Open-Source BaaS

What is Parse Server?

Parse Server is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service framework built on Node.js. It gives you a complete backend — APIs, authentication, real-time sync, cloud functions, and file storage — so you can focus on building your app.

REST & GraphQL APIs
Real-Time LiveQuery
Cloud Code
Multi-Platform SDKs
Start with Back4AppView on GitHub

The Open-Source Backend Framework

Originally created by Facebook and now maintained by a vibrant open-source community of 320+ contributors, Parse Server provides everything you need to power your mobile and web applications — without building backend infrastructure from scratch.

21K+
GitHub Stars
320+
Contributors
512+
Releases

Core Capabilities

  • Auto-generated REST & GraphQL APIs
  • Real-time data sync via LiveQuery
  • User authentication & session management
  • Cloud Code for server-side logic
  • File storage with CDN delivery
  • Push notifications for iOS, Android & web

Technical Foundation

  • Node.js / Express runtime
  • MongoDB or PostgreSQL databases
  • Apache 2.0 open-source license
  • SDKs for 8+ platforms and languages
  • Compatible with Node.js 20, 22, and 24
  • Extensible adapter architecture
Core Features

Everything You Need in a Backend

Parse Server ships with a complete set of backend features — from APIs and authentication to real-time sync and server-side logic.

01Data & APIs

Auto-Generated REST & GraphQL APIs

Define your data model and Parse Server generates complete REST and GraphQL APIs automatically. Query, create, update, and delete data without writing a single endpoint. The built-in API Console lets you test requests directly from the dashboard.

  • Full CRUD operations via REST and GraphQL
  • GraphQL subscriptions for real-time API access
  • API Console for debugging without writing code
  • Compound queries with sorting, pagination, and aggregation
  • Auto-generated schema documentation

Complete APIs from your schema — zero boilerplate.

API Console
GET/parse/classes/Product
POST/parse/classes/Product
// GraphQL
query { products { edges { node { name price } } } }
02Real-Time

LiveQuery — Instant Data Sync

Subscribe to any database query and receive instant updates via WebSockets whenever matching data changes. Build collaborative, reactive applications without polling or custom WebSocket infrastructure.

  • Subscribe to any query for live create, update, and delete events
  • Efficient WebSocket-based communication
  • Automatic reconnection handling
  • Watch specific fields to reduce noise
  • Works with iOS, Android, JavaScript, and Flutter SDKs

Real-time by design, not bolted on.

iOS
Web
Android
03Auth & Users

Authentication & User Management

Parse Server includes a specialized User class with built-in session management, password hashing, email verification, and password reset flows. Connect third-party social login providers with just a few lines of code.

  • Email/password and anonymous authentication
  • Social login (Google, Apple, Facebook, GitHub, and more)
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) with recovery codes
  • Automatic session token management
  • Custom email templates for verification and password reset

Secure user management out of the box.

User Authentication
Email / Password
active
Google OAuth
active
GitHub OAuth
configure
04Security

ACLs, CLPs & Role-Based Access

Granular permissions at every level: class-wide rules (CLPs), per-object access control lists (ACLs), and role-based access control (RBAC). Protected fields ensure sensitive data is only accessible to server-side code.

  • Class Level Permissions (CLPs) for schema-wide rules
  • Access Control Lists (ACLs) per individual object
  • Hierarchical role-based access control (RBAC)
  • Protected fields for server-side-only data
  • Data encrypted at rest and in transit

Defense in depth, built into the data layer.

Object ACL
Owner
readwrite
role:Admin
readwrite
Public
readwrite
05Cloud Code

Server-Side Logic & Automation

Run custom JavaScript on the server with Cloud Code — define functions, triggers (beforeSave, afterSave, beforeDelete), background jobs, and webhooks. Schedule recurring tasks via the dashboard without external cron services.

  • Cloud Functions callable from any SDK or REST/GraphQL
  • Triggers: beforeSave, afterSave, beforeDelete, afterDelete
  • Background Jobs with scheduling via the dashboard
  • Webhooks for external service integration
  • Config parameters to update app settings on the fly

Your business logic, running next to your data.

cloud/main.js
Parse.Cloud.beforeSave("Order", (req) => {
  const total = req.object.get("items")
    .reduce((sum, i) => sum + i.price, 0);
  req.object.set("total", total);
});

Parse.Cloud.define("sendReceipt", async (req) => {
  const order = await new Parse.Query("Order")
    .get(req.params.orderId);
  await Mailgun.send(order.get("email"), …);
  return { sent: true };
});
06SDKs & Geo

Multi-Platform SDKs & Geo Queries

Build for any platform with official SDKs for iOS, Android, JavaScript, Flutter, PHP, .NET, Unity, and Arduino. Parse Server also includes native GeoPoint support for proximity searches, geo-fencing, and location-based filtering.

  • Official SDKs for 8+ platforms and languages
  • GeoPoint type for latitude/longitude coordinates
  • Near queries with distance-based sorting
  • GeoWithin queries for polygon containment
  • File storage with automatic CDN delivery

One backend, every platform.

Query: within 5km radius
iOSAndroidJSFlutter
And More

Built-In Tools for Every Need

Parse Server comes with a rich set of tools beyond the core features — from a visual dashboard and push notifications to webhooks and config management.

Parse Dashboard

A web-based visual interface to browse data, manage users, send push notifications, view analytics, and configure your app.

Push Notifications

Send targeted push notifications to iOS, Android, and web users. Schedule campaigns and segment audiences from the dashboard.

Email Verification

Automatic verification and welcome emails with customizable HTML templates. Built-in password reset flows.

File Storage

Upload and manage files with configurable storage adapters. Files are served through a global CDN for low-latency delivery.

Config Parameters

Store app configuration on the server and update it on the fly — no app redeployment or new binary release needed.

Webhooks

Define URLs to receive POST requests when specific events occur or cloud functions are called — integrate with any external service.

Managed Hosting

Parse Server, Managed by Back4App

Get all the power of Parse Server without the operational overhead. Back4App runs Parse Server on optimized infrastructure with automatic scaling, daily backups, a visual dashboard, and expert support.

Automatic scaling based on demand
Daily backups with point-in-time recovery
Visual dashboard with data browser & API console
Multi-region deployment options
Dedicated support from Parse experts
AI Agent & MCP integration for AI-powered development
Create Free AppCompare: Back4App vs Self-Hosted
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Parse Server?
Parse Server is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) framework built on Node.js. Originally developed by Facebook and now maintained by the Parse community, it provides a complete backend — REST and GraphQL APIs, user authentication, real-time data sync, file storage, cloud functions, and more — so developers can focus on building their apps instead of infrastructure.
Is Parse Server free?
Yes. Parse Server is fully open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. You can download it from GitHub and run it on any infrastructure that supports Node.js. Back4App also offers a free tier with 25K API requests/month for teams that prefer a managed hosting experience.
What database does Parse Server use?
Parse Server supports both MongoDB and PostgreSQL as its database layer. On Back4App, databases are managed and scaled automatically, with daily backups and multi-region options.
How is Parse Server different from Firebase?
Parse Server is fully open-source with no vendor lock-in — you can host it anywhere or migrate freely. It offers both REST and auto-generated GraphQL APIs, flexible database choices (MongoDB or PostgreSQL), and a modular architecture. Firebase is a proprietary Google product with its own query language and tighter ecosystem coupling.
What SDKs does Parse Server support?
Parse Server has official SDKs for iOS (Swift/Objective-C), Android (Java/Kotlin), JavaScript (browser and Node.js), Flutter/Dart, PHP, .NET, Unity, and Arduino. You can also use the auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from any HTTP client.
What is LiveQuery?
LiveQuery is Parse Server's real-time data subscription system. It lets your app subscribe to database queries and receive instant push notifications over WebSockets whenever matching data is created, updated, or deleted — no polling required.
Does Back4App use Parse Server?
Yes. Back4App is a managed Parse Server hosting platform. It runs Parse Server on optimized infrastructure with automatic scaling, daily backups, a visual dashboard, and dedicated support — so you get all of Parse Server's power without the operational overhead.

Start Building with Parse Server

Get a production-ready Parse Server backend in minutes. No credit card required. Free tier includes 25K API requests/month.

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