Backstage Pricing

Backstage Pricing Overview

Backstage is completely free and open-source software, originally created by Spotify and hosted by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). There are no licensing fees, subscription costs, or per-user charges for using Backstage.

Infrastructure and Hosting

Organizations deploying Backstage must cover infrastructure costs for hosting the application. This typically includes a Kubernetes cluster or cloud VM, storage for the software catalog and tech docs, and CI/CD resources for building and deploying the Backstage app.

Development and Maintenance Costs

The primary investment for Backstage is development effort. Teams need to customize the frontend, integrate plugins, configure the software catalog, and maintain the deployment. Many organizations allocate 1-3 full-time engineers for initial setup and ongoing maintenance.

Commercial Options

Several companies offer managed Backstage solutions. Roadie offers a SaaS Backstage deployment starting at $2 per developer per month. Others like Kion and OpsLevel provide Backstage-compatible platforms with varying pricing models.