Backendless Pricing Guide 2025: Plans & Features Explained

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 the right organization.

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 Easier Backendless Alternative

Don't know anything about tech or programming but still want to create an app? Adalo, an AI-powered app builder, offers a more accessible path to launching your app idea. Unlike low-code platforms that assume programming knowledge, Adalo uses a drag-and-drop interface that feels as intuitive as presentation software.

Adalo creates database-driven web apps and true 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. The platform's Magic Start feature generates complete app foundations from simple descriptions: tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically.

You'll also get substantial customization power. Adalo lets you customize nearly every pixel of your app so its color, components, and layout fit your exact needs. Connect to thousands of third-party integrations like Zapier, Airtable, and Mixpanel to extend functionality.

After you create your app, you can publish it on the web, in the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store, potentially reaching millions of users through these vast marketplaces—often the hardest part of launching a new app or business.

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, but resources and community support can assist in overcoming initial challenges. It's important to understand the general logic that makes up the structure of most coding languages because you'll use Backendless's visual 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	Key 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: Single Server	$7,200/year	Run your app on your server, nested grouping API, bolstered security, support
Pro: 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 Explained

Backendless has two major pricing tiers: one for individuals and small businesses, and another for medium to enterprise-level organizations. The pricing tiers for individuals and small businesses are hosted on Backendless's cloud space, functioning like most SaaS products.

However, the plans for medium businesses and above allow you to host your app on-premises (on a business's own 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 with more robust features than the Free Plan. 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:

• 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.

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 appeal to 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 around the clock. 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 run smoothly.

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 significantly: 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 May Be the Better Choice

For those without technical backgrounds—or those who simply want to launch faster—Adalo's AI-powered approach offers compelling advantages over Backendless's low-code model.

No coding knowledge required: While Backendless requires understanding of programming logic, APIs, and database structures, Adalo's visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint." Over 3 million apps have been created on the platform by users ranging from complete beginners to experienced developers.

Unlimited database records on paid plans: Backendless's Scale Plan caps you at 100,000 objects per table, with additional objects costing extra. Adalo's paid plans include no record limits—your database can grow with your business without triggering additional charges. With proper data relationship setups, Adalo apps can scale beyond 1 million monthly active users.

No usage-based surprises: Backendless's a la carte pricing can add up quickly as you scale. Adalo has removed App Actions (usage-based charges) from all plans, meaning unlimited usage with no bill shock. You know exactly what you'll pay each month.

True native mobile apps: Both platforms support mobile app creation, but Adalo compiles to true native iOS and Android code. This matters for performance—native apps load faster and feel more responsive than web wrappers, especially under load.

Faster time to market: Adalo's Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions. Magic Add lets you add features by describing what you want in natural language. What used to take days of planning happens in minutes.

Pricing comparison: Adalo's web and true-native mobile builder starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and app store publishing. Backendless's Scale Plan starts at $15/month but requires technical knowledge and additional purchases for comparable functionality. For non-technical users who want to publish to app stores, Adalo offers a more straightforward path.

Adalo 3.0, launched in late 2025, completely overhauled the backend infrastructure, making apps 3-4x faster with modular infrastructure that scales with app needs. Most third-party platform comparisons predate this major update.

[INTERNAL LINK: Adalo pricing page] [INTERNAL LINK: How to build a mobile app without coding] [INTERNAL LINK: Adalo vs Bubble comparison]

FAQ

Question	Answer
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?	Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase—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 to both Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months.
Which is more affordable, Adalo or Backendless?	Backendless starts at $15/month but requires technical knowledge and often additional a la carte purchases. Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited usage, no record limits on paid plans, and no coding required—making it more cost-effective for non-technical users.
Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Backendless?	Adalo is significantly easier for beginners. Its visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," while Backendless requires understanding of programming logic, APIs, and database structures to use effectively.
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 basic to intermediate understanding of programming, APIs, and database structures.
How much does Backendless cost?	Backendless pricing starts with a free version for learning, then scales to $15/month for the Scale Plan. Pro versions for on-premises hosting start at $7,200/year for single-server deployments, with clustered and fully managed options available by contacting sales.
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 medium to enterprise-level organizations to host apps on their own servers, providing greater control over security and scalability.
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 and services your business already uses.
Can I migrate from Backendless to Adalo?	Yes, you can rebuild your app in Adalo. While there's no direct migration tool, Adalo's Magic Start can generate app foundations quickly, and the visual builder makes recreating functionality straightforward for non-technical users.
Is Adalo better than Backendless for mobile apps?	For non-technical users, yes. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase with direct app store publishing. Backendless offers more backend customization but requires coding knowledge to leverage effectively.