Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Back4App VS RunCloud

Compare Back4App VS RunCloud and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Back4App logo Back4App

Low code backend to build apps faster and scale easily.

RunCloud logo RunCloud

Hassle-free PHP web application & server management panel
  • Back4App Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-13

Back4App supports developers and companies to accelerate backend development, improve development productivity, reduce time to market, and scale applications without managing infrastructure.

  • RunCloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-07

RunCloud is a modern web server panel for cloud servers such as AWS (Amazon Web Service), Digital Ocean, Google Cloud Platform, Alibaba Cloud, and other VPS hosting. In short, RunCloud is a deployment tool for the web developer to simplify the process of configuring, setting up a cloud server and deployment of web applications. It's focused on optimization, security and user experience to enable easy, hassle-free web server management and application deployment.

RunCloud

$ Details
paid Free Trial $8.0 / Monthly (Basic Plan)
Platforms
Linux PHP

Back4App features and specs

  • Scalability
    Back4App provides a scalable backend solution that can grow with your application's needs, effortlessly handling an increasing number of users and data.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform offers an intuitive interface and comprehensive documentation, making it easy for developers to set up and manage backend operations without deep programming knowledge.
  • Real-time Database
    Back4App supports real-time data synchronization, ensuring that data is consistently updated across all clients in real time.
  • Multiplatform Support
    It provides SDKs for multiple platforms including iOS, Android, and web, which allows developers to implement backend services across different devices seamlessly.
  • Cost-effective
    Back4App offers a range of pricing plans suitable for different project sizes, including a free tier that is beneficial for small projects and startups.
  • Open-source Core
    Built on top of the open-source Parse framework, it allows for greater customization and the benefit of community-driven development.

Possible disadvantages of Back4App

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, developers new to BaaS (Backend as a Service) platforms might face an initial learning curve.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    While Back4App offers flexibility, there is a dependency on the platform for backend management, which could pose challenges if migrating to another service in the future.
  • Limited Customization
    For highly specific or complex backend requirements, Back4App's predefined services might be limiting compared to building a custom backend from scratch.
  • Performance Overhead
    Using a BaaS can introduce performance overhead compared to a highly optimized custom backend solution tailored to the application's unique requirements.
  • Pricing at Scale
    Although the service is cost-effective for smaller projects, costs can escalate for larger applications with significant data and user management needs.

RunCloud features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    RunCloud provides a clean and intuitive interface that simplifies server management, making it accessible even to users with limited technical expertise.
  • One-Click Application Deployment
    Users can quickly deploy popular web applications like WordPress, Laravel, and others with just one click, saving significant time and effort.
  • Automated Server Configuration
    RunCloud automates various server configuration tasks such as setting up firewalls, installing PHP versions, and configuring databases, reducing the technical burden on the user.
  • Performance Optimization
    The platform includes built-in performance optimization features such as server caching, ensuring your applications run efficiently.
  • Team Collaboration Tools
    RunCloud offers tools for team collaboration, allowing multiple users to manage the same server with role-based access control.
  • Security Features
    The service includes robust security features like automated SSL certificate installation and server monitoring, enhancing the security of hosted applications.

Possible disadvantages of RunCloud

  • Cost
    RunCloud can be relatively expensive, especially for small businesses or individual developers who are on a tight budget.
  • Limited Cloud Provider Compatibility
    RunCloud supports major cloud providers but may not be compatible with all hosting services, limiting flexibility for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, there can still be a learning curve for users unfamiliar with server management concepts.
  • Support Limitations
    Some users have reported that the support response time can be slow, and the available documentation may not cover all advanced use cases.
  • Feature Overlap
    Advanced users might find that some of the automated features overlap with their current workflow or custom setup, reducing the platform's overall utility.

Analysis of Back4App

Overall verdict

  • Back4App is generally considered a good option for developers looking for a reliable BaaS solution. It is particularly appealing for those who wish to leverage the power of Parse while enjoying added support and infrastructure management. Its ease of use, coupled with powerful APIs and flexibility, makes it suitable for both startups and more established businesses looking to develop applications swiftly.

Why this product is good

  • Back4App is a Backend as a Service (BaaS) platform that simplifies app development by handling backend tasks such as database management, server hosting, and scaling. It is built on top of the open-source framework, Parse, and provides a robust and scalable infrastructure that allows developers to deploy apps quickly without worrying about server management. Key features include real-time database, REST & GraphQL APIs, authentication, and file storage, making it a versatile choice for various app development needs.

Recommended for

    Back4App is recommended for startups, indie developers, and enterprises that require a reliable and cost-effective backend service to rapidly develop and deploy applications. It is ideal for those who prefer not to manage their own servers or infrastructure and for projects that need quick scalability and real-time data management, such as social apps, mobile applications, and IoT solutions.

Analysis of RunCloud

Overall verdict

  • Yes, RunCloud is a good choice for those who want to streamline cloud server management without deep technical expertise. Its robust feature set and automation capabilities make it a valuable tool for managing sites more efficiently.

Why this product is good

  • RunCloud is considered a good option for web developers and businesses looking to manage their cloud servers more efficiently. It offers a user-friendly interface, automated server setup, and a range of features like server monitoring, Git deployment, and SSL certificate management that simplify server management. Additionally, RunCloud supports multiple cloud service providers, making it versatile for various hosting needs.

Recommended for

    RunCloud is particularly recommended for freelancers, small to medium-sized businesses, and web agencies that manage multiple client sites. It’s also suitable for developers who want to reduce the complexity of server management while focusing on development work.

Back4App videos

Serverless GraphQL #01 - Introduction to GraphQL on Parse using Back4App

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to create an App on back4app and manually add the data.

RunCloud videos

RunCloud webhosting cloud-panel review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to have multiple Wordpress Sites using RunCloud and Digital Ocean
  • Review - Cloudways vs Runcloud Review - Level Up Your Wordpress Hosting In 2020

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Back4App and RunCloud)
Backend As A Service
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
54 54%
46% 46
Hosting
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Back4App and RunCloud

Back4App Reviews

Top 7 Firebase Alternatives for App Development in 2024
Documentation and Guides:Official Docs: Refer to the official documentation of your chosen platform. For instance, Back4App and Parse have extensive guides on migrating from Firebase.Community Forums: Engage with community forums and support channels. Platforms like Stack Overflow and GitHub Discussions can provide valuable insights and troubleshooting tips.
Source: signoz.io
What is AWS Amplify? - AWS Amplify Alternatives
Back4app is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing and high-quality free platforms for developing mobile and online apps.
Source: mindmajix.com
2023 Firebase Alternatives: Top 10 Open-Source & Free
Companies and development teams can definitely choose Back4App, a Firebase alternative, because it can process more than 3.5 billion requests on a monthly basis. Correspondingly, if you want Firebase-like services with massive community support, then Back4App can again satisfy you with a community of 190K+ developers from more than 100 countries worldwide.
Top 10 Netlify Alternatives
Auto-Scaling — Back4App is also a very scalable platform just like Netlify. To fulfill the scaling needs of developers, it is constructed with great scalability. Servers could be approached anytime on Back4App to extend and reduce resources.
Top 10 Node JS Hosting Companies
Easy Interface — It is quite convenient to use this Node.js hosting platform because of its simple interface. It provides a spreadsheet-like user interface when it comes to exporting or importing data. Dashboard of Back4App is also easy to handle for novices, and you can even send numerous notifications within some clicks.

RunCloud Reviews

10 Best cPanel Alternatives and Competitors in 2022 and Beyond
You can start the free trial with no credit card required and cancel it anytime. At RunCloud, you will find all the tools to run your website along with your team members on the side. You can give access to team members to manage your server.
Source: macpost.net
Top 8 best CyberPanel Alternatives
RunCloud is another great alternative to CyberPanel. As with CloudPages, RunCloud is a SaaS-based web hosting panel that is designed to manage PHP-based applications. For example, WordPress and similar PHP-based applications. You can easily manage your website with RunCloud without any server-level knowledge.
The Best cPanel Alternatives In 2021
RunCloud is a server control panel that focuses on PHP applications like WordPress and other CMS software. Since it’s a SaaS option, installation is very easy and hassle-free. All you need to do is make an account and run the installation script on your server through SSH. Once that is done, you’ll be able to manage settings and monitor the server status right from...
CloudStick Review: How To Host WordPress with CloudStick?
RunCloud offers a 5-day free trial to try out its powerful cloud server management control panel. With RunCloud’s simple and intuitive cloud control panel, you no longer require Linux expertise and can easily build a website on the top cloud hosting solutions. Whether you are a blogger, startup, or an enterprise, you have got the tools to run a cloud hosting effortlessly at...
12 Best Free cPanel Alternatives ✅ – Manage Your Hosting for Free
Free File ManagerRunCloud’s built-in file manager allows you to quickly access your Web Application files without needing to launch a terminal window to SSH into your servers.
Source: cloudsmatch.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RunCloud seems to be a lot more popular than Back4App. While we know about 11 links to RunCloud, we've tracked only 1 mention of Back4App. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Back4App mentions (1)

  • Where to host a node/postgres/Redis app?
    I'm using back4app.com which is a cloud service for parse server, you can fire cloud code using node. Recently they introduce containers, but I didn't use it. Source: about 2 years ago

RunCloud mentions (11)

  • Cloudways Asking Me for My Passport to Sign Up; Avoid Them?
    It's a server management service, they use AWS (or your host of choice) under the hood. I personally use something similar called Runcloud which I haven't had any problems with. It's a halfway house between a managed platform and your own VPS. Means you don't have to worry about security, vhosts, ssl certificates, restricting access etc... With real person support if you need it, and a tidy interface to monitor... Source: over 2 years ago
  • free-for.dev
    Runcloud.io - Server management focusing mainly on PHP projects. Free for up to 1 server. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Hosting panel for WordPress
    Maybe something more extensive than what you need, but RunCloud checks all of your boxes: runcloud.io. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Alternatives to Runcloud.io
    So after a good number of years on runcloud.io, (basic and Pro plans yes, I run multiple accounts) I am looking to see if there are alternatives to it, that may offer more features/same pricing or better pricing. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: What should I use instead of Heroku?
    For PHP https://platform.sh has got a lot of traction, but it's notc cheap especially for small apps. If you hadn't wanted the Docker-based backing I would suggest trying one of the services that automates setting up your VMs at AWS, DigitalOcean, Linode etc like https://forge.laravel.com/, https://runcloud.io/, https://serverpilot.io/, https://www.cloudways.com/ etc. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Back4App and RunCloud, you can also consider the following products

Firebase - Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.

Ploi.io - Stop the Hassle. Start deploi'ing. Use Ploi.io for easy site deployments. We take all the difficult work out of your hands, so you can focus on doing what you love: developing your application.

Parse - Build applications faster with object and file storage, user authentication, push notifications, dashboard and more out of the box.

ServerPilot.io - Centralized hosting control panel for Wordpress and PHP web sites

Heroku - Agile deployment platform for Ruby, Node.js, Clojure, Java, Python, and Scala. Setup takes only minutes and deploys are instant through git. Leave tedious server maintenance to Heroku and focus on your code.

CentminMod - Centmin Mod is a LEMP stack shell menu based auto installer.