What Is BaaS: Guide to Backend as a Service

The proliferation of cloud services has significantly impacted key principles and trends in software development. One of the most popular cloud service formats today is Backend as a Service (BaaS), and it is this format that we dedicate our article to.

In this article, you'll learn about BaaS, how it works, and what components it includes. We'll also discuss its key advantages for businesses and developers, introduce popular providers and BaaS application scenarios, and conclude with a forecast for the technology's near-term development.

BaaS is a cloud service model that allows developers to delegate the deployment and maintenance of backend application functions to third-party providers. It is used in both web and mobile (MBaaS) development.

BaaS providers offer turnkey solutions for various backend components, including databases, API integrations, cloud storage, hosting, push notifications, user authentication, and more. Below, we'll discuss the main areas of their services in more detail.

Implementing the backend (server) functions of any modern application requires infrastructure, which primarily includes servers and databases. The traditional server model requires developers to purchase or lease this equipment and then deploy and configure the desired backend functionality themselves.

Such processes are quite labor- and resource-intensive, so many teams have gradually begun to choose a more accessible and convenient alternative: cloud-based BaaS systems. The APIs and SDKs they provide make it easy and quick to integrate ready-made features into IT products without developing them themselves.

By delegating backend functions to BaaS providers, developers can focus on frontend processes and application business logic. They don't have to manage servers, containers, or virtual machines to keep their software running.

The BaaS model significantly optimizes and accelerates the development and launch of mobile and web applications, bringing finished products to market faster. It also allows IT teams to spend significantly less time and resources on maintaining and scaling their functionality.

BaaS architecture is generally similar to other cloud computing formats such as Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and serverless computing.

However, it has a number of features unique to this cloud service model. For example, the PaaS model also provides ready-made functionality for developing cloud-accessible software. However, it does not include some important application components, such as push notifications and user authentication.

One of the most important differences between BaaS and serverless computing is their scalability principles. Serverless functions automatically scale based on the current application load. For BaaS systems, automatic scaling is optional but not mandatory. Many providers set limits on the number of requests to backend functions per second, preventing the application from scaling instantly to its full capacity.

Let's take a closer look at the key components of the BaaS model.

BaaS providers offer cloud databases that enable storage, retrieval, and management of application data. Real-time synchronization ensures instant data updates. They also support data modeling and indexing, advanced query capabilities, and offline access.

An integral part of BaaS for app development is cloud storage with scalability options, file structuring in folder containers, backups, encryption, and other features. Cloud storage capacity depends on the selected plan and service package.

The next module in BaaS platforms is responsible for authentication, authorization, access control, and other aspects of managing application user accounts. Typically, providers offer several authentication methods, including email-password, OAuth, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, GitHub, GitLab, Discord, and others. Additional features are often included, such as session management, password recovery, secure token management, and others.

The BaaS model allows developers to independently write and deploy custom application code in a serverless environment. It supports a number of popular frameworks and programming languages, including Python, Java, JavaScript, and others. Cloud functions can be launched via HTTP requests, scheduled actions, or database changes.

Developers can enhance and optimize the functionality of their applications using pre-installed integrations with external systems. Large BaaS providers offer numerous ready-made integrations with various software, categorized by topic. Another significant feature of the BaaS model is its automatic API generation. This allows for easier and faster integration of deployed applications with external services and other APIs.

A popular feature in mobile development, it helps automate the mass distribution of push notifications to users. Providers implement it through integrations with popular push notification platforms, such as Apple Push Notification Service (APNs), Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), and others. They also offer options for scheduling, targeting, and personalizing messages.

The BaaS model supports real-time data streaming and synchronization across multiple devices. This enables the integration of a number of important features into applications, including online chat, collaboration tools, real-time notifications, and more. This is typically implemented via WebSockets or similar technologies.

In this section of the article, we'll briefly describe the key advantages of cloud backend infrastructure for developers and businesses.

Further in this article, you will learn about who are considered the best BaaS providers and how they stand out from the competition.

Google's platform is considered one of the most well-known BaaS solutions on the market. It offers cloud-based NoSQL databases with real-time synchronization, powerful cloud features, various authentication methods, hosting, native integration with Google Analytics, and other options.

The open-source platform Supabase is considered the leading alternative to Firebase and also has a large user community. It is based on a PostgreSQL database with capabilities for organizing and managing data through a table or SQL editor. Supabase is known for its real-time and edge features, scalable storage, and a number of integrations and auto-generated APIs.

A popular BaaS solution from Amazon Web Services offers a range of useful options for quickly deploying and managing backend application functions. These include CI/CD hosting, built-in authentication and authorization tools, file and data storage, and support for REST and GraphQL API integrations.

Another open-source BaaS platform provides developers with serverless functionality, multiple authentication methods, and scalable storage. Appwrite's key feature is its built-in document-based database with extensive customization options.

Backendless isn't just a BaaS system but also a full-stack platform for codeless development. Its visual interface helps developers create applications without having to write code manually. It features its own database with real-time updates, push notification support, and advanced authentication/user management tools.

It's worth mentioning the most relevant BaaS use cases for 2025. This cloud service model offers developers significant advantages when creating and deploying applications of various types and purposes.

Serverless backend features are constantly being updated and improved, providing developers with even broader application opportunities. The most promising trends for BaaS development in the near future are:

BaaS platforms of the future will be tightly integrated with artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning models. This will not only enable them to manage data more efficiently but also provide new features such as AI automation, intelligent personalization, predictive analytics, and more.

Some BaaS systems already include low-code or no-code application development functionality. This is expected to become the new standard for software development, freeing developers from routine coding and allowing them to focus on strategic tasks.

Growing community and regulatory demands for data security are forcing BaaS providers to enhance their security systems. This trend will accelerate, leading to enhanced data privacy features, enhanced compliance checks, and more sophisticated encryption methods.

Numerous specialized Backend as a Service products will appear on the market. Large industries (manufacturing, logistics, finance, and medicine) will benefit significantly from solutions that automate and optimize backend operations. Niche BaaS systems will be created to meet the needs of specific industries and will comply with their specific regulations and standards.