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Head-to-head · Backend as a Service

Nhost vs Parse Platform

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Nhost #4 in Backend as a Service 7.5/10 Free plan · paid from $25/mo Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Nhost
Parse Platform #7 in Backend as a Service 7.1/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Parse Platform

Nhost leads on 5 checks, Parse Platform on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreNhost · 7.5/10
  • Free planonly Nhost
  • Most featuresNhost · 4 of 4

Nhost scores higher on our rubric for backend as a service: 7.5 against 7.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

Nhost offers free plan; Parse Platform doesn't publish it. Nhost offers serverless functions; Parse Platform doesn't publish it. Nhost offers realtime data; Parse Platform doesn't publish it. Nhost offers file storage; Parse Platform doesn't publish it. Nhost offers automatic apis; Parse Platform doesn't publish it.

Nhost is the better fit for graphQL-first Postgres applications. Parse Platform is the better fit for self-hosted multi-platform backends.

  • Nhost fits best

    GraphQL-first Postgres applications

  • Parse Platform fits best

    Self-hosted multi-platform backends

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Side by side

Feature Nhost 7.5/10 Visit ↗ Parse Platform 7.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.5 7.1
Ranking #4 in Backend as a Service #7 in Backend as a Service
Best for GraphQL-first Postgres applications Self-hosted multi-platform backends
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $25/mo Not published
Free plan ✓ (best) Not published
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, iOS, Android, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Nhost 4/4 · Parse Platform 0/4
Serverless functions ✓ (best) Not published
Realtime data ✓ (best) Not published
File storage ✓ (best) Not published
Automatic APIs ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Database type Relational Not published
Authentication methods Not published Not published
Free authentication users Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Generated GraphQL queries, mutations, and realtime subscriptions
  • Authentication includes MFA, WebAuthn, OAuth, and magic links
  • Local Docker development, Git deployments, storage, and functions
  • Supports MongoDB and PostgreSQL with REST, GraphQL, and SDK APIs
  • Offline queries, queued writes, and bidirectional synchronization
  • Official SDKs for Android, Apple, JavaScript, and Flutter/Dart
Cons
  • Team pricing rises to $599 per month
  • Dedicated clusters are an Enterprise add-on
  • GraphQL is central to the platform's API approach
  • Self-hosted deployment requires developer-managed infrastructure
  • Support channels are centered on documentation
  • No vendor-operated hosted plan is included in the offering
Our verdict

Nhost is a managed backend platform for developers building web and mobile applications around PostgreSQL and GraphQL. Each project gets a dedicated PostgreSQL database, with automatically generated queries, mutations, and realtime…

Read the review →

Parse Platform is an open-source application backend built around Parse Server, which runs on Node.js infrastructure managed by the developer. It is designed for teams building web, iOS, Android, and Flutter applications that need data…

Read the review →
  1. NhostBackend as a Service 7.5Free plan · paid from $25/mo
  2. Parse PlatformBackend as a Service 7.1Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Nhost — where it wins

    • Generated GraphQL queries, mutations, and realtime subscriptions
    • Authentication includes MFA, WebAuthn, OAuth, and magic links
    • Local Docker development, Git deployments, storage, and functions

    Where it doesn't

    • Team pricing rises to $599 per month
    • Dedicated clusters are an Enterprise add-on
    • GraphQL is central to the platform's API approach

  • Parse Platform — where it wins

    • Supports MongoDB and PostgreSQL with REST, GraphQL, and SDK APIs
    • Offline queries, queued writes, and bidirectional synchronization
    • Official SDKs for Android, Apple, JavaScript, and Flutter/Dart

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires developer-managed infrastructure
    • Support channels are centered on documentation
    • No vendor-operated hosted plan is included in the offering
  • Nhost7.5/10 · Free plan · paid from $25/mo

    A capable GraphQL-first backend with PostgreSQL, realtime APIs, and a free starting tier.

    Visit NhostFull verdict →
  • Parse Platform7.1/10 · Open source

    A flexible self-hosted backend with broad APIs, offline data, and mobile SDK coverage.

    Visit Parse PlatformFull verdict →

More comparisons

All backend as a service comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on backend as a service

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update