The most used backend and database platforms
We track 13 backend and database platforms. The most used is Firebase, found at 21,672 companies as of October 2026, ahead of Supabase (7,165) and Twilio (5,022).
This category covers the services behind an app: hosted databases (MongoDB Atlas, PlanetScale, Neon), backend platforms that bundle database, auth and storage (Firebase, Supabase, Convex), communications APIs (Twilio, Sinch) and workflow engines (Temporal).
Backend tools are harder to see from outside than website tools, so the counts here are lower bounds: we only list a company when a public record names the vendor.
Backend and database platforms ranked by companies using them
“Share” is each tool's part of all 38,416 matches in this category; a company that uses two tools counts for both.
| # | Tool | Companies | Share | Last 30 days | Most popular with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21,672 | 56% | +60−1 | Primary/secondary Education (7.1×) | |
| 2 | 7,165 | 19% | +6−2 | 1–10 employees (4.5×) | |
| 3 | 5,022 | 13% | +10 | 10,000+ employees (4.0×) | |
| 4 | 2,815 | 7.3% | +18−2 | 10,000+ employees (19×) | |
| 5 | 954 | 2.5% | −1 | Real Estate (3.8×) | |
| 6 | 199 | 0.52% | +8−2 | 10,000+ employees (30×) | |
| 7 | 196 | 0.51% | +3 | 1,001–5,000 employees (8.6×) | |
| 8 | 177 | 0.46% | – | 1–10 employees (14×) | |
| 9 | 95 | 0.25% | – | 51–200 employees (1.6×) | |
| 10 | 84 | 0.22% | – | – | |
| 11 | 16 | <0.1% | – | – | |
| 12 | 11 | <0.1% | – | – | |
| 13 | 10 | <0.1% | – | – |
“Most popular with” is the industry or company size where the tool is most over-represented compared with all companies we've scanned. Starts and stops compare two scans done the same way.
Who's gaining and losing customers
How to compare backend and database platforms
- Managed platform or plain database: platforms move faster, plain databases leave fewer dependencies.
- Pricing under real load: reads, writes, storage and egress.
- Data location and compliance certifications.
- How easy it is to leave: standard Postgres or MongoDB versus a proprietary API.
How we find backend and database platforms
Backend services appear in domain-verification records, in subdomains that point at the vendor, and in the API hosts a website or app calls from the browser.
Every company on a tool's page links to the record behind the match. DNS is rechecked weekly and websites monthly, so tools a company stops using drop off the list.
Backend & Database FAQ
What are the most popular backend and database platforms?
As of October 2026, the most popular backend and database platforms by number of companies using them are Firebase (21,672 companies), Supabase (7,165 companies) and Twilio (5,022 companies), according to runsonwhat. Firebase alone accounts for 56% of the 38,416 Backend & Database matches runsonwhat has, and the top three together for 88%. 13 backend and database platforms have at least one confirmed customer.
Firebase vs Supabase: which is more popular?
Firebase is more popular: 21,672 companies show public evidence of Firebase, against 7,165 for Supabase (3.0× as many), according to runsonwhat (October 2026). Twilio is third with 5,022.
Which backend and database platforms do small businesses use most?
Among companies with up to 50 employees, the most used backend and database platforms are Firebase (10,851 companies), Supabase (3,850 companies) and Twilio (1,796 companies), according to runsonwhat (October 2026). The counts cover companies with a known headcount; see each tool's page for the full size breakdown.
Which backend and database platforms do large companies use most?
Among companies with more than 1,000 employees, the most used backend and database platforms are Firebase (884 companies), MongoDB Atlas (664 companies) and Twilio (492 companies), according to runsonwhat (October 2026). Large companies often run more than one tool in a category, so the same company can count for several.
Which backend and database platforms are most popular in the United States?
In the United States, the most used backend and database platforms are Firebase (6,450 companies), Twilio (2,291 companies) and Supabase (1,772 companies), based on companies runsonwhat has located there (October 2026). Firebase has 53% of the Backend & Database matches among companies based in the United States.
Which backend and database platforms are most popular in India?
In India, the most used backend and database platforms are Firebase (1,836 companies), Supabase (393 companies) and Twilio (80 companies), based on companies runsonwhat has located there (October 2026). Firebase has 76% of the Backend & Database matches among companies based in India.
Which backend and database platforms do IT services companies use?
IT services is the industry with the most Backend & Database matches, and its companies use Firebase (1,692 companies), Supabase (658 companies) and Twilio (507 companies) most, according to runsonwhat (October 2026). Each tool's page breaks its customers down by industry, so you can check where a tool over-indexes.
Which backend and database platforms are companies adopting right now?
In the 30 days to October 2026, the most new adoptions runsonwhat recorded were for Firebase (60 companies), MongoDB Atlas (18 companies) and Twilio (10 companies). A start is counted when a recheck finds a tool that the previous check of the same company, done the same way, did not.
How does runsonwhat rank backend and database platforms?
runsonwhat counts the companies where a public record shows each tool in use and ranks by that count. Backend services appear in domain-verification records, in subdomains that point at the vendor, and in the API hosts a website or app calls from the browser. A company counts only when a direct record backs it up. The full method is at https://www.runsonwhat.com/methodology.