Backends and databases

Every app needs a backend: somewhere to store data, a way for users to sign in, file storage and rules about who can do what. Backend-as-a-service platforms give you all of that from a dashboard, so a front end built with a no-code tool, a mobile builder or an AI app generator has something solid to sit on.

You may meet these tools without choosing them. Prompt-to-app builders often create a Supabase or Firebase project for you, and mobile builders connect to them for data and sign-in. It is worth understanding the basics, because that is where your customer data lives and where access rules are enforced.

The options range from full platforms to lean ones. Supabase builds on Postgres and adds vector search for AI features. Firebase is Google's platform with realtime data and hosting. Xano and Backendless let you build APIs and logic visually. Appwrite and PocketBase are open source and easy to self-host, and Convex keeps queries and server code together in TypeScript.

Before launch, check how access rules work and test them with a second account. Turn on backups, understand what the free plan allows, and keep the project in an account your company owns rather than a contractor's personal account.

Featured AI app builders: backends and databases

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7 AI app builders in backends and databases

Supabase

Postgres database with sign-in, storage, edge functions and vector search, used by many AI app builders.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Open source or self-hostable

Firebase

by Google

Google app platform with a realtime database, sign-in, hosting, analytics and AI features for mobile and web apps.

  • Free plan or free tier

Xano

No-code backend with a database, API builder and business logic, often paired with no-code front ends.

Appwrite

Open-source backend with databases, sign-in, storage and functions, in the cloud or self-hosted.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Open source or self-hostable

Convex

Reactive backend where database queries and server functions are written in TypeScript, used by AI coding tools.

  • Free plan or free tier

PocketBase

Open-source backend in a single file with a database, sign-in, file storage and an admin dashboard.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Open source or self-hostable

Backendless

Visual backend and app builder with a database, user management and codeless logic.

You do not need to become a database expert, but a few habits help. Give tables and fields clear names, decide early which data belongs to which user, and keep secrets such as API keys out of the front end. When something feels slow, the cause is usually a missing index or a query that loads far more rows than the screen needs.

If a developer joins later, a tidy backend is the part of your project they will thank you for, since screens are easy to rebuild and messy data is not.

For many founders the backend arrives with the app builder, so the first decision is simply whether to keep it. Look at where the data is stored, which region it sits in, how sign-in can connect to Google or email links, and how easy it is to add a second front end later. If an AI feature needs to search your own documents, check whether the backend supports vector search or works well with a separate service.

Read the pricing pages with your growth in mind. Database size, monthly active users, file storage and bandwidth are the usual measures, and each grows at a different pace as an app gets busier.

Questions about backends and databases

Do I need a separate backend if my app builder has a database?

Not always. Builders like Bubble and Adalo include their own database. A separate backend helps when several front ends share the same data, when you want more control, or when you plan to bring in developers.

What is row-level security and why does it matter?

It is a set of rules that decides which rows each user can read or change. If it is missing or wrong, one customer may see another customer's data, so check it before any real users sign up.

Supabase or Firebase?

Supabase uses a relational Postgres database, which suits structured data and SQL. Firebase uses document databases with strong realtime and mobile tooling. Both have free plans, so try your main data model in each.

Can I move my data out later?

Most of these platforms offer exports, and open-source ones can be moved to your own servers. Plan regular exports or backups so you are never dependent on a single account.

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