive.
- Clustered Server (contact sales): For larger companies with at least 3 server nodes. This is a good option for companies with servers in multiple locations or continents.
- Fully Managed (contact sales): Backendless's team of experts will set up several service monitors on your servers and observe their performance all day, every day—literally. Companies that experience changes to their IT environment benefit from this plan, as the Backendless team can suggest optimal guidance to ensure your system and servers always hum in harmony.
Is Backendless Worth It?
Now that you've got an idea of the features and benefits you get from the Backendless pricing tiers, here are some keys you should keep in mind when considering the platform:
- Must be a techie: Ultimately, you'll need to know how databases, APIs, and programming languages work to use Backendless. You'll struggle mightily if you're a beginner to tech.
- Good if you know exactly what you want in an app: Already have a set of wireframes, targeted third-party apps for API calls, and an estimation of how much data storage your app will need? If so, Backendless is for you—you'll be able to know exactly which features you require, which can help you control costs.
- Ideal for organizations with a server or two: While it may appear expensive at $7,200/year, the single-server Backendless Pro Version could be an excellent deal. You'll have a single database and backend solution that you can scale to the realms of outer space: There's no limit to the number of apps, databases, or database objects you can build. Additionally, you'll get levels of control over your app's security that only on-prem can provide.
Why Adalo Is the Better Choice for Most Builders
For builders without programming experience—or those who simply want to ship faster—Adalo offers a more accessible path to published apps. Here's how the two platforms compare:
| Feature | Adalo | Backendless |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Skill Required | None—drag-and-drop interface | Basic to intermediate programming knowledge |
| Starting Price | $36/month (unlimited usage) | $15/month (with object limits) |
| Database Records | Unlimited on paid plans | Limited by plan tier |
| Native Mobile Apps | True native iOS and Android | Yes, with coding required |
| App Store Publishing | Built-in, streamlined process | Manual configuration required |
| AI-Assisted Building | Magic Start, Magic Add, X-Ray | Not available |
Adalo's 3.0 infrastructure overhaul in late 2025 delivered 3-4x faster performance with modular infrastructure that scales with app needs. The platform now supports apps with over 1 million monthly active users, with no upper ceiling. Unlike Backendless's object limits on cloud plans, Adalo's paid plans include no record caps on the database—your app can grow without hitting storage walls.
The X-Ray feature identifies performance issues before they affect users, helping you maintain speed as your app scales. This proactive approach to optimization means you're not troubleshooting problems after users complain—you're preventing them.
For builders who want to focus on their product rather than infrastructure, Adalo handles the complexity. One codebase publishes to web, iOS, and Android simultaneously. No server management, no deployment configuration, no worrying about whether your database can handle growth.
FAQ
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?
Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store—the hardest part of launching an app handled automatically.
What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?
Adalo's drag-and-drop interface combined with AI-assisted building lets you create apps without coding. The platform handles the App Store submission process, enabling launch in days rather than months.
Which is more affordable, Adalo or Backendless?
Backendless starts at $15/month but has object limits that may require upgrades. Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and no record caps on paid plans—no surprise charges as your app grows.
Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Backendless?
Adalo is significantly easier for beginners. Its drag-and-drop interface requires no coding knowledge, while Backendless requires understanding of programming, APIs, and database structures to use effectively.
Is Adalo better than Backendless for mobile apps?
For most builders, yes. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps with built-in App Store publishing. Backendless can create mobile apps but requires more technical configuration and manual deployment.
Can I migrate from Backendless to Adalo?
Yes, you can rebuild your app in Adalo. While there's no direct import, Adalo's AI-assisted building with Magic Start can generate app foundations quickly, and the visual builder makes recreating functionality straightforward.
What is Backendless and who is it best suited for?
Backendless is a low-code web and mobile app builder that provides tools to create frontend, backend, and database components. It's best suited for users with programming knowledge who want on-premises hosting control.
What's the difference between Backendless cloud-based and on-prem hosting?
Cloud-based plans are hosted on Backendless's servers and are ideal for individuals and small businesses. On-prem plans allow organizations to host apps on their own servers, providing greater control over security and unlimited app-building capabilities.
Can I integrate third-party services with my app?
Yes, Adalo allows you to connect to thousands of third-party integrations including Zapier, Airtable, and Mixpanel. These integrations extend your app's functionality and allow you to leverage existing tools your business already uses.
Do I need coding experience to build with Adalo?
No coding experience is required. Adalo's visual builder works like photo-editing software, and AI features like Magic Start and Magic Add let you describe what you want in plain language.