About Xano
Xano is a commercial platform for building and hosting backends without writing traditional server code. Users define data tables, design API endpoints in a visual editor and string together business logic, then expose the result to a web or mobile front end built in any tool.
Because the backend is separate from the front end, Xano is often paired with no-code and low-code interface builders, though it works equally well with hand-coded apps that call its APIs. It handles hosting and scaling of the resulting services, so there is no server to maintain. It is aimed at startups, agencies and product teams that want production-grade backends with less engineering effort.
Key features
- Relational database with a visual data editor
- Visual API editor for building endpoints
- Business logic built from reusable function steps
- Hosted and scaled by the vendor
- Works with any web or mobile front end
Good fit for
- →Backend for a no-code front end
- →Rapid API development for MVPs
- Tags
- no-code
- backend-as-a-service
- api-builder
- database
- low-code
- business-logic
- hosted
Xano: questions and answers
- What is Xano used for?
- Xano is a no-code backend builder offering a database, visual API editor and business logic tools, for founders and teams building apps without writing server code. It is a good fit for backend for a no-code front end and rapid API development for MVPs.
- Is Xano free?
- Yes. Xano has a free plan, and paid plans start at $85 per month.
- Is Xano open source?
- No. Xano is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Xano include Supabase, Appwrite and BuildShip.
- What are some alternatives to Xano?
- Xano competes with Backendless, Back4App and Firebase. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Xano alternatives.
Open-source alternatives to Xano
See all
Supabase
Backend as a Service
The Postgres development platform. Supabase gives you a dedicated Postgres database to bui
Apache-2.0vs Firebase★ 111k
Appwrite
Backend as a Service
Appwrite is an open-source developer platform with Auth, Databases, Storage, Functions, Me
BSD-3-Clausevs Firebase★ 58k
BuildShip
Backend as a Service
Low-code Visual Backend Builder, powered by AI ✨ Create APIs, scheduled jobs, backend task
MITvs Xano★ 603
PostgREST
Backend as a Service
REST API for any Postgres database
MITvs Xano★ 28k
pREST
Backend as a Service
PostgreSQL ➕ REST, low-code, simplify and accelerate development, ⚡ instant, realtime, hig
MITvs Firebase★ 4.6k
FastSchema
Backend as a Service
All-in-One Backend as a Service with Headless CMS Power
MITvs Firebase★ 575
SaaS alternatives to Xano
See all
Backendless
Backend as a Service
Visual backend platform with a database, user management and API services
SaaS
Back4App
Backend as a Service
Hosted backend built on Parse Server with a database, auth and cloud functions
SaaS
Firebase
Backend as a Service
Firebase is Google's mobile and web app development platform, bundling authentication, databases, hosting, messaging and analytics as a managed backend.
SaaS
Zoho Catalyst
Backend as a Service
Zoho serverless platform with a database, functions, storage and auth
SaaS
Huawei AppGallery Connect
Backend as a Service
Huawei backend services suite for auth, storage, cloud functions and push
SaaS
Apple CloudKit
Backend as a Service
Apple iCloud-backed database and storage service for iOS and macOS apps
SaaS

