Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Parse VS Kinvey

Compare Parse VS Kinvey and see what are their differences

Parse logo Parse

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

Kinvey logo Kinvey

Kinvey is a BaaS provider that makes it easy for developers to set up, use and operate a cloud back-end for their mobile apps.
  • Parse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Kinvey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

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.

Kinvey features and specs

  • Backend as a Service (BaaS) Convenience
    Kinvey offers easy-to-use BaaS features, allowing developers to focus on building front-end experiences without worrying about backend infrastructure, servers, or maintenance.
  • Scalability
    Kinvey is designed to scale with business needs, supporting enterprise-grade applications with robust performance and reliability.
  • Flexibility in Data Handling
    Kinvey provides flexibility in data management with support for a variety of data sources and integration capabilities, enabling seamless data connectivity.
  • Pre-built Features
    The platform includes pre-built features like user authentication, push notifications, and file storage, reducing the time and effort required to implement these functionalities manually.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Kinvey supports multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and web, allowing developers to build applications for diverse user bases using a single backend solution.

Possible disadvantages of Kinvey

  • Cost
    Kinvey can be expensive for startups or small businesses, especially as the application scales and requires more resources.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Relying on Kinvey's infrastructure may lead to vendor lock-in, making it challenging to switch to another provider or a custom-built backend in the future.
  • Learning Curve
    While Kinvey is robust, there can be a learning curve for developers not familiar with its environment or workflows, which may delay project timelines.
  • Limited Customization
    Pre-built features, while convenient, may offer limited customization options, which can be constraining for applications with unique requirements.
  • Dependency on Third-party Management
    Using a BaaS like Kinvey means that the performance and reliability of your application are dependent on Kinvey's platform stability and management decisions.

Parse videos

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Kinvey videos

407 ETR Scales Mobile App with Kinvey

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Parse and Kinvey)
Developer Tools
84 84%
16% 16
App Development
82 82%
18% 18
Realtime Backend / API
79 79%
21% 21
Backend As A Service
78 78%
22% 22

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 Kinvey

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

Kinvey Reviews

Firebase Alternatives – Top 10 Competitors
Kinvey is a fully-integrated, secure, and HIPAA compliant serverless app development platform that helps enterprises and developers launch successful & engaging mobile apps and entire digital businesses. It gives you the freedom to use the frontend SDK of your choice while still providing virtually any backend feature you might need. Some of its key features include...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Parse seems to be more popular. 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 / about 2 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 / about 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: over 2 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 / over 2 years ago
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Kinvey mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Kinvey yet. Tracking of Kinvey recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Parse and Kinvey, you can also consider the following products

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

AWS Amplify - JavaScript library for app development using cloud services

Kumulos - Made for the business of mobile app development, Kumulos helps you manage the commercial and technical performance of Apps, so you drive a better outcome for your clients.

Supabase - An open source Firebase alternative

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

Azure Mobile Apps - Build engaging cross-platform and native apps for iOS, Android, Windows or Mac with Azure's Mobile App Service.