Self-Hosted Backends
15 platforms available
Open-source platforms you can host on your own infrastructure. Perfect for developers who need complete control, data sovereignty, or have specific compliance requirements.
All Self-Hosted Backends Platforms
Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL
Appwrite
Self-hosted backend for web, mobile, and Flutter
Nhost
Open-source GraphQL backend with PostgreSQL
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file
Hasura
Instant GraphQL APIs on your databases
Parse Platform
The original open-source BaaS platform
Strapi
Open-source headless CMS and backend
Directus
Open data platform for any SQL database
Kuzzle
Open-source backend with real-time engine
Appsmith
Build internal tools with drag-and-drop
PostgREST
Instant REST API for PostgreSQL databases
Medusa
Open-source Shopify alternative for commerce
Payload CMS
TypeScript headless CMS and application framework
Windmill
Open-source developer platform for workflows
Encore
Backend development engine for Go and TypeScript
Frequently Asked Questions
What does self-hosted backend mean?
Self-hosted backends are open-source platforms you run on your own infrastructure (VPS, cloud servers, or on-premises). You have complete control over your data, configuration, and deployment, but you're responsible for maintenance, updates, and scaling.
Why choose a self-hosted backend over managed?
Self-hosted backends offer complete data ownership, no vendor lock-in, unlimited customization, potentially lower costs at scale, and compliance with data sovereignty requirements. They're ideal when you need full control or have specific regulatory needs.
Do I need DevOps skills to self-host?
Yes, self-hosting requires basic to intermediate DevOps knowledge. You'll need to understand server management, security, backups, and monitoring. However, platforms like Docker and managed Kubernetes can simplify deployment significantly.
What are the costs of self-hosting vs managed?
Self-hosting can be cheaper at scale since you only pay for server resources. However, factor in DevOps time, monitoring tools, and infrastructure management. Managed platforms cost more per user but include all operational overhead. The break-even point is typically around 100K-1M users.
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