Last updated 07-01-2026
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Back4app
Back4app is a low-code backend platform for building and scaling web and mobile apps without managing servers yourself. It runs on open-source Parse Server with MongoDB, giving you relational-style data models, auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs, authentication, file storage, real-time sync, and cloud functions in one hosted stack.
The platform also ships web deployment from GitHub, an AI Agent that provisions full apps from prompts, and MCP integration so tools like Cursor and VS Code can create databases, deploy code, and manage backends directly from your IDE. Developers use SDKs for JavaScript, iOS, Android, Flutter, PHP, and .NET to connect any frontend.
Back4app targets indie developers, startups, and teams who want predictable pricing and Firebase-style speed without vendor lock-in. The company is based in Sunnyvale, California, with a Latin America office in S??o Paulo, and reports more than 300,000 developers on the platform.
MongoDB database with visual schema editor, ACLs, and LiveQuery real-time sync
Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs plus SDKs for JavaScript, iOS, Android, and Flutter
AI Agent builds full-stack apps from prompts with database, auth, APIs, and a live URL
MCP server connects Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, and Claude to provision and manage backends
Deploy Docker containers and full-stack web apps from GitHub with zero-downtime releases
Open-source Parse Server stack avoids vendor lock-in compared to proprietary BaaS options.
Predictable per-app monthly pricing with a generous free tier for prototyping.
AI Agent and MCP let you provision databases, APIs, and deployments from your IDE.
Pricing is per app, so running many small projects on paid tiers adds up quickly.
Dedicated plan requests are hardware-limited, not truly unlimited at any scale.
Is Back4app free to use?
Yes. The free plan includes 25,000 API requests per month, 250 MB of database storage, 1 GB of data transfer, and 1 GB of file storage. You can run up to five projects on the free tier with no credit card required.
What database does Back4app use?
Back4app uses MongoDB hosted on MongoDB Atlas or DigitalOcean Managed Databases. You get document storage with relational-style pointers, geo queries, aggregation pipelines, and a visual data browser in the dashboard.
How does Back4app compare to Firebase?
Back4app runs on open-source Parse Server, so there is no vendor lock-in. It offers relational data models, predictable monthly pricing, dedicated hosting options, and support for heavy transactional queries. Paid plans start at $15 per app per month.
Which AI tools work with Back4app MCP?
Back4app's Model Context Protocol server works with Cursor, VS Code (via Cline), Windsurf, Claude Desktop, and custom agents built on LangChain or AutoGPT. MCP tokens are created in the dashboard under Account Keys.
What compliance certifications does Back4app support?
Back4app lists GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, and HIPAA (after BAA signed) on its paid plans. Enterprise and dedicated tiers add custom security setup and SLA options.