Deploy and Host Parse Server on Railway

Parse Server is an open-source backend framework that gives apps a ready-made API for data, users and authentication, files, push notifications, live queries and Cloud Code. SDKs for JavaScript, iOS, Android, Flutter, .NET and PHP talk to it directly, so mobile and web apps can ship without writing a custom backend.

About Hosting Parse Server

This template deploys Parse Server 8.6.94 and Parse Dashboard 9.2.0 with a Railway MongoDB database. The application ID, master key, dashboard password and cookie secret are generated at deploy time. Clients cannot create new classes; create them with the master key or the dashboard. The dashboard runs in your browser and sends the master key from there, so the master key IP allow list is open (including IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses), and the key must stay secret. The dashboard login is admin. Both run comfortably on the Hobby plan. Back up MongoDB regularly.

Common Use Cases

A backend for mobile and web apps with users, data and files out of the box
Migrating off Back4App or other hosted Parse providers
Rapid prototypes with Cloud Code and class-level permissions

Dependencies for Parse Server Hosting

parseplatform/parse-server:8.6.94 (official image)
parseplatform/parse-dashboard:9.2.0 (official image)
Railway MongoDB with a volume

Deployment Dependencies

Implementation Details

Service	Image	Networking	Storage
parse	`parse-server:8.6.94`	public domain on 1337 (`/parse`); private	none
dashboard	`parse-dashboard:9.2.0`	public domain on 4040	none
MongoDB	Railway MongoDB	private only	volume

Parse.initialize(APPLICATION_ID);
Parse.serverURL = "https:///parse";

Variable	Service	Default	Purpose
`PARSE_SERVER_APPLICATION_ID`	parse	generated	App ID used by SDKs
`PARSE_SERVER_MASTER_KEY`	parse	generated	Full access key; server and dashboard only
`PARSE_SERVER_MASTER_KEY_IPS`	parse	`0.0.0.0/0,::0,::ffff:0:0/96`	Allow the dashboard from any browser
`PARSE_SERVER_ALLOW_CLIENT_CLASS_CREATION`	parse	`false`	Block clients from creating classes
`PARSE_DASHBOARD_USER_ID` / `_PASSWORD`	dashboard	`admin` / generated	Dashboard login

Notes:

Set class-level permissions for each class you create; by default, clients can create objects in existing classes.
For Cloud Code, build your own image from parseplatform/parse-server with your cloud/ folder and set PARSE_SERVER_CLOUD.
If you do not need the dashboard from browsers, narrow PARSE_SERVER_MASTER_KEY_IPS.

This is a community-maintained deployment package and does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by the Parse Server project or its maintainers.

Why Deploy Parse Server on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying Parse Server on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.