Best 5 Parse.com Alternatives

Original Post On: Best Parse Alternatives

One of the most popular Backend-as-a-Service providers Parse has announced its shut down.

Here below you can see official screenshot of Parse:

Parse is simply the most widely used backend service provider. Tons of iOS apps uses parse as their backend; some of the reputed names that use Parse’s backend service are Vevo and EventBrite.

The news of shutdown took the whole community of developers by storm; everyone is in jiffy and is looking for alternatives that are equally efficient and secure. Facebook decided to shut down Parse so that they can focus on profitable business opportunities.

Parse’s shutdown will create a void in the lives of developers, while there are loads of alternatives in the contemporary market but only handful of them are trustworthy and reliable. Here we bring to you a list of best 5 Parse.com Alternatives.

The listed advantages and disadvantages of using these alternatives will help you select the best Backend-as-a-Service provider for your app development business:

1. Kinvey

Kinvey probably is the most popular enterprise solution. The services of this specific Backend-as-a-Service provider are pretty expensive but it provide developers with access to all the important tools, features and also ensures a high level of stability at all times.

Advantages:

• The utmost advantage of shifting from Parse.com to Kinvey is that it provides a Parse like infrastructure. You can continue with your development process without making a lot of change.
• Secure mobile data, standardize backend integrations and secure identity are some of the favorable services.
• The turn-on infrastructure allows easier turn-up or turndown option.

Disadvantages:

• Kinvey is prone to following the path of Parse.com in a year or two hence the developers need to be on toe looking for alternatives at all times.

2. Deployd

It is easier to setup Deployd using npm. One can add new features to this BaaS via pull request given Deployd is an open source BaaS. The hardware infrastructure needs to be managed by the developer. Deployd only provides Backend-as-a-Service and not hardware support.

Advantages:

• It is an open source service hence developers can customize it according to their needs. Better hardware can be used for increasing efficiency and reliability.
• It is here to stay; you can pay for hosting and ensure that your backend needs are fulfilled for years to come.
• Deployd provides varied API integration services that make things easier on the users part.
• Centralized Dashboard for managing resources and apps hosted on it.

Disadvantages:

• A user needs to manage server maintenance and management on its own. The presence of Deployd is really uncertain, lack of community support puts it under the light of doubt.

3. Firebase

One of the strongest competitors of Firebase is now all set to lead the market when Parse closes its operation in 2017. Firebase is popular because it provides backend hosting for mobile as well as web applications.

Firebase is very much specific about their services; they never intend to be the Jack-of-all-trades and Master of None. They have always targeted specified services instead of trying to be an Umbrella of services. They have always focused on hosting and application services, which really makes them the favorite of developers.

Advantages:

• They provide services specific to application and hosting, which makes them very much affordable.
• Less services allows them to concentrate their processing power on important services thus guarantees great results.

Disadvantages:

• The developer needs to manage a lot of sidekick services on his or her own.

4. PushWoosh

PushWoosh is one of the first companies to react on the shutdown announcement of Parse.com. They have devised a module that allows easier migration from Parse.com to PushWoosh.

Advantages:

• Allows developers to access almost every function and feature that was there on Parse.com
• Provides notification services along with access to analytical tools.
• They have a well-developed module that allows developers to scale and segment with great ease.
• Provides a similar platform like Parse.com, which ensures proper efficiency and reliability.

Disadvantages:

• Lacks authenticity. Reviews and experts have cited its success and popularity to the shut down of Parse.com

5. CloudKit

Introduced in iOS 8 for the first time, this new data storage app service allows developers to store data on iCloud and access them in real time. The low cost option that it provides developers with will help in overcoming the lack of Parse.com.

CloudKit should be the one stop shop for all developers if data persistency is the top priority. The data usage limits get extended with the increasing number of app users, which makes it almost free for popular apps.

Advantages:

• Subscription and Notification every time a specific data is created or modified.
• Generous data usage limit that grows with the user base of your app.
• User-friendly dashboard that ensures easier management of data and apps.

Disadvantages:

• Not available for Android, limited to iOS based apps.
• The developers need to use iCloud for data storage.

By the next year Parse.com will shut down its functioning, a lot of developers will never have access to the most efficient backend service but someone needs to fill the shoes and keep the world moving. These alternatives are going to be really in demand because of their similar to Parse infrastructure or because of their increased efficiency.

Whatever may be the outcome the development procedure should not stop. The contemporary world needs more and more problem solving apps and the shut down of Parse.com should not be the disrupting factor.

Originally published at www.itaxsmart.com on February 23, 2016.