Head-to-head · Backend as a Service
Nhost vs Xano
Nhost leads on 1 check, Xano on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreNhost · 7.8/10
- Lowest starting priceNhost · $25/mo
- Free planboth
Nhost scores higher on our rubric for backend as a service: 7.8 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.
Nhost is cheaper to start at $25/mo against $85/mo.
Nhost is the better fit for graphQL-first Postgres applications. Xano is the better fit for no-code teams building complex backends.
- Nhost fits best
GraphQL-first Postgres applications
- Xano fits best
No-code teams building complex backends
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Side by side
| Feature | Nhost 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | Xano 7.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Ranking | #7 in Backend as a Service | #8 in Backend as a Service |
| Best for | GraphQL-first Postgres applications | No-code teams building complex backends |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $25/mo (best) | $85/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7 |
| Compliance | SOC 2, GDPR, 2FA | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Nhost 4/4 · Xano 4/4 | ||
| Serverless functions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Realtime data | ✓ | ✓ |
| File storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic APIs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Database type | Relational | Relational |
| Authentication methods | Not checked yet | Social |
| Free authentication users | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| 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 → |
Xano is a managed backend platform for technical teams building web and mobile applications without assembling backend services individually. It combines a PostgreSQL database, visual business logic, REST API creation, authentication, file… Read the review → |
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
Xano — where it wins
- Combines PostgreSQL, APIs, logic, auth, storage, and serverless functions
- Supports integrations with tools including Stripe, Shopify, Slack, and Webflow
- Includes testing, deployment, logging, observability, and realtime events
Where it doesn't
- Essential starts at $85 per month when billed annually
- The Free plan limits databases to 100,000 records and storage to 1 GB
- Advanced capabilities are reserved for higher paid or Custom plans
- Nhost7.8/10 · Free plan
A capable GraphQL-first backend with PostgreSQL, realtime APIs, and a free starting tier.
Visit NhostFull verdict → - Xano7.7/10 · Free plan
A broad no-code backend for teams that need APIs, data, logic, and operations in one platform.
Visit XanoFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






