Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Parse VS Azure Blob Storage

Compare Parse VS Azure Blob Storage 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.

Parse logo Parse

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

Azure Blob Storage logo Azure Blob Storage

Use Azure Blob Storage to store all kinds of files. Azure hot, cool, and archive storage is reliable cloud object storage for unstructured data
  • Parse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Azure Blob Storage Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-01

Parse features and specs

  • Open Source
    Parse Platform is open-source, which means it is free to use and can be customized to fit the needs of your application without any licensing fees.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Parse provides a wide range of built-in features such as a robust database system, real-time notifications, user authentication, cloud functions, and file storage, reducing the amount of development work needed.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Parse supports multiple platforms including iOS, Android, JavaScript, .NET, and more, enabling easier development across different types of applications.
  • Community and Documentation
    There is a strong community around Parse with extensive documentation and numerous tutorials, which can help developers quickly resolve issues and learn best practices.
  • Unified Backend
    Parse allows developers to manage database, server code, and user authentication in one unified platform, simplifying backend management.

Possible disadvantages of Parse

  • Self-Hosting Complexity
    While Parse is open-source, it requires self-hosting, which involves managing and maintaining your own server infrastructure, adding operational complexity.
  • Performance
    Depending on your server setup and scaling needs, you might encounter performance issues, especially for high-traffic applications, requiring constant monitoring and fine-tuning.
  • Limited Scalability
    Parse might not be as scalable as other backend solutions like Firebase, particularly for apps that need to handle massive amounts of data and users.
  • Initial Setup Time
    The initial setup of a Parse server and its environment can be time-consuming and challenging, particularly for those without DevOps experience.
  • Feature Limitations
    While Parse offers a rich feature set, some advanced features available in other modern backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms may lack, necessitating custom development.

Azure Blob Storage features and specs

  • Scalability
    Azure Blob Storage automatically scales to handle large amounts of data, enabling you to grow your storage needs without worrying about performance constraints.
  • Durability
    Azure offers high durability with multiple redundant copies of your data, ensuring that your information is safeguarded against hardware failures.
  • Cost Effectiveness
    Different tiers of storage (Hot, Cool, Archive) allow you to optimize costs based on how frequently you need to access your data.
  • Security
    Robust security features, including encryption at rest and in transit, as well as advanced threat protection, keep your data secure.
  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with Azure's ecosystem and other services, such as Azure Functions, Azure Data Factory, and more, for extended functionality.
  • Global Reach
    Data centers available globally ensure lower latency and compliance with local data residency requirements.
  • Automation
    Supports automation through REST APIs, SDKs, and Azure CLI, making it easier to manage and scale your storage programmatically.

Possible disadvantages of Azure Blob Storage

  • Complex Pricing
    The tiered pricing model can be complex, making it challenging to estimate costs accurately, particularly if your usage patterns vary.
  • Performance Variability
    Performance can vary based on the tier selected, and selecting the wrong tier might result in slower access speeds for your data.
  • Data Transfer Costs
    Ingress is free, but data egress and data transfer between regions incur additional costs, which can add up if your application moves a lot of data.
  • Learning Curve
    While powerful, the range of features and different settings can make it complex to get started, especially for organizations new to Azure.
  • Latency
    Although Azure data centers are globally distributed, there can still be some latency issues depending on your geographic location relative to the data center.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using Azure-specific APIs and integrations can create a dependency on Microsoft's ecosystem, making it difficult to switch providers in the future.

Analysis of Parse

Overall verdict

  • Parse is a good choice for developers looking for a flexible and scalable backend solution that can be deployed on their own servers or using cloud services. It is particularly beneficial due to its active community and extensive documentation.

Why this product is good

  • Parse is a popular open-source backend-as-a-service framework that simplifies app development by handling server-side components, freeing developers to focus on front-end development. It offers features like push notifications, cloud functions, social media integration, and a real-time database.

Recommended for

  • Developers who want an open-source solution with the freedom to self-host.
  • Teams building mobile or web applications that require a robust backend service.
  • Projects that need strong support for relational data and real-time functionalities.
  • Developers looking to avoid the overhead of writing custom backend code.

Analysis of Azure Blob Storage

Overall verdict

  • Azure Blob Storage is generally a good choice for businesses and developers looking for a reliable and versatile cloud storage solution. Its comprehensive feature set, global reach, and integration capabilities make it well-suited for various storage requirements.

Why this product is good

  • Azure Blob Storage is considered good due to its scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. It offers robust data redundancy options, integrates well with other Azure services, and provides strong security features like encryption and role-based access control. Additionally, it supports a wide array of data types and is suitable for storing large amounts of unstructured data, making it an ideal choice for cloud storage needs.

Recommended for

  • Developers building cloud-native applications
  • Businesses needing to store large volumes of unstructured data
  • Organizations requiring integration with other Azure services
  • Enterprises looking for flexible pricing and abundant storage options
  • Users needing advanced security and compliance features

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Parse and Azure Blob Storage)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
0 0%
100% 100
Realtime Backend / API
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Computing
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 Parse and Azure Blob Storage

Parse Reviews

10 Top Firebase Alternatives to Ignite Your Development in 2024
If you’re looking for a Firebase alternative that gives you full control and the freedom to tinker, Parse Platform is your jam. Again, it’s a popular open-source framework loved by developers who want to build custom backends without being tied to a specific provider.
Source: genezio.com
Top 7 Firebase Alternatives for App Development in 2024
Back4App is a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that uses Parse Server, the open-source version of the Parse backend. It simplifies backend development and management, providing developers with a robust platform for building modern applications.
Source: signoz.io
What is AWS Amplify? - AWS Amplify Alternatives
It is well-known for making the development process quick, easy, and simple. Using Parse, you may complete a day's worth of work in a few hours.
Source: mindmajix.com
2023 Firebase Alternatives: Top 10 Open-Source & Free
Community Support – If Firebase comes with the backing of Google, then Parse is also tested and trusted by Facebook. Yes, Facebook is the parent company of Parse. Therefore, it has a big community. You can find resources and solutions regarding Parse on GitHub, Stack Overflow and several other programming forums.
12 Best Open-source Database Backend Server and Google Firebase Alternatives
Parse server is an open-source database backend solution which speed up application building. It features database, user management, authentication, file upload and push notification.I used Parse for a few times, and I was satisfied with the speed and productivity it offers, especially in terms of developer tools as it comes with dozens of SDKs, libraries and sample code to...
Source: medevel.com

Azure Blob Storage Reviews

7 Best Amazon S3 Alternatives & Competitors in 2024
If you’re looking to move completely away from any of the big three cloud storage providers (AWS, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage), Digital Ocean Spaces is a potential option worth looking into.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Parse should be more popular than Azure Blob Storage. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. 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.

Parse mentions (21)

  • Supabase Alternatives 🔄 in 2025 😼
    Parse deserves mention primarily for its historical significance as the precursor that inspired the entire backend-as-a-service space. Founded in 2011, Parse pioneered many concepts that we now take for granted in modern BaaS platforms. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • The 2024 Web Hosting Report
    Backend as a Service (BaaS) goes back to early 2010’s with companies like Parse and Firebase. These products integrated everything a backend provides to a webapp in a single, integrated package that makes it easier to get started and enables you to offload some of the devops maintenance work to someone else. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How to set up a Parse Server backend with Typescript
    Parse Server is a great way to quickly spin up a backend for your project. Parse is a Node based utility that sits on top of ExpressJS. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Free online DB for production app
    You can try https://parseplatform.org/, it is self-hosted if you need. And also there are a number of cloud services with compatible API, like https://www.back4app.com/ It has dart-friendly generated API client, much simpler than firebase and is built on top of postgresql and mongodb. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Supabase Series B
    Not to crash the party or anything. Supabase is great and all but in terms of feature completeness and getting actual products built, it doesn't come close to Parse[0]. Same with Appwrite. Both of these are very popular but they either lack essential features or have them behind a subscription wall. For example, the OSS version of Supabase (last I checked) doesn't include the edge functions which are really... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
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Azure Blob Storage mentions (14)

  • Azure Functions with Python: Triggers
    Responds to changes in Azure Blob Storage (e.g., file uploads). - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • How to Choose the Right MQTT Data Storage for Your Next Project
    Azure Blob Storage{:target="_blank"} is a scalable and highly available object storage service provided by Microsoft Azure. They offer various storage tiers, so you can optimize cost and performance based on your requirements. They also provides features like lifecycle management, versioning, and data encryption. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • How to build a data pipeline using Delta Lake
    An object storage system (e.g. Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage, Google Cloud Platform Cloud Storage, etc.) makes it easy and simple to save large amounts of historical data and retrieve it for future use. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Azure Functions: unzip large files
    I want to share my experience unzipping large files stored in Azure Blob Storage using Azure Functions with Node.js. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • How to move my work from Heroku to Azure
    - Optionally, use Blob Storage to host static content. Then you can add Azure CDN for faster access to it. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Parse and Azure Blob Storage, you can also consider the following products

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

Google Cloud Storage - Google Cloud Storage offers developers and IT organizations durable and highly available object storage.

AWS Amplify - JavaScript library for app development using cloud services

Amazon S3 - Amazon S3 is an object storage where users can store data from their business on a safe, cloud-based platform. Amazon S3 operates in 54 availability zones within 18 graphic regions and 1 local region.

Back4App - Low code backend to build apps faster and scale easily.

Minio - Minio is an open-source minimal cloud storage server.