Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Parse VS Laravel Forge

Compare Parse VS Laravel Forge and see what are their differences

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Parse logo Parse

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

Laravel Forge logo Laravel Forge

Help build, deploy and manage PHP servers in the cloud.
  • Parse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Laravel Forge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-26

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.

Laravel Forge features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Laravel Forge offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of deploying and managing servers. Even users with minimal server management experience can navigate through the platform easily.
  • Automated Deployment
    It automates the deployment process for Laravel applications, which can save significant time and reduce the risk of errors compared to manual deployments.
  • Server Management
    Forge provides comprehensive server management tools including SSL setup, server monitoring, and automatic updates, thereby reducing the need for manual server configurations.
  • Integration with Laravel Ecosystem
    Seamless integration with other Laravel tools and frameworks, such as Envoyer and Vapor, enhances the overall development and deployment workflow.
  • Provisioning and Scaling
    Allows easy provisioning of new servers and scaling options, which can be crucial for handling traffic spikes or scaling an application as it grows.

Possible disadvantages of Laravel Forge

  • Cost
    Laravel Forge is a paid service, and while it offers a lot of value, it might not be ideal for developers or small projects with limited budgets.
  • Limited to Laravel
    While Forge can technically be used to deploy other PHP applications, it is primarily tailored for Laravel projects. Non-Laravel applications may not fully benefit from all the features.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using a specific platform for deployment can create a level of dependency on that platform, making it more challenging to switch to another service in the future.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there is still a learning curve involved in understanding all the features and functionalities, especially for complete beginners.
  • Limited Customization
    Forge provides many automated settings and configurations, but this can limit the level of customization for advanced users who require more granular control over their server setups.

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Laravel Forge videos

Laravel Vapor vs Laravel Forge

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Parse and Laravel Forge)
Developer Tools
69 69%
31% 31
Realtime Backend / API
100 100%
0% 0
Hosting
0 0%
100% 100
App Development
100 100%
0% 0

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Parse and Laravel Forge

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

Laravel Forge Reviews

  1. I like how php based apps are deployed here

    I have tested other solutions , and I had some issues with Nginx because it was giving me 405 error everytime someone tried to make a post request to my server url, but with Laravel Forge that didn't happen and it was all smooth and successful.

    🏁 Competitors: Ploi.io
    👍 Pros:    Mature product

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Laravel Forge should be more popular than Parse. It has been mentiond 32 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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Laravel Forge mentions (32)

  • Laravel Cloud
    This is actually a 3rd option for laravel. I assume they are making money to support the project by offering these curated cloud deployment offerings. https://vapor.laravel.com/ https://forge.laravel.com/ https://app.laravel.cloud/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Laravel API Tutorial: Build, Document, and Secure a REST API
    Now that this is all in place, we want to actually deploy our API. Now, when it comes to deploying APIs in Laravel, there are multiple approaches you could take. Laravel Forge is a great option, and will automatically deploy for you to your own infrastructure based on GitHub webhooks. Another option is to use something like Ploi.io which is similar to Laravel Forge but built and maintained by a different company.... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Setting Up Laravel on Your Own Server: A DIY Guide
    Before you go through the pain and challenge of configuring your own server you should perhaps consider Laravel forge. I trust they would know better how to deploy a laravel app. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Laravel Ecosystem in 2024
    Laravel Forge: Laravel Forge simplifies server management, deployment, and scaling of Laravel applications. It provides an easy-to-use interface for configuring servers, deploying code, managing databases, and more. Ideal for developers who want to automate server management with minimal effort. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • PHP is the new JavaScript?
    The comments on this thread are interesting. I use Laravel extensively. For big applications, serving lots of users. It works when the application is relatively complex, and the ecosystem is second to none. Need to just throw it up on a server? There's Forge[1]. A better CI/CD process? Envoyer[2]. Want serverless? Not for me, but Fathom[3] use it to deal with >100Ms of hits a day; there's Vapor[4]. All three of... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Parse and Laravel Forge, 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.

AWS Amplify - JavaScript library for app development using cloud services

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

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

RunCloud - Hassle-free PHP web application & server management panel