Backend as a service

Backend as a Service ( BaaS ) is a service that gives developers access to a development environment in the browser that is also connected to a cloud . The purpose of these services is to simplify the creation of backends for apps and mobile websites in the browser and with the help of modeling. These services usually offer various pre-installed features with user management, social network integration and push notification . The interfaces to the services are made available with the help of SDKs , some of which are generic but some of which are also generated .

BaaS is not yet very popular as a service. The first startups to offer BaaS were founded in 2011. The global BaaS market is currently valued at $ 216.5 million (as of 2012)

Backend as a Service is a new level of abstraction in application development. Infrastructure and software are provided according to the "as a service" business model for a monthly fee. "Backend as a Service" (BaaS) includes the automated creation and hosting of a backend and its configuration by the user using a web browser. Functions, scaling , service level agreements , server location and price differ depending on the provider and the selected package .

Creating a backend with different modules takes a lot of time and money. However, since many things, such as database and user management, are similar for each backend, this area can also be outsourced. This fact is used at BaaS. The service offers a backend that can be expanded with various modules. A generated SDK establishes the connection to this backend. These are available for the largest platforms such as Android , IOS , Blackberry , Windows Phone . An API interface is available for other platforms that can be addressed from various programming languages.

Service provider

Each BaaS provider provides different features. The tools generally include:

• Push notifications
• Integration of social networks
• cloud storage
• Chat and messages
• User administration
• Business logic , object-oriented program structures
• Usage analysis

comparison

providers	Pricing models	Modules	SDK platforms	Hosting location
ApiOmat	Small (from 99 €) Medium (from 299 €) Professional (from 599 €) Enterprise (on request)	AccessControl Chat CSV DocumentGenerator Evalanche Facebook Module (static) Google Analytics JDBC Module (Native) LDAP Localization mandrill Messaging NetworkDrive NewsAggregator OData Connector Module PDF generator Piwik modules Push Restore Module (Static) Salesforce SAP modules (native) SharePoint SMTP Twilio Twitter WebAppUpload Web hosting Wordpress XML	Android iOS JavaScript / PhoneGap / Titanium / ReactNative PHP Java C # / Xamarin C # / Xamarin SQLite Objective-C Swift Backbone TypeScript	Germany
Baasbox	Open source	not specified	not specified	not specified
Baqend	Basic (Free) Medium (50 €) Business (500 €) Enterprise (on request)	User administration Push OAuth (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) REST JSON import and export NodeJS backend code Custom NodeJS modules	JavaScript	Germany
Built.io	Free Trial Enterprise Partner / Reseller Custom	User administration Push (with user segmentation) Geolocation Analytics Realtime Custom code container via extensions Content management system Social (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, as well as enterprise social networks such as Chatter, tibbr, Jive, Yammer, Cisco Spark and Slack) Enterprise integration Security and Authentication	Android iOS JavaScript Xamarin	United States EMEA Worldwide through private cloud
cloudbase	Free Basic ($ 11.99) Professional ($ 47.99) Enterprise ($ 119.99)	Push Analytics Cloud database Logger Mail Paypal MoSync User administration	Android IOS Windows Phone PHP JavaScript	not specified
Firebase	Free Pay-as-you-go	Push User administration Analytics File management Remote configuration Crash reports Real-time database Management of advertising	Android iOS JavaScript	Worldwide (not selectable)
Kii	Free Pro ($ 199) Custom	User administration Push File management Management of advertisements	Android IOS JavaScript	not specified
Kinvey	Free Pro ($ 200) for 5000+ users $ 1500	User administration Push Location Facebook Graph Api	Android IOS HTML5 PhoneGap Titanium AppCloud	not specified
Cumulative	Free Per Custom	User administration Messaging Push XML import and export CSV import and export Cloud database	iOS & OSX Android Windows Phone Blackberry HTML 5 Unity .net Angular JS LUA Corona C #	no information
mobeelizer	Free Small ($ 99) Medium ($ 199) Max ($ 499) Enterprise	Data storage Sync User administration with rights system File management Push	Android IOS Windows Phone Titanium	not specified
Parse		User administration Chat Facebook Twitter Messaging Push XML import and export CSV import and export Cloud database Staging	Android IOS python PHP Java .NET JavaScript	no information
QuickBlox	Free Reseller Enterprise Price upon consultation	Location Chat User administration Content management (movies, large files) Ratings Messages	Android IOS Windows Phone Blackberry HTML5	not specified
Stack mob	Free SLA Enterprise Price upon consultation	User administration Amazon S3 Facebook Twitter Geoqueries Staging Analytics	Android IOS JavaScript	not specified
ConnectyCube	Free Enterprise S Enterprise M Enterprise L	User administration Possibility to use an external user database User authentication by Facebook User authentication through Twitter User authentication by Firebase AddressBook Chat Content management Messaging Push notifications CSV export of data REST Chatbots End-to-end encryption	Android (Java and Kotlin) iOS (Objective-C and Swift) JavaScript NativeScript ReactNative Cordova	Worldwide. The following options are available: AWS on site

Business model

Most BaaS providers offer a freemium model. With this model, users and API calls are restricted. If this limit is exceeded, you must either switch to a higher model or each user who is above the limit must be paid individually.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Backend as a Service (BaaS) Market worth $ 7.7 Billion by 2017 . English. Online at www.marketsandmarkets.com. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
2. ↑ CHOOSING MOBILE BACK-END SERVICES . English. (PDF; 1.8 MB). Online at https://apiomat.com . Retrieved May 21, 2019.
3. ↑ Understanding the Basics of Backend as a Service (BaaS ) . English. Online at mobile.siliconindia.com on August 9, 2012. Accessed May 6, 2013.
4. ^ Dan Rowinski: The Rise of Mobile Cloud Services: BaaS Startups Grow Up . English. Online at readwrite.com April 17, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2013.