What Backendless does

Backendless is a visual application development platform that enables users to build web and mobile applications without writing code, combining a drag-and-drop UI Builder with a complete backend infrastructure. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Plano, Texas, the platform offers a unified no-code/low-code solution spanning frontend design, real-time relational database, user management with 18+ authentication providers, push notifications, file storage, and serverless hosting. The core technology is anchored by three proprietary components: UI Builder (visual interface for app frontends), Codeless Programming (graphical logic blocks for creating server-side code without programming knowledge), and the Backendless Core backend services. The company supports hybrid development by also providing SDKs for JavaScript, Flutter, Android, iOS, and .NET, alongside a complete REST API and Cloud Code extensibility system using JavaScript/Node.js or Java.

The platform is sold through a multi-tier revenue model: a free tier with paid cloud subscriptions starting at $15/month (Core, Cloud 99, Scale tiers), a Backendless Pro on-premise/self-hosted option with perpetual licensing plus a free Community Edition, and a fully managed Managed Backendless service with 24x7x365 monitoring. Go-to-market combines product-led growth through the self-serve free tier, enterprise field sales for Backendless Pro and Managed services, and a channel ecosystem including a Partner Program, Affiliate Program, and an integration marketplace with 100+ components, blueprints, and third-party developer extensions. Backendless targets two primary customer segments: individuals, small businesses, and startups (the PLG long tail), and medium-to-large enterprises requiring dedicated infrastructure, custom deployment, and compliance support, with named customers spanning banking (Bank al Etihad), real estate (StayShure), logistics (Second Warehouse), and consumer media (Bettercast, FindMy+1). AI capabilities are delivered primarily through third-party OpenAI integrations (audio translation, transcription, image generation), OOPSpam-powered spam detection, and the FlowRunner workflow automation platform, all distributed through the Backendless Marketplace. The company is privately held and bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, employs 11-50 people, and was valued at $11.2M against $3.7M ARR per a 2025 Getlatka report.

Name

Backendless

Legal name

Backendless Corp.

Website

https://backendless.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Backendless is a no-code/low-code visual application development platform offering drag-and-drop UI Builder, Codeless visual logic, real-time database, and serverless hosting. It serves individual developers, startups, and enterprises through cloud, self-hosted, and managed deployment models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

No-Code / Low-Code Application Development Platform

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

API-First Backend Platforms (BaaS/mBaaS & Serverless Backends) (HDAEAKAH)

Keywords

• Visual app development
• No-code platform
• Backend-as-a-service
• Low-code development
• Mobile app builder

Headquarters

HQ city

Frisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Cloud Hosting Subscriptions: Subscription-based cloud hosting with tiered plans (Free, Core, Cloud 99, Cloud Scale). Recurring monthly/annual revenue from cloud infrastructure.
2. Backendless Pro Licensing: On-premise/self-hosted deployment licensing for enterprises wanting dedicated instances on their own infrastructure.
3. Managed Backendless Services: Premium subscription with 24x7x365 monitoring and expert server management for Backendless Pro installations.
4. Marketplace Commissions: Function packs, app blueprints, UI components, and page templates sold through marketplace. Developers can publish and sell extensions.
5. Partner Program Revenue: Revenue from partner program including consulting partners and resellers who deploy or resell Backendless.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Backendless is a visual application development platform that combines a drag-and-drop UI Builder for frontend interfaces with a complete backend including a real-time relational database, Codeless visual logic programming, user management, push notifications, file storage, and Cloud Code server-side extensibility. It enables developers and non-developers to build scalable web and mobile applications through SDKs for JavaScript, Flutter, Android, iOS, and .NET, plus a REST API. The platform is delivered via three deployment options: Backendless Cloud (hosted, freemium-to-paid), Backendless Pro (self-hosted/on-premise perpetual license with optional Community Edition), and Managed Backendless (fully managed 24x7 subscription).

Product overview

Backendless is a complete visual app development platform combining frontend and backend capabilities. The core platform includes UI Builder (no-code drag-and-drop interface), Codeless Programming (visual logic blocks), and Backendless Core (real-time database, user management, push notifications). Backendless supports multiple development approaches through JavaScript, Flutter, Android, iOS, .NET SDKs, REST API, and Cloud Code. Hosting options include Backendless Cloud (free and paid tiers), Backendless Pro (on-premise/cloud deployment with Community Edition), and Managed Backendless (fully managed 24x7 service). The platform integrates with no-code builders (FlutterFlow, Bubble, Adalo, AppGyver, Thunkable, Draftbit, DronaHQ, Retool, UI Bakery), workflow automation (Zapier, Make), payment (Stripe), communication (Twilio, Plivo), and AI services (OpenAI, OOPSpam). FlowRunner AI provides AI-driven workflow automation. Backendless Marketplace offers function packs, blueprint apps, and API service plugins.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FlowRunner: AI-driven automation for workflow management
• UI Builder
• Codeless
• Backendless Pro Community Edition

Products and services

• Backendless Visual App Development Platform Complete visual app development platform combining frontend (UI Builder) and backend (database, APIs, hosting) capabilities in a unified no-code/low-code solution for web and mobile app development with codeless logic blocks, real-time database, and multiple SDK options.
• UI Builder No-code, drag-and-drop interface for building app frontends for mobile, web, or both platforms simultaneously. Features components, themes, page templates, and codeless logic integration with the Backendless backend.
• Codeless Programming Visual logic system using graphical blocks to create server code and business logic without programming knowledge. Includes logic editor, help system, testing facility, and extensive documentation for building API services and IoT logic.
• Backendless Core (Backend Services) Backend infrastructure including real-time relational database with visual schema modeler, database views, user management with 18+ authentication providers, push notifications, email templates, and serverless hosting with auto-scaling.
• Backendless Cloud Centralized cloud-based hosting with servers in U.S. and E.U. Free tier available with paid plans for scaling. Includes free SSL certificates and is offered with tiered plans (Core, Cloud 99, Scale).
• Backendless Pro On-premise or cloud deployment option with dedicated instance on customer's servers and on-call support. Includes Community Edition (free single-server) and paid enterprise tiers with no functional limitations on core Backendless functionality.
• Managed Backendless Fully managed subscription service with 24x7x365 monitoring by the Backendless team for Backendless Pro installations, ensuring uptime and proactive issue resolution by expert server administrators and DevOps engineers.
• Backendless Marketplace Digital marketplace offering pre-built function packs (messaging, user service, app management, data service), blueprint apps (dating, delivery, booking, CRM templates), UI components, and API services (AWS S3, OpenAI, Stripe, Twilio) where Backendless and third-party developers can publish and sell extensions.
• FlowRunner AI AI-driven workflow automation platform integrated with Backendless, enabling intelligent process automation and workflow optimization for applications.
• Backendless API Services Custom API services built with Codeless or code that can be deployed to Backendless servers and called from client applications or other services.
• Backendless Viewer Mobile app (available on iOS and Android) for previewing and publishing UI Builder apps as hybrid mobile applications directly from the Backendless Console.
• Advanced AI-powered API Services with OpenAI Integration Suite of three AI-powered API services launched in October 2023: AI Audio Translation Plugin (converts spoken language from various languages into English text), AI Audio Transcription Plugin (converts spoken audio into indexed text), and AI Image Generator/Editor Service (generates and edits images from user prompts), all built on OpenAI APIs and available in the Backendless Marketplace.
• AWS S3 API Service Plugin Amazon S3 API Service Plugin launched in the Backendless Marketplace in 2023, enabling seamless file management with Amazon S3 including upload, copy, delete, move, and file URL retrieval operations from within Backendless applications.
• Spam Detection API Service Spam Detection API Service launched in October 2023 using OOPSpam technology, providing AI-powered spam detection for app content with scoring on a 0-6 scale, dynamic learning from user feedback, and false positive reporting via reportSpamDetection method.

Quantifiable outcome

• Build apps in days rather than months with no-code development

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ZapiercoreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration enabling Backendless to connect with 3000+ web applications through Zapier's automation platform. Users can create workflows connecting Backendless backend services with thousands of external apps.
• Make (formerly Integromat)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Make/Integromat for workflow automation connecting Backendless with 1000+ applications. Enables complex automation scenarios between Backendless backend and external services.
• FlutterFlowcoreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration allowing FlutterFlow users to connect their visual mobile app builder to Backendless backend. Provides visual relational database, user management, and serverless hosting.
• BubblecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Bubble.io web application builder. Bubble users can use Backendless as backend for enhanced database capabilities and scalability.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS S3 API Service Plugin available in Backendless Marketplace for seamless file management with Amazon S3 storage directly from within Backendless applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AWS Amplify: Amazon's full-stack app development platform with backend services, hosting, and authentication. Direct competitor offering cloud-hosted BaaS for web and mobile developers with similar target use cases.
• Firebase: Google's mobile and web BaaS offering with real-time database, authentication, cloud functions, and hosting. Direct competitor to Backendless on the BaaS/mBaaS side, especially for app developers building on Google Cloud.
• Supabase: Open-source Firebase alternative providing Postgres database, authentication, storage, and serverless functions. Direct BaaS competitor with overlapping developer audience and freemium go-to-market model.
• Thunkable: Drag-and-drop native mobile app builder with backend integrations. Overlaps with Backendless on the no-code mobile app developer audience, particularly for SMB and individual developer use cases.
• Adalo: No-code mobile app builder with built-in database and publishing. Backendless integrates with Adalo as a backend, but also competes for the same SMB and startup no-code app builder customer.
• Bubble: Visual web app builder with integrated database, workflows, and hosting. Backendless integrates with Bubble as a backend option, but also competes for the same low-code app builder customer with an alternative architecture.
• Appwrite: Open-source BaaS platform with database, auth, storage, and serverless functions. Direct competitor in the developer-focused, self-hostable backend space targeting similar SMB and indie developer segments.
• Retool: Low-code platform for building internal tools with database integrations and APIs. Overlaps with Backendless on backend connectivity, API integration, and the developer/SMB internal tools use case.
• FlutterFlow: Visual Flutter mobile app builder with backend integrations. Backendless is positioned as a backend layer for FlutterFlow, but also overlaps on the low-code mobile app building use case for SMBs.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft Power Apps: Microsoft's enterprise low-code platform integrated with Azure, Dynamics, and Microsoft 365. Competes with Backendless Pro in the medium-to-large enterprise segment where Microsoft bundles backend services into broader enterprise agreements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/backendless
• GitHubgithub.com/Backendless
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLWRqDbbT5r9A04D0Qsaee2ERvRxnEi1xw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backendless-corp
• Facebookfacebook.com/backendless

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backendless