Where To Host A Mobile App Backend?
By: George Batschinski
Tags: Backend, Host, App, Mobile

Is there any better place to host your mobile app backend? Well, this is a common question that often strikes mobile app developers forcefully. It is not only about satisfactory customer experience; a suitable backend hosting support for your mobile app assures a higher level of scalability, enhanced security, and better speed.

So, how to host the mobile app backend? What are the vital areas to focus on?

To host the backend of a mobile app, it is necessary to have sound knowledge in the following areas:

Server-side programming

Database management

Big data

Modern cryptography

Mobile telecommunication network

All these are a necessary part of the process-the toughest area when managing backend hosting all by you is the coding procedure. Apart from the skills, the procedure requires an extreme level of dedication and effort.

Also, it’s highly time-consuming since the process is too lengthy to consider. But if you want to manage the mobile app backend without going for many hiccups, the best option will be to rely on MBaaS providers. MBaaS stands for Mobile Backend as a Service. Once you opt for this option, a lot of time and effort gets saved in hosting management. Yes, the MBaaS provider will be handling the hosting part.

mBaaS Overview

Mobile backend as a service or mBaaS is a platform being provided to the developers for connecting the APIs and backend cloud storage with that of the frontend. Through mBaaS providers, the entire backend server work process is managed, allowing the developers to get rid of the responsibility and focus entirely on the front end development. The most common operations that you can expect from a mBaaS platform are as follows:

Scalable Database

APIs

User management

Push notification support

Storage

With the help of custom SDKs, the mBaaS providers connect the API endpoints to different frontend clients like Android and iOS applications developed through Unity, Flutter, Ionic, React Native, etc. The SDKs can also access the pre-built APIs like push notification APIs, data service APIs, login APIs, etc.

mBaaS advantages

Mobile Backend as a Service allows the developers to stop worrying about the backend server handling part and concentrate entirely on the front end designing and coding process. It is the frontend area that remains visible before the audience. Therefore, developers need to be committed to developing that part effectively to attract a higher audience. Some of the advantages that mBaaS brings to the process are:

Automatic handling of the server-side

Allowing developers to focus totally on the frontend

Gaining access to a better and standardizes coding environment

Effectively running the clone apps and testing environment

No need for boilerplate code writing

Access to features like search, data storage, and authentication

Better backup and security options

Top 10 App Backend Hosting Providers

1. Back4app

Back4app is a backend service provider, open-source in nature, and increases mobile or web application development speed. Using the Back4app platform, the backend server hosting process is managed automatically, making the task easy enough for the developers.

Developers can only focus on the frontend, and hence, the project’s overall development timeline shortens. The best part of Back4app is that it can help in customizing and optimizing every application differently. It is the most innovative feature about Back4app that makes it so popular among mobile app developers.

The database solution provided by Back4app looks very similar to a spreadsheet. As a result, developers find it easy to update, sync, and create the application data. Also, single-click export and import of CSC/JSON files are possible with this platform. Using Back4app, you can easily manage and control the database data.

2. Firebase

Firebase, another mBaaS, offers developers the opportunity to work with different services and tools for developing high-quality mobile and web applications. Firebase is a NoSQL database that stores data in JSON documents. Firebase has been developed on the infrastructure provided by Google.

Firebase promises high-level security authentication using phone numbers, passwords, Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. The authentication kit from Firebase can also be manually integrated for more than one sign-in method. Firebase promises a fast hosting process for web apps. Cloud hosting becomes more comfortable with Firebase, so are services like authentication, configuration, analytics, push messaging, file storage, and a lot more. Firebase is perfectly apt for any apps you may think about. However, it works with only Android and iOS platforms.

3. AWS Amplify

AWS Amplify allows developers to focus on the front end using the best tools to develop highly scalable and secured full-stack applications without worrying about the backend process. The AWS Amplify makes it simpler to configure the backend process within minutes. Once done, only a few codes are required to connect the backend to the app’s frontend. In short, use AWS Amplify to create iOS and Android mobile and web apps faster. AWS Amplify framework features three components. These are:

Libraries UI Components CLI Components

You can use these components individually or together. The UI components and Amplify libraries are organized by use case and powered by the AWS service. Being open-source, they work perfectly with any existing front-end frameworks like Angular, Vue, React Native, React, Ionic, Angular, and iOS or Android IDEs. To maintain a serverless backend on AWS, Amplify CLI is used.

4. Kinvey

Kinvey is a mBaaS platform to make the web and mobile app development process a lot faster and easier. Kinvey platform allows developers to not only develop but also deploy apps on its serverless platform. Developers will have to put all their efforts into managing the front-end part, while the back-end server hosting part will be managed by Kinvey.

It will result in superlative performance and a better end product. Kinvey’s cross-platform capability will allow developers to use it with different applications from different platforms. Also, Kinvey allows the developers to enjoy total control over developers’ applications while ensuring the most amazing user experience to make the application more user-friendly, inspiring, and attractive. Kinvey offers the most efficient low code microservice solutions to enterprises dealing in complex systems.

Using Kinvey will allow the developers to save a whole lot of time in the app development process. There is no need to manage the server, be it worrying about the settings or accessing the code. Neither the developer has to worry about scaling and maintaining backend services or connecting to the cloud services. All will be managed perfectly by Kinvey. Another amazing feature about Kinvey is its drag and drop option that makes it easy to connect the backend services to the frontend application.

5. Backendless

Backendless is another powerful mobile backend as a service platform, designed to make the app development task a lot easier for the developers. Backendless offers the most comprehensive end to end solutions for web and mobile development process.

An excellent mBaaS solution with an open-source interface, Backendless makes it easier for the developers to manage server-side back-end tasks when developing an app. If the PRO version is availed, it allows the developers’ extra facility to run their services on their servers. Every backend task, be it data modeling, debugging, source control, mobile development, or deployment management, Backendless manages them all.

It also offers the most expressive user-defined application programming interfaces. APIs are generated automatically by Backendless. It becomes easier for developers to consume and manage these APIs for project development purposes.

6. Kumulos

Kumulos is a highly secured mBaaS platform used for the development of mobile applications and messaging services. It is trusted by millions of app developers worldwide. The demand for mobile apps has increased tremendously over the last few decades. With Kumulos, developing mobile apps becomes a lot less hectic. It is a convenient solution that promises the best of mobile app development for businesses worldwide.

With Kumulos, your mobile app development will reach a new height. Kumulos makes it easy enough to run, measure, refine, and build mobile messaging campaigns. They have to capability to engage the users by sending the right type of message to suitable people at the right time. Kumulos is somewhat different from other types of mobile app messaging platforms available. The technology is better and more customer-oriented.

7. 8Base

Another cloud-based data management and server-less backend platform, 8Base offers excellent mobile and web application development support to large scale enterprises and independent users. It is powered by GraphQL API. Handling different types of transactional and complex data requirements, enhanced security, and a truly modern feel is the specialty of this platform. The essential features that make 8Base such a popular option are listed below:

Highly secured, scalable, and redundant file storage and relational database system

Powerful yet simple data schema definition

Built-in user administration and role-based security tools

8. Parse

Facebook acquired Parse Inc. in the year 2013. The Parse framework was a product of Parse Inc. It is a highly effective mobile backend as a service framework that works as an open-source platform for different mobile and web development projects. Parse has a large community that helps in identifying bugs and providing necessary solutions to the scenarios.

Managing complex web and mobile apps can often become difficult unless being worked upon a proper platform. That is where Parse, acting as mBaaS, plays as a guiding light. It manages the backend procedure entirely. Be it cloud processing or server management, and everything is being handled without involving the developers. Such an approach makes it easy for developers to focus solely on the front end’s design and development (that’s only visible before the audience) in a better and catchier way.

With the mBaaS platform’s introduction, mobile and web app development has witnessed an altogether different approach. The entire process has become a lot easier to manage, thanks to technological advancement and dynamic server handling process, automatically backend.

9. Heroku

Heroku is a mBaaS platform, cloud-based, and popularly used for different mobile and web development projects. With Heroku, the deployment and development of applications have become simple and easy. Using Heroku, the backend server and hardware-level programming are managed efficiently. Those who use Heroku can now focus solely on managing the frontend part while this mBaaS platform manages the backend. With this cloud-based service provider, users will enjoy the highest level of experience.

Heroku works effectively with different platforms, be it Android, Windows, iOS, or Blackberry. It is simple and easy to use. Businesses with specific situation handling will find Heroku to be extremely useful. If you are a startup venture or handling smaller projects, Heroku’s free service options can be availed. However, those with complex and advanced level business needs will have to opt for the paid tiered service packages for the best results.

Heroku is based on DYNOS, a managed container system that features a compelling ecosystem with data services being integrated for running and deploying modern, high-end apps. Heroku supports Scala, PHP, Go, Clojure, Python, Java, and Node.js to name a few.

10. Cloudflare Workers

Application development has gone through a massive change of late, thanks to introducing different BaaS service providers like Cloudflare Workers. There is no need to configure load balancers, auto-scaling, and other unnecessary stuff using this tool. You need not have to pay for the capacities you don’t use.

Cloudflare Workers automatically route the traffic and get the load perfectly balanced across different servers. You, as a developer, can concentrate intensely on the frontend development services. With Cloudflare workers, it is now more convenient to store your static assets. The key-value data store promises low latency level and highest level security with enhanced performance.

It is easy enough to simultaneously access the assets while working with the codes and the transformation process through APIs for page modification purposes.

Conclusion

This article explained the benefits of hosting a mobile app using a back-end as a service platform and highlighted the best ten back-end hosting platforms for a mobile app.