Back4app is a hosted backend platform built around the Parse ecosystem, priced per app. Pages here cover running open-source Parse Server yourself or moving to self-hosted Appwrite or Supabase.
Comparing Back4app's per-app plans with running Apache-2.0 Parse Server and Parse Dashboard yourself on MongoDB or PostgreSQL: Cloud Code, Live Queries, push, file adapters, backups and compliance coverage you take over.
Moving a Back4app app to Parse Server you host: exporting data, choosing MongoDB or PostgreSQL, redeploying Cloud Code, moving files to an S3, GCS or file system adapter, and pointing Parse SDK clients at the new server URL.
For teams leaving Back4app who do not want to keep Parse: what Appwrite and Supabase offer instead of Parse classes, Cloud Code and Live Queries, the SDK rewrite involved, and when staying on Parse Server is the cheaper path.
Cost of ownership by component: Back4app plan fees per app, request and storage overages and the Dedicated plan, against servers, a managed or self-run database, backups and the time to operate Parse Server.
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