specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Backendless
providerId: backendless
created: '2026-06-20'
modified: '2026-06-20'
reconciled: true
tags:
- BaaS
- Backend as a Service
- Database
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Backendless Cloud spend. Backendless does not meter API calls;
  instead the Scale plan bills daily based on the peak API requests-per-minute
  tier reached each day, while resource capacity (file storage, data tables,
  real-time connections) is governed by plan caps and incremental function
  packs. The Free plan carries no charge. Self-hosted Pro is free to license, and
  Managed Backendless is a negotiated subscription.
notes: >-
  Daily Scale billing is driven by peak requests-per-minute tiers; spikes in
  traffic move the account into higher daily tiers. Verify the current tier
  schedule and function-pack rates on the pricing page during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://backendless.com/pricing/backendless-cloud/
- https://backendless.com/introducing-scale-plan/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Backendless
serviceCategory: Developer Tools and Platforms
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Daily
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Backendless Cloud
  ServiceCategory: Developer Tools and Platforms
  ProviderName: Backendless
  PublisherName: Backendless
  InvoiceIssuerName: Backendless
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
meters:
- name: peak_requests_per_minute
  description: Daily peak API requests per minute that determines the Scale plan billing tier for the day.
  unit: requests_per_minute
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
  - day
- name: file_storage_gb
  description: File repository capacity consumed, capped by plan and extended by storage function packs.
  unit: gigabytes
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: data_tables
  description: Number of database tables in use against the plan cap.
  unit: tables
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: realtime_connections
  description: Concurrent real-time (Socket.IO) connections against the plan cap.
  unit: connections
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: messages
  description: Messaging volume billed via the messaging function pack at $10 per 100,000 messages.
  unit: messages
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: function_packs
  description: Add-on capacity packs (messaging, file storage, real-time connections) purchased on top of the plan.
  unit: packs
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - pack_type
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track daily peak requests-per-minute and resource consumption in the Backendless console billing view.
- name: Allocation
  description: Separate applications (app-id/REST-API-key pairs) per workload or team to attribute spend.
- name: Optimization
  description: Smooth traffic spikes to stay in lower daily Scale tiers; right-size function packs; offload heavy reads with the cache service; self-host Pro where on-prem economics win.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners per application; review daily tier movement and function-pack usage against budget.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com