App42 Cloud API

App42 Cloud API is a REST-based backend service for developers building applications, with JSON and XML interfaces. Its more than 20 modules and 400+ APIs cover user and session management, storage, recommendations, photo galleries, queues, messaging, gaming, and geospatial services. Cloud Code lets developers run server-side logic, combine App42 services, create APIs, and schedule code execution.

Analytics can track API calls, storage use, installations, user activity, push messages, and custom event funnels, including activity associated with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or App42 Single Sign-On. Gaming tools include global and social leaderboards, including rankings among a user's Facebook friends. SDKs are listed for Android, iOS, Windows, and other platforms; downloading them requires email registration. Free plans are available. Paid plans start at $85 a month, payable yearly. Free, Medium, and Large plans list Best Effort uptime, while Enterprise plans list Committed SLAs. ShepHertz was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in India.

App42 Cloud API combines backend modules, analytics, custom code, and gaming services. Developers should account for SDK registration and the uptime terms listed for each plan.

App42 Cloud API may suit developers who want backend services and analytics for applications across different app types. Its listed SDKs and APIs cover a range of platforms and development environments.

Overview

App42 Cloud API is a REST backend toolkit for developers building mobile, web, and other applications. It is best suited to teams that need several backend capabilities, particularly analytics or multiplayer features, in one service. Its free entry points make evaluation possible, but teams that require committed uptime should plan for Enterprise pricing.

Key features

The service combines more than 20 modules and 400 APIs, including user and session management, storage, recommendations, photo galleries, queues, messaging, gaming, and geospatial services. That breadth can serve projects spanning multiple backend needs; for a single narrow function, the larger toolkit may be more than the project needs. REST interfaces support JSON and XML.

Analytics cover API calls, storage consumption, installations, user activity, push messages, and custom event funnels. App42 can track users associated with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or App42 Single Sign-On, making the analytics useful for teams looking to connect service usage with user activity. Leaderboards support global and social rankings, including competition among a player's Facebook friends.

Cloud Code lets developers run server-side logic, combine App42 services, create APIs, and schedule code execution. This adds room to tailor backend behavior beyond the prebuilt modules. SDK downloads cover Android, iOS, Windows, Unity 3D, C#, Cocos2dx, Raspberry Pi, Corona, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Flash, Marmalade, Samsung Smart TV, Xamarin, and Blackberry 10. Downloading SDKs requires email registration, a small but relevant step for developers who want to inspect the libraries first.

Technical support is directed through the App42 Forum, with customer support at [email protected]. That gives users a forum route for technical questions and a separate customer-support contact.

Pricing

App42 has free plans and paid tiers from $85/mo (annual). Prices are in USD, and the monthly figures below reflect the stated billing terms.

• Free (1 Mo): free; 1 million API calls, 1 GB bandwidth, 1 GB storage, five leaderboards, and a burst limit of 25. This is a constrained starting point for small projects; Best Effort uptime is not a committed SLA.
• Free (Multiplayer Gaming): free and 2 million messages, with Best Effort uptime. It is a separate free gaming option, rather than the API, bandwidth, and storage bundle.
• Medium: 15 million API calls, 15 GB bandwidth, 15 GB storage, 50 leaderboards, and a burst limit of 30. The standard plan is $100 a month, billed monthly; yearly billing is $85 a month, payable yearly, and biannual billing is $95 a month, payable biannually. All retain Best Effort uptime.
• Large: 50 million API calls, 50 GB bandwidth, 50 GB storage, 200 leaderboards, and a burst limit of 40. It costs $300 a month, billed monthly; yearly billing is $255 a month, payable yearly, and biannual billing is $285 a month, payable biannually. The higher quotas suit heavier workloads, but uptime remains Best Effort.
• Full House (Multiplayer Gaming): $100 a month, billed monthly, for 300 million messages; extra messages cost 4 cents/10000. Best Effort uptime applies, so the message allowance does not come with a committed SLA.
• Enterprise: custom pricing for a customized package, with Committed SLAs. This is the plan for teams whose uptime terms matter more than a fixed published price.

The free API plan's low quotas and the paid plans' Best Effort uptime are meaningful trade-offs: scaling usage alone does not secure a committed SLA. A Data Backup plan also allows requests of up to 20 GB each.

Platforms

App42 supports Android, iOS, web, Windows, and API access. Its SDK lineup also reaches development environments including Unity, C#, JavaScript, PHP, Raspberry Pi, and Samsung Smart TV, among others. The breadth gives cross-platform teams multiple integration paths, though SDK downloads require email registration.

Who it's for

App42 is a reasonable fit for developers who want one API-oriented backend to cover several needs, or game developers who value leaderboards and multiplayer message plans. The free tier can suit early development with modest quotas. Teams that need guaranteed uptime should look to Enterprise; projects needing only one backend function may be better served by a narrower tool.

Pros and cons

• Pro: More than 20 modules and 400 APIs span common backend, analytics, and gaming needs, which can consolidate capabilities for multi-feature applications.
• Pro: Free API and multiplayer plans provide distinct ways to begin without a plan charge.
• Pro: Custom code, scheduled execution, and a broad SDK lineup offer options for extending and integrating the backend.
• Con: Free and paid non-Enterprise plans use Best Effort uptime, limiting their fit for workloads that require committed service levels.
• Con: The free API plan caps usage at 1 million calls, 1 GB bandwidth, and 1 GB storage, so growing projects may need to move to a paid tier.
• Con: SDK downloads require email registration, adding a gate before developers can access them.

Alternatives

For a game leaderboard-specific comparison, see the Game Leaderboard Software list.

• Construct 3 is worth considering for individuals and hobbyists seeking a freemium game-development tool with a free trial and a Personal License that unlocks all features.
• Metaplay may suit teams that want to build and run locally with a full SDK and local server on its free plan.
• AccelByte Gaming Services offers a free-while-building public cloud foundation, making it an option for teams whose usage fees can begin as players arrive.
• brainCloud is another freemium alternative with a free Development plan and free developer support.
• LEADR may fit teams seeking a free plan with 10,000 score submissions per month and basic anti-cheat.
• PlayFab is an alternative with a free-to-start offering for titles before they pass 100,000 players.
• PlayNANOO SDK may suit developers looking for a free tier with API calls and 1 GB disk monthly, or a paid Basic plan.
• Yandex Games Developer Console is a free browser-game publishing platform.

Verdict

Choose App42 Cloud API if your application benefits from a broad backend toolkit with analytics, custom server-side code, and gaming capabilities, and you can work within its quotas and uptime terms. Its breadth and separate free entry points are the main reasons to consider it. Look elsewhere if you need a committed SLA without custom pricing, or if your project calls for only a narrow backend service.