Compare / Backstage vs Port
Backstage vs Port
Pick Backstage if you want the published self-hosted Port path (software catalog, templates, TechDocs). Pick Port if you want the hosted SaaS and will pay the seat meter.
Facts checked 25 Oct 2026. License, language, and GitHub activity come from the catalog or the project's own repo. "Not in the catalog row" means the public catalog dump does not store that number.
Backstage in the catalog Port in the catalog Start on Railway
How they compare
| Backstage | Port | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 (catalog) source | Closed-source hosted SaaS (catalog openSource false) source |
| Language | TypeScript (catalog) | Hosted product (no public product repo) |
| GitHub activity | 34,707 stars in the catalog; last push 25 Oct 2026 source | No public product repo; Port Ocean (integrations) is 193 stars, last push 22 Oct 2026 source |
| Self-host | Published as /stacks/backstage-portal. Node app plus Postgres. | Cloud-native SaaS. Not a self-host you fork. |
| Best for | The published Port replacement. | A hosted catalog if you accept the seat meter. |
Self-hosting and resource needs
Backstage is the published lander — /stacks/backstage-portal. Official create-app plus Postgres. Port is cloud-native SaaS (port.io/pricing); Enterprise talks about flexible deploy, not an OSS tree you fork. Port Ocean is the Apache-2.0 integration framework — not this pair. OpsLevel and Cortex stay skipped (closed-source). No one-click c17 Railway template.
FAQ
- Can I self-host Port?
- Port's public pricing page calls it a cloud-native SaaS platform. Enterprise mentions flexible deploy options. This site publishes Backstage as the OSS path — /replace/port.
- Where is Port Ocean?
- Named on /stacks/backstage-portal. It is an Apache-2.0 exporter into a portal, not a second portal. It is not this pair.
- OpsLevel or Cortex?
- Closed-source SaaS. Not catalogued as a compare side. Backstage remains the published path.
- Are these free?
- Backstage is Apache-2.0. You pay hosting. Port Free is 15 seats and 10,000 entities; paid from $30/seat/month billed annually.
- How do I deploy Backstage?
- Open /stacks/backstage-portal. Persist Postgres. Register one catalog entity.
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