# Alternatives to AWS Amplify

AWS Amplify is Amazon's backend-as-a-service toolkit for web and mobile apps, providing managed authentication (Cognito), auto-generated GraphQL/REST APIs (AppSync), a database (DynamoDB), file storage (S3), serverless functions (Lambda), and realtime GraphQL subscriptions. It's used heavily by teams already standardized on AWS who want a Firebase-like developer experience without leaving AWS infrastructure. It stands out for enterprise-grade scaling and deep integration with the rest of AWS.

AWS Amplify ranks #3 of 10 in Backend-as-a-service, with an Alt Score of 93. It is licensed under Apache-2.0 and available on Web, iOS and Android. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aws-amplify/
Category: Backend-as-a-service

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: AWS Amplify is for developers building web, iOS, Android, or React Native apps who want a managed backend (auth, data, storage, functions) without directly wiring together individual AWS services.
- **What you get**: Amplify provisions and connects Amazon Cognito for authentication, a real-time GraphQL API on AWS AppSync backed by DynamoDB for data, Amazon S3 for file storage, and AWS Lambda for custom backend logic, plus client libraries for React, Next.js, Angular, Vue, JavaScript, React Native, Flutter, Android, and Swift. An AI kit adds conversation and generation routes that can call Amazon Bedrock and use a vector database (Postgres pg_vector or OpenSearch) for knowledge bases.
- **How it works**: Backend resources are defined in TypeScript files (amplify/auth/resource.ts, amplify/data/resource.ts, etc.), which Amplify deploys as real AWS resources in the developer's own AWS account; the framework and CLI are open source (Apache-2.0), while the underlying AWS services and the Hosting/build service are billed and run by AWS.

## Profile

- **License**: Apache-2.0 (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Pricing model**: Usage-based (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Starts at**: Free (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Platforms**: Web, iOS, Android
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-30)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Supabase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/supabase.md) | 100 | Apache License 2.0 | Web |
| 2 | [Appwrite](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/appwrite.md) | 96 | BSD-3-Clause | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web |
| 3 | [Convex](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/convex.md) | 89 | FSL-1.1-Apache-2.0 | Web, Linux |
| 4 | [InstantDB](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/instantdb.md) | 85 | Apache-2.0 | Web, iOS, Android |
| 5 | [Back4app](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/back4app.md) | 81 | ? | Web, iOS, Android |
| 6 | [Firebase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/firebase.md) | 81 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 7 | [Parse Platform](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/parse-platform.md) | 81 | Apache-2.0 | iOS, macOS, Android, Web |
| 8 | [Xano](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/xano.md) | 81 | Proprietary | ? |
| 9 | [PocketBase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pocketbase.md) | 78 | MIT License | Linux, Windows, macOS, Web |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Backend-as-a-service checklist | AWS Amplify | Supabase | Appwrite | Convex | InstantDB | Back4app |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Usage-based | OSS + paid hosting | OSS + paid hosting | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starts at | Free | $25/mo (Pro) | $25/mo | $25/developer/month | $30/mo | $15/mo |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache License 2.0 | BSD-3-Clause | FSL-1.1-Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 | ? |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Web, Linux | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Managed database | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auth built in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| File / object storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Realtime subscriptions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Serverless / edge functions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Auto-generated APIs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Client SDKs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Row-level security | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vector / AI support | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | No | No |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for AWS Amplify. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **License**: Apache-2.0 — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aws-amplify/amplify-js/main/LICENSE> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Applies to the open-source client libraries/CLI (amplify-js, amplify-backend repos). The Hosting service and console are AWS-managed, not separately licensed OSS.
  - Quote: “Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004”
- **Platforms**: Web, iOS, Android — <https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/faqs/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: React Native and Flutter SDKs target the same iOS/Android/Web surface.
  - Quote: “an opinionated set of libraries, UI components, and a command line interface (CLI) to build an app backend and integrate it with your iOS, Android, Web, and React Native apps”
- **Pricing model**: Usage-based — <https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Amplify itself has no license fee; you pay standard usage-based pricing for each underlying AWS service (Cognito, AppSync, DynamoDB, Lambda, S3, Hosting build/serve minutes).
  - Quote: “Only pay for what you use.”
- **Starts at**: Free — <https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: No fixed paid tier; free tier covers hosting (12 months) and each backend AWS service, then pay-as-you-go.
  - Quote: “No monthly minimums - simply pay for what you use.”
- **Status**: active — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/data/set-up-data/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Docs actively updated; Gen 2 and new 'AWS Blocks' feature are current AWS Amplify releases.
  - Quote: “Page updated Mar 25, 2026”
- **Managed database**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/data/set-up-data/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “This API is powered by AWS AppSync and connected to an Amazon DynamoDB database.”
- **Auth built in**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/auth/set-up-auth/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Amplify Auth is powered by Amazon Cognito. Cognito is a robust user directory service that handles user registration, authentication, account recovery, and other operations.”
- **File / object storage**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/storage/set-up-storage/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Amplify Storage seamlessly integrates file storage and management capabilities into frontend web and mobile apps, built on top of Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3).”
- **Realtime subscriptions**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/frontend/data/subscribe-data/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Every data model also auto-generates real-time subscribe APIs for create/update/delete events (see data/set-up-data page).
  - Quote: “we will outline the benefits of enabling real-time data integrations and how to set up and filter these subscriptions”
- **Serverless / edge functions**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/functions/set-up-function/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Functions run on AWS Lambda (serverless), not documented as edge/CDN functions.
  - Quote: “this function needs to be added to your backend”
- **Auto-generated APIs**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/data/set-up-data/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Every a.model() automatically creates the following resources in the cloud: a DynamoDB database table to store records query and mutation APIs to create, read (list/get), update, and delete records”
- **Self-hostable**: No — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/aws-blocks/how-it-works/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Local dev needs no AWS account, but the only documented deploy target is AWS itself; there is no documented path to run the Amplify backend on non-AWS or on-prem infrastructure.
  - Quote: “Run your whole app locally with no AWS account, then deploy the same code to AWS with the AWS CDK.”
- **Open source**: Yes — <https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/faqs/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: The client framework/libraries/CLI are open source (Apache-2.0, aws-amplify GitHub org); the managed Hosting service/console backend are not.
  - Quote: “AWS Amplify consists of a set of tools (open source framework, visual development environment, console) and services (web app and static website hosting)”
- **Client SDKs**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/functions/set-up-function/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Choose your framework/language React React Next.js Angular Vue JavaScript React Native Flutter Android Swift”
- **Row-level security**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/build-a-backend/data/customize-authz/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: owner" of a record."
  - Quote: “Per user data access. Access is restricted to the ”
- **Vector / AI support**: Yes — <https://docs.amplify.aws/react/frontend/ai/conversation/knowledge-base/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “storing a lot of content, like documentation, in a vector database like Postgres with pg_vector or OpenSearch”
- **Free tier**: Yes — <https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Every underlying service (Cognito, AppSync, DynamoDB, Lambda, S3) also has its own AWS Free Tier.
  - Quote: “Deploy an app with AWS Free Tier without AWS Free Tier Free for 12 months. Pay for what you use.”

---
Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/