Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Parse

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

Parse

Parse Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Parse is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Parse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

Features & Specs

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Cross-Platform Support

    Parse supports multiple platforms including iOS, Android, JavaScript, .NET, and more, enabling easier development across different types of applications.

  4. 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.

  5. Unified Backend

    Parse allows developers to manage database, server code, and user authentication in one unified platform, simplifying backend management.

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Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Parse and what they use it for.
  • Supabase Alternatives ๐Ÿ”„ in 2025 ๐Ÿ˜ผ
    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 / 7 months ago
  • The 2024 Web Hosting Report
    Backend as a Service (BaaS) goes back to early 2010โ€™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 / almost 3 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: about 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 / about 3 years ago
  • Parse Server or AppWrite
    I was regular user of Parse and after it became open-source I have built around 5-6 projects using Parse, two of them is with Flutter, but that's 1-2 years ago, and back then their Flutter SDK was a bit weak and unofficial, but currently Flutter SDK became official and I am about to start a new project, now I am considering another option AppWrite. Anyone used both and let me know how AppWrite compares to Parse?... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Analytics solution
    Firebase is probably the easiest choice. If you don't want Google in the mix, there's no reason you can't fire up a virtual machine in the cloud that collects statistics for $6/month. If you've never done backend work it'll take a while, though. There's also Parse, AppWrite, Vapor, etc, to make it easier. Source: about 3 years ago
  • AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud For SaaS Startups
    I had a nice experience in the past with parse, and plan on taking a look at supabase in one of my next projects. There are other alternatives too. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Which solution do you use for your android app's backend?
    Self-hosted Parse Server (https://parseplatform.org/). It's perfect for more complex databases and User management. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Supabase (YC S20) raises $80M Series B
    And there are still some sites that host it for you for free (limited), but you can always self host it yourself... https://parseplatform.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Is Firebase For Manga App?
    For production, a good alternative is Parse (an open source back end). For hosting, you can check back4app. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Usage or cost limit: does anyone know if it is planned to let users set them up?
    Thanks for the reply. The best bet so far look like keeping on going on with Parse then. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Anyone tried AceBase?
    Downside of acebase is that you cant use OR operators for every filter chains are logically AND. If you haven't heard of Parse it might interest you but the cloud hosted is more expensive. As opposite of you, I might play supabase somethiles. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Why is subscene blocked ?
    They have blocked http://parseplatform.org/ which is just a site of an open source backend that is used to deploy mobile apps. Source: over 3 years ago
  • I need a firebase alternative!
    Or maybe Parse (https://parseplatform.org/), the somewhat forgotten OG of PaaS. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Show HN: Caffeine, minimum viable back end for prototyping
    If you mean https://parseplatform.org/ then it looks to be still around. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
  • Who can relate?
    I was talking about https://parseplatform.org/. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Help in understanding the use of docker/kubernetes?
    There's BaaS also you can use like Firebase from Google, again like you said, depends on your code and use cases. I'm playing with parse platform for a project I'm working on, but it's just for me, nothing production. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Announcing a new Appwrite Release - a step closer to becoming a complete OSS Firebase Alternative
    I would look out for two major competitors. Parse Platform and Superbase . I think a lot of people are getting sick of firebases prices so there's a lot of competition to be the next one. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Alternative to Firebase Storage?
    Parse works also and itself hosted. It can also do cloud functions if you want to swap everything over. Https://parseplatform.org/. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Best Open source Baas
    I found a decent amount, but the two more promising are Parse Project and Appwrite. Source: over 4 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Parse

Public Opinion on Parse Platform: A Comprehensive Overview

The Parse Platform, established in 2011, has carved out a reputable niche in the realm of Backend as a Service (BaaS) offerings. Once managed by Facebook, Parse became open-source in 2016, allowing developers greater flexibility and control over their applications. Parse's positioning in the market makes it a competitive choice among developers who seek alternatives to the more commercially dominated platforms like Firebase, AWS Amplify, and Appwrite.

Inherent Flexibility and Control

Parse is consistently praised for granting developers full autonomy over their backends, a compelling feature for those wanting to break free from being tethered to specific service providers. The platform can be self-hosted or hosted on major cloud service providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, offering scalability and ease of integration into existing systems. This flexibility and open-source nature provide developers the freedom to modify the source code to suit specific project needs, a benefit that many competitors' proprietary systems do not offer.

Robust Feature Set and Performance

Parse's comprehensive feature set includes database management, user authentication, file uploads, and mobile push notifications. It supports numerous development environments with SDKs for platforms such as iOS, Android, JavaScript, .NET, and more, which ensure a seamless development process. The added support for powerful tools like GraphQL and REST-API enhances its usability in modern application developmentโ€”making it a favored choice for those who value speed and productivity.

Community and Historical Significance

With its roots tracing back to the early days of BaaS, Parse has a rich history that significantly influenced this space. Despite a lower profile compared to its competitors, it benefits from a strong community presence on platforms like GitHub and Stack Overflow. The community-driven nature of Parse leads to constant updates and improvements, thanks to active contributions by developers worldwide.

Comparison with Competitors

While competitors like Firebase and Supabase are recognized for their "out-of-the-box" simplicity and feature completeness suitable for small to medium-sized projects, Parse attracts developers who prioritize customization and avoid vendor lock-in. Unlike Firebaseโ€™s subscription-based model, Parse remains fully open-source, evidently posing a cost-effective alternative for sophisticated backend solutions.

Challenges and Considerations

Although appreciated for its flexibility, Parse's documentation and marketing have received criticism for being less comprehensive compared to competitors'. This could be a hindering factor for those unfamiliar with backend development, potentially contributing to its perception as a niche product chiefly among seasoned developers.

In summary, Parse Platform stands as a testament to the robustness and flexibility demanded in modern backend development. While it lacks some of the immediate polish and marketing drive of more commercial offerings, its powerful feature set, community-supported model, and inherent freedom present a compelling proposition for developers valuing control and expansibility in their software projects.

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Is Parse good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Parse here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.