diff --git a/.changeset/stale-experts-punch.md b/.changeset/stale-experts-punch.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..85872bfffe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/stale-experts-punch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-user-settings-backend': patch
+'@backstage/plugin-periskop-backend': patch
+'@backstage/plugin-bazaar-backend': patch
+'@backstage/plugin-kafka-backend': patch
+'@backstage/plugin-proxy-backend': patch
+---
+
+Added a Backend System plugin feature
diff --git a/plugins/bazaar-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/bazaar-backend/api-report.md
index 1ee889c04a..6281530851 100644
--- a/plugins/bazaar-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/bazaar-backend/api-report.md
@@ -3,12 +3,16 @@
 > Do not edit this file. It is a report generated by [API Extractor](https://api-extractor.com/).
 
 ```ts
+import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import express from 'express';
 import { IdentityApi } from '@backstage/plugin-auth-node';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
 import { PluginDatabaseManager } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 
+// @alpha
+export const bazaarPlugin: () => BackendFeature;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createRouter(options: RouterOptions): Promise<express.Router>;
 
diff --git a/plugins/bazaar-backend/package.json b/plugins/bazaar-backend/package.json
index 166aca7c44..0d21223078 100644
--- a/plugins/bazaar-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/bazaar-backend/package.json
@@ -7,14 +7,15 @@
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
-    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+    "alphaTypes": "dist/index.alpha.d.ts"
   },
   "backstage": {
     "role": "backend-plugin"
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "backstage-cli package start",
-    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build --experimental-type-build",
     "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
     "test": "backstage-cli package test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/backend-test-utils": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/errors": "workspace:^",
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
-    "migrations/**/*.{js,d.ts}"
+    "migrations/**/*.{js,d.ts}",
+    "alpha"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/index.ts b/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/index.ts
index ca73cb27ba..dd0cdbb750 100644
--- a/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@
  */
 
 export * from './service/router';
+export { bazaarPlugin } from './plugin';
diff --git a/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..03491950e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/bazaar-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createBackendPlugin,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createRouter } from './service/router';
+
+/**
+ * The Bazaar backend plugin.
+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const bazaarPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+  id: 'bazaar',
+  register(env) {
+    env.registerInit({
+      deps: {
+        config: coreServices.config,
+        database: coreServices.database,
+        identity: coreServices.identity,
+        logger: coreServices.logger,
+        httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+      },
+      async init({ database, config, identity, logger, httpRouter }) {
+        httpRouter.use(
+          await createRouter({
+            database,
+            config,
+            identity,
+            logger: loggerToWinstonLogger(logger),
+          }),
+        );
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/api-report.md
index c4f8665a70..319fbbf226 100644
--- a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/api-report.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 > Do not edit this file. It is a report generated by [API Extractor](https://api-extractor.com/).
 
 ```ts
+import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import express from 'express';
 import { IdentityApi } from '@backstage/plugin-auth-node';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@ import { Logger } from 'winston';
 // @public
 export function createRouter(options: RouterOptions): Promise<express.Router>;
 
+// @alpha
+export const exampleTodoListPlugin: () => BackendFeature;
+
 // @public
 export interface RouterOptions {
   // (undocumented)
diff --git a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/package.json b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/package.json
index eec3b47b67..11973d8f2a 100644
--- a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/package.json
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
-    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+    "alphaTypes": "dist/index.alpha.d.ts"
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "backstage-cli package start",
-    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build --experimental-type-build",
     "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
     "test": "backstage-cli package test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/errors": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/plugin-auth-node": "workspace:^",
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@
     "supertest": "^6.1.6"
   },
   "files": [
-    "dist"
+    "dist",
+    "alpha"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/index.ts b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/index.ts
index ca73cb27ba..6917307db6 100644
--- a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@
  */
 
 export * from './service/router';
+export { exampleTodoListPlugin } from './plugin';
diff --git a/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ba25ed7218
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/example-todo-list-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createBackendPlugin,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createRouter } from './service/router';
+
+/**
+ * The example TODO list backend plugin.
+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const exampleTodoListPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+  id: 'exampleTodoList',
+  register(env) {
+    env.registerInit({
+      deps: {
+        identity: coreServices.identity,
+        logger: coreServices.logger,
+        httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+      },
+      async init({ identity, logger, httpRouter }) {
+        httpRouter.use(
+          await createRouter({
+            identity,
+            logger: loggerToWinstonLogger(logger),
+          }),
+        );
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/plugins/kafka-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/kafka-backend/api-report.md
index 20c8260b52..a748a543d9 100644
--- a/plugins/kafka-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/kafka-backend/api-report.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 > Do not edit this file. It is a report generated by [API Extractor](https://api-extractor.com/).
 
 ```ts
+import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import express from 'express';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@ import { Logger } from 'winston';
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createRouter(options: RouterOptions): Promise<express.Router>;
 
+// @alpha
+export const kafkaPlugin: () => BackendFeature;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface RouterOptions {
   // (undocumented)
diff --git a/plugins/kafka-backend/package.json b/plugins/kafka-backend/package.json
index 93377dd9eb..623764c147 100644
--- a/plugins/kafka-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/kafka-backend/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
-    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+    "alphaTypes": "dist/index.alpha.d.ts"
   },
   "backstage": {
     "role": "backend-plugin"
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@
   "configSchema": "config.d.ts",
   "scripts": {
     "start": "backstage-cli package start",
-    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build --experimental-type-build",
     "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
     "test": "backstage-cli package test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/catalog-model": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/errors": "workspace:^",
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
-    "config.d.ts"
+    "config.d.ts",
+    "alpha"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/plugins/kafka-backend/src/index.ts b/plugins/kafka-backend/src/index.ts
index 70b7fb45a4..2000c8b89a 100644
--- a/plugins/kafka-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/kafka-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@
 
 export type { RouterOptions } from './service/router';
 export { createRouter } from './service/router';
+export { kafkaPlugin } from './plugin';
diff --git a/plugins/kafka-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/kafka-backend/src/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f627e5a0bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/kafka-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createBackendPlugin,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createRouter } from './service/router';
+
+/**
+ * The Kafka backend plugin.
+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const kafkaPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+  id: 'kafka',
+  register(env) {
+    env.registerInit({
+      deps: {
+        config: coreServices.config,
+        logger: coreServices.logger,
+        httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+      },
+      async init({ config, logger, httpRouter }) {
+        httpRouter.use(
+          await createRouter({ config, logger: loggerToWinstonLogger(logger) }),
+        );
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/plugins/periskop-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/periskop-backend/api-report.md
index caaed109f9..7906bc4785 100644
--- a/plugins/periskop-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/periskop-backend/api-report.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 > Do not edit this file. It is a report generated by [API Extractor](https://api-extractor.com/).
 
 ```ts
+import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import express from 'express';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@ import { Logger } from 'winston';
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createRouter(options: RouterOptions): Promise<express.Router>;
 
+// @alpha
+export const periskopPlugin: () => BackendFeature;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface RouterOptions {
   // (undocumented)
diff --git a/plugins/periskop-backend/package.json b/plugins/periskop-backend/package.json
index aa6d8daec3..dc29122b8e 100644
--- a/plugins/periskop-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/periskop-backend/package.json
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
-    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+    "alphaTypes": "dist/index.alpha.d.ts"
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "backstage-cli package start",
-    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build --experimental-type-build",
     "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
     "test": "backstage-cli package test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^",
     "@types/express": "*",
     "express": "^4.17.1",
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@
     "supertest": "^6.1.6"
   },
   "files": [
-    "dist"
+    "dist",
+    "alpha"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/plugins/periskop-backend/src/index.ts b/plugins/periskop-backend/src/index.ts
index ca73cb27ba..a053633745 100644
--- a/plugins/periskop-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/periskop-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@
  */
 
 export * from './service/router';
+export { periskopPlugin } from './plugin';
diff --git a/plugins/periskop-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/periskop-backend/src/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b5dcfb1425
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/periskop-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createBackendPlugin,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createRouter } from './service/router';
+
+/**
+ * The Periskop backend plugin.
+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const periskopPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+  id: 'periskop',
+  register(env) {
+    env.registerInit({
+      deps: {
+        config: coreServices.config,
+        logger: coreServices.logger,
+        httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+      },
+      async init({ config, logger, httpRouter }) {
+        httpRouter.use(
+          await createRouter({ config, logger: loggerToWinstonLogger(logger) }),
+        );
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/plugins/proxy-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/proxy-backend/api-report.md
index 581e7a904c..741f7c3b54 100644
--- a/plugins/proxy-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/proxy-backend/api-report.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 > Do not edit this file. It is a report generated by [API Extractor](https://api-extractor.com/).
 
 ```ts
+import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import express from 'express';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
@@ -11,6 +12,15 @@ import { PluginEndpointDiscovery } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 // @public
 export function createRouter(options: RouterOptions): Promise<express.Router>;
 
+// @alpha
+export const proxyPlugin: (
+  options?:
+    | {
+        skipInvalidProxies?: boolean | undefined;
+      }
+    | undefined,
+) => BackendFeature;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface RouterOptions {
   // (undocumented)
diff --git a/plugins/proxy-backend/package.json b/plugins/proxy-backend/package.json
index d145d91454..1d93d0eb4f 100644
--- a/plugins/proxy-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/proxy-backend/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
-    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+    "alphaTypes": "dist/index.alpha.d.ts"
   },
   "backstage": {
     "role": "backend-plugin"
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@
   ],
   "scripts": {
     "start": "backstage-cli package start",
-    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build --experimental-type-build",
     "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
     "test": "backstage-cli package test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^",
     "@types/express": "^4.17.6",
     "express": "^4.17.1",
@@ -56,7 +58,8 @@
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
-    "config.d.ts"
+    "config.d.ts",
+    "alpha"
   ],
   "configSchema": "config.d.ts"
 }
diff --git a/plugins/proxy-backend/src/index.ts b/plugins/proxy-backend/src/index.ts
index 8f5d5c79dc..2658a557b7 100644
--- a/plugins/proxy-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/proxy-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -21,3 +21,4 @@
  */
 
 export * from './service';
+export { proxyPlugin } from './plugin';
diff --git a/plugins/proxy-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/proxy-backend/src/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e9d6d515c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/proxy-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import {
+  createBackendPlugin,
+  coreServices,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createRouter } from './service/router';
+
+/**
+ * The proxy backend plugin.
+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const proxyPlugin = createBackendPlugin(
+  (options?: { skipInvalidProxies?: boolean }) => ({
+    id: 'proxy',
+    register(env) {
+      env.registerInit({
+        deps: {
+          config: coreServices.config,
+          discovery: coreServices.discovery,
+          logger: coreServices.logger,
+          httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+        },
+        async init({ config, discovery, logger, httpRouter }) {
+          httpRouter.use(
+            await createRouter({
+              config,
+              discovery,
+              logger: loggerToWinstonLogger(logger),
+              skipInvalidProxies: options?.skipInvalidProxies,
+            }),
+          );
+        },
+      });
+    },
+  }),
+);
diff --git a/plugins/user-settings-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/user-settings-backend/api-report.md
index 1bc37bbec7..b015915723 100644
--- a/plugins/user-settings-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/user-settings-backend/api-report.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 > Do not edit this file. It is a report generated by [API Extractor](https://api-extractor.com/).
 
 ```ts
+import { BackendFeature } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import express from 'express';
 import { IdentityApi } from '@backstage/plugin-auth-node';
 import { PluginDatabaseManager } from '@backstage/backend-common';
@@ -18,5 +19,8 @@ export interface RouterOptions {
   identity: IdentityApi;
 }
 
+// @alpha
+export const userSettingsPlugin: () => BackendFeature;
+
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 ```
diff --git a/plugins/user-settings-backend/package.json b/plugins/user-settings-backend/package.json
index 8197078d74..97570989f6 100644
--- a/plugins/user-settings-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/user-settings-backend/package.json
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
-    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+    "alphaTypes": "dist/index.alpha.d.ts"
   },
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "backstage-cli package start",
-    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build --experimental-type-build",
     "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
     "test": "backstage-cli package test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/catalog-model": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/errors": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/plugin-auth-node": "workspace:^",
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
-    "migrations"
+    "migrations",
+    "alpha"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/index.ts b/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/index.ts
index 04d8accdaf..5504aaa564 100644
--- a/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/index.ts
@@ -16,3 +16,4 @@
 
 export * from './service';
 export * from './database';
+export { userSettingsPlugin } from './plugin';
diff --git a/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..83120cc180
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/user-settings-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import {
+  createBackendPlugin,
+  coreServices,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { createRouter } from './service/router';
+
+/**
+ * The user settings backend plugin.
+ *
+ * @alpha
+ */
+export const userSettingsPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
+  id: 'userSettings',
+  register(env) {
+    env.registerInit({
+      deps: {
+        database: coreServices.database,
+        identity: coreServices.identity,
+        httpRouter: coreServices.httpRouter,
+      },
+      async init({ database, identity, httpRouter }) {
+        httpRouter.use(await createRouter({ database, identity }));
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 9a7492289e..fe295228dc 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -4758,6 +4758,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "@backstage/plugin-bazaar-backend@workspace:plugins/bazaar-backend"
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/backend-test-utils": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^"
@@ -6602,6 +6603,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "@backstage/plugin-kafka-backend@workspace:plugins/kafka-backend"
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/catalog-model": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^"
@@ -6924,6 +6926,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "@backstage/plugin-periskop-backend@workspace:plugins/periskop-backend"
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^"
     "@types/express": "*"
@@ -7139,6 +7142,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "@backstage/plugin-proxy-backend@workspace:plugins/proxy-backend"
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^"
     "@types/express": ^4.17.6
@@ -8349,6 +8353,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "@backstage/plugin-user-settings-backend@workspace:plugins/user-settings-backend"
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/backend-test-utils": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/catalog-model": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
@@ -10302,6 +10307,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "@internal/plugin-todo-list-backend@workspace:plugins/example-todo-list-backend"
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-common": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/config": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/errors": "workspace:^"