diff --git a/spec/ParseQuery.hint.spec.js b/spec/ParseQuery.hint.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..43f1c4e9a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/ParseQuery.hint.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const Config = require('../lib/Config');
+const TestUtils = require('../lib/TestUtils');
+const request = require('../lib/request');
+
+let config;
+
+const masterKeyHeaders = {
+  'X-Parse-Application-Id': 'test',
+  'X-Parse-Rest-API-Key': 'rest',
+  'X-Parse-Master-Key': 'test',
+  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+};
+
+const masterKeyOptions = {
+  headers: masterKeyHeaders,
+  json: true,
+};
+
+describe_only_db('mongo')('Parse.Query hint', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    config = Config.get('test');
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await config.database.schemaCache.clear();
+    await TestUtils.destroyAllDataPermanently(false);
+  });
+
+  it('query find with hint string', async () => {
+    const object = new TestObject();
+    await object.save();
+
+    const collection = await config.database.adapter._adaptiveCollection(
+      'TestObject'
+    );
+    let explain = await collection._rawFind(
+      { _id: object.id },
+      { explain: true }
+    );
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('IDHACK');
+    explain = await collection._rawFind(
+      { _id: object.id },
+      { hint: '_id_', explain: true }
+    );
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('FETCH');
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.indexName).toBe('_id_');
+  });
+
+  it('query find with hint object', async () => {
+    const object = new TestObject();
+    await object.save();
+
+    const collection = await config.database.adapter._adaptiveCollection(
+      'TestObject'
+    );
+    let explain = await collection._rawFind(
+      { _id: object.id },
+      { explain: true }
+    );
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('IDHACK');
+    explain = await collection._rawFind(
+      { _id: object.id },
+      { hint: { _id: 1 }, explain: true }
+    );
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('FETCH');
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.keyPattern).toEqual({
+      _id: 1,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('query aggregate with hint string', async () => {
+    const object = new TestObject({ foo: 'bar' });
+    await object.save();
+
+    const collection = await config.database.adapter._adaptiveCollection(
+      'TestObject'
+    );
+    let result = await collection.aggregate([{ $group: { _id: '$foo' } }], {
+      explain: true,
+    });
+    let { queryPlanner } = result[0].stages[0].$cursor;
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('COLLSCAN');
+
+    result = await collection.aggregate([{ $group: { _id: '$foo' } }], {
+      hint: '_id_',
+      explain: true,
+    });
+    queryPlanner = result[0].stages[0].$cursor.queryPlanner;
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('FETCH');
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.indexName).toBe('_id_');
+  });
+
+  it('query aggregate with hint object', async () => {
+    const object = new TestObject({ foo: 'bar' });
+    await object.save();
+
+    const collection = await config.database.adapter._adaptiveCollection(
+      'TestObject'
+    );
+    let result = await collection.aggregate([{ $group: { _id: '$foo' } }], {
+      explain: true,
+    });
+    let { queryPlanner } = result[0].stages[0].$cursor;
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('COLLSCAN');
+
+    result = await collection.aggregate([{ $group: { _id: '$foo' } }], {
+      hint: { _id: 1 },
+      explain: true,
+    });
+    queryPlanner = result[0].stages[0].$cursor.queryPlanner;
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('FETCH');
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.keyPattern).toEqual({ _id: 1 });
+  });
+
+  it('query find with hint (rest)', async () => {
+    const object = new TestObject();
+    await object.save();
+    let options = Object.assign({}, masterKeyOptions, {
+      url: Parse.serverURL + '/classes/TestObject',
+      qs: {
+        explain: true,
+      },
+    });
+    let response = await request(options);
+    let explain = response.data.results;
+    expect(explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.stage).toBe('COLLSCAN');
+
+    options = Object.assign({}, masterKeyOptions, {
+      url: Parse.serverURL + '/classes/TestObject',
+      qs: {
+        explain: true,
+        hint: '_id_',
+      },
+    });
+    response = await request(options);
+    explain = response.data.results;
+    expect(
+      explain.queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.inputStage.indexName
+    ).toBe('_id_');
+  });
+
+  it('query aggregate with hint (rest)', async () => {
+    const object = new TestObject({ foo: 'bar' });
+    await object.save();
+    let options = Object.assign({}, masterKeyOptions, {
+      url: Parse.serverURL + '/aggregate/TestObject',
+      qs: {
+        explain: true,
+        group: JSON.stringify({ objectId: '$foo' }),
+      },
+    });
+    let response = await request(options);
+    let { queryPlanner } = response.data.results[0].stages[0].$cursor;
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.stage).toBe('COLLSCAN');
+
+    options = Object.assign({}, masterKeyOptions, {
+      url: Parse.serverURL + '/aggregate/TestObject',
+      qs: {
+        explain: true,
+        hint: '_id_',
+        group: JSON.stringify({ objectId: '$foo' }),
+      },
+    });
+    response = await request(options);
+    queryPlanner = response.data.results[0].stages[0].$cursor.queryPlanner;
+    expect(queryPlanner.winningPlan.inputStage.keyPattern).toEqual({ _id: 1 });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoCollection.js b/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoCollection.js
index 91c28b407d..7cabc522cd 100644
--- a/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoCollection.js
+++ b/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoCollection.js
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ export default class MongoCollection {
   // none, then build the geoindex.
   // This could be improved a lot but it's not clear if that's a good
   // idea. Or even if this behavior is a good idea.
-  find(query, { skip, limit, sort, keys, maxTimeMS, readPreference } = {}) {
+  find(
+    query,
+    { skip, limit, sort, keys, maxTimeMS, readPreference, hint, explain } = {}
+  ) {
     // Support for Full Text Search - $text
     if (keys && keys.$score) {
       delete keys.$score;
@@ -26,6 +29,8 @@ export default class MongoCollection {
       keys,
       maxTimeMS,
       readPreference,
+      hint,
+      explain,
     }).catch(error => {
       // Check for "no geoindex" error
       if (
@@ -54,18 +59,24 @@ export default class MongoCollection {
               keys,
               maxTimeMS,
               readPreference,
+              hint,
+              explain,
             })
           )
       );
     });
   }
 
-  _rawFind(query, { skip, limit, sort, keys, maxTimeMS, readPreference } = {}) {
+  _rawFind(
+    query,
+    { skip, limit, sort, keys, maxTimeMS, readPreference, hint, explain } = {}
+  ) {
     let findOperation = this._mongoCollection.find(query, {
       skip,
       limit,
       sort,
       readPreference,
+      hint,
     });
 
     if (keys) {
@@ -76,10 +87,10 @@ export default class MongoCollection {
       findOperation = findOperation.maxTimeMS(maxTimeMS);
     }
 
-    return findOperation.toArray();
+    return explain ? findOperation.explain(explain) : findOperation.toArray();
   }
 
-  count(query, { skip, limit, sort, maxTimeMS, readPreference } = {}) {
+  count(query, { skip, limit, sort, maxTimeMS, readPreference, hint } = {}) {
     // If query is empty, then use estimatedDocumentCount instead.
     // This is due to countDocuments performing a scan,
     // which greatly increases execution time when being run on large collections.
@@ -96,6 +107,7 @@ export default class MongoCollection {
       sort,
       maxTimeMS,
       readPreference,
+      hint,
     });
 
     return countOperation;
@@ -105,9 +117,9 @@ export default class MongoCollection {
     return this._mongoCollection.distinct(field, query);
   }
 
-  aggregate(pipeline, { maxTimeMS, readPreference } = {}) {
+  aggregate(pipeline, { maxTimeMS, readPreference, hint, explain } = {}) {
     return this._mongoCollection
-      .aggregate(pipeline, { maxTimeMS, readPreference })
+      .aggregate(pipeline, { maxTimeMS, readPreference, hint, explain })
       .toArray();
   }
 
diff --git a/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoStorageAdapter.js b/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoStorageAdapter.js
index 09d6cd319e..e60551bdb0 100644
--- a/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoStorageAdapter.js
+++ b/src/Adapters/Storage/Mongo/MongoStorageAdapter.js
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ export class MongoStorageAdapter implements StorageAdapter {
     className: string,
     schema: SchemaType,
     query: QueryType,
-    { skip, limit, sort, keys, readPreference }: QueryOptions
+    { skip, limit, sort, keys, readPreference, hint, explain }: QueryOptions
   ): Promise<any> {
     schema = convertParseSchemaToMongoSchema(schema);
     const mongoWhere = transformWhere(className, query, schema);
@@ -652,13 +652,18 @@ export class MongoStorageAdapter implements StorageAdapter {
           keys: mongoKeys,
           maxTimeMS: this._maxTimeMS,
           readPreference,
+          hint,
+          explain,
         })
       )
-      .then(objects =>
-        objects.map(object =>
+      .then(objects => {
+        if (explain) {
+          return objects;
+        }
+        return objects.map(object =>
           mongoObjectToParseObject(className, object, schema)
-        )
-      )
+        );
+      })
       .catch(err => this.handleError(err));
   }
 
@@ -712,7 +717,8 @@ export class MongoStorageAdapter implements StorageAdapter {
     className: string,
     schema: SchemaType,
     query: QueryType,
-    readPreference: ?string
+    readPreference: ?string,
+    hint: ?mixed
   ) {
     schema = convertParseSchemaToMongoSchema(schema);
     readPreference = this._parseReadPreference(readPreference);
@@ -721,6 +727,7 @@ export class MongoStorageAdapter implements StorageAdapter {
         collection.count(transformWhere(className, query, schema, true), {
           maxTimeMS: this._maxTimeMS,
           readPreference,
+          hint,
         })
       )
       .catch(err => this.handleError(err));
@@ -760,7 +767,9 @@ export class MongoStorageAdapter implements StorageAdapter {
     className: string,
     schema: any,
     pipeline: any,
-    readPreference: ?string
+    readPreference: ?string,
+    hint: ?mixed,
+    explain?: boolean
   ) {
     let isPointerField = false;
     pipeline = pipeline.map(stage => {
@@ -791,6 +800,8 @@ export class MongoStorageAdapter implements StorageAdapter {
         collection.aggregate(pipeline, {
           readPreference,
           maxTimeMS: this._maxTimeMS,
+          hint,
+          explain,
         })
       )
       .then(results => {
diff --git a/src/Adapters/Storage/StorageAdapter.js b/src/Adapters/Storage/StorageAdapter.js
index 6de3ea3cbd..ce134493bf 100644
--- a/src/Adapters/Storage/StorageAdapter.js
+++ b/src/Adapters/Storage/StorageAdapter.js
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ export type QueryOptions = {
   distinct?: boolean,
   pipeline?: any,
   readPreference?: ?string,
+  hint?: ?mixed,
+  explain?: Boolean,
 };
 
 export type UpdateQueryOptions = {
@@ -92,7 +94,8 @@ export interface StorageAdapter {
     schema: SchemaType,
     query: QueryType,
     readPreference?: string,
-    estimate?: boolean
+    estimate?: boolean,
+    hint?: mixed
   ): Promise<number>;
   distinct(
     className: string,
@@ -104,7 +107,9 @@ export interface StorageAdapter {
     className: string,
     schema: any,
     pipeline: any,
-    readPreference: ?string
+    readPreference: ?string,
+    hint: ?mixed,
+    explain?: boolean
   ): Promise<any>;
   performInitialization(options: ?any): Promise<void>;
 
diff --git a/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js b/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js
index 0a643e64ee..81e32aff62 100644
--- a/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js
+++ b/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js
@@ -1289,13 +1289,14 @@ class DatabaseController {
       distinct,
       pipeline,
       readPreference,
+      hint,
+      explain,
     }: any = {},
     auth: any = {},
     validSchemaController: SchemaController.SchemaController
   ): Promise<any> {
     const isMaster = acl === undefined;
     const aclGroup = acl || [];
-
     op =
       op ||
       (typeof query.objectId == 'string' && Object.keys(query).length === 1
@@ -1333,7 +1334,15 @@ class DatabaseController {
               sort.updatedAt = sort._updated_at;
               delete sort._updated_at;
             }
-            const queryOptions = { skip, limit, sort, keys, readPreference };
+            const queryOptions = {
+              skip,
+              limit,
+              sort,
+              keys,
+              readPreference,
+              hint,
+              explain,
+            };
             Object.keys(sort).forEach(fieldName => {
               if (fieldName.match(/^authData\.([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)\.id$/)) {
                 throw new Parse.Error(
@@ -1406,7 +1415,9 @@ class DatabaseController {
                       className,
                       schema,
                       query,
-                      readPreference
+                      readPreference,
+                      undefined,
+                      hint
                     );
                   }
                 } else if (distinct) {
@@ -1428,9 +1439,18 @@ class DatabaseController {
                       className,
                       schema,
                       pipeline,
-                      readPreference
+                      readPreference,
+                      hint,
+                      explain
                     );
                   }
+                } else if (explain) {
+                  return this.adapter.find(
+                    className,
+                    schema,
+                    query,
+                    queryOptions
+                  );
                 } else {
                   return this.adapter
                     .find(className, schema, query, queryOptions)
diff --git a/src/RestQuery.js b/src/RestQuery.js
index f2225ab3ee..468446561c 100644
--- a/src/RestQuery.js
+++ b/src/RestQuery.js
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ function RestQuery(
       case 'includeAll':
         this.includeAll = true;
         break;
+      case 'explain':
+      case 'hint':
       case 'distinct':
       case 'pipeline':
       case 'skip':
diff --git a/src/Routers/AggregateRouter.js b/src/Routers/AggregateRouter.js
index 591ebd3469..94544282e2 100644
--- a/src/Routers/AggregateRouter.js
+++ b/src/Routers/AggregateRouter.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import * as middleware from '../middlewares';
 import Parse from 'parse/node';
 import UsersRouter from './UsersRouter';
 
-const BASE_KEYS = ['where', 'distinct', 'pipeline'];
+const BASE_KEYS = ['where', 'distinct', 'pipeline', 'hint', 'explain'];
 
 const PIPELINE_KEYS = [
   'addFields',
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ export class AggregateRouter extends ClassesRouter {
     if (body.distinct) {
       options.distinct = String(body.distinct);
     }
+    if (body.hint) {
+      options.hint = body.hint;
+      delete body.hint;
+    }
+    if (body.explain) {
+      options.explain = body.explain;
+      delete body.explain;
+    }
     options.pipeline = AggregateRouter.getPipeline(body);
     if (typeof body.where === 'string') {
       body.where = JSON.parse(body.where);
@@ -96,7 +104,6 @@ export class AggregateRouter extends ClassesRouter {
    */
   static getPipeline(body) {
     let pipeline = body.pipeline || body;
-
     if (!Array.isArray(pipeline)) {
       pipeline = Object.keys(pipeline).map(key => {
         return { [key]: pipeline[key] };
diff --git a/src/Routers/ClassesRouter.js b/src/Routers/ClassesRouter.js
index 056a8df207..0cbc8d215d 100644
--- a/src/Routers/ClassesRouter.js
+++ b/src/Routers/ClassesRouter.js
@@ -173,6 +173,8 @@ export class ClassesRouter extends PromiseRouter {
       'readPreference',
       'includeReadPreference',
       'subqueryReadPreference',
+      'hint',
+      'explain',
     ];
 
     for (const key of Object.keys(body)) {
@@ -219,6 +221,15 @@ export class ClassesRouter extends PromiseRouter {
     if (typeof body.subqueryReadPreference === 'string') {
       options.subqueryReadPreference = body.subqueryReadPreference;
     }
+    if (
+      body.hint &&
+      (typeof body.hint === 'string' || typeof body.hint === 'object')
+    ) {
+      options.hint = body.hint;
+    }
+    if (body.explain) {
+      options.explain = body.explain;
+    }
     return options;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/triggers.js b/src/triggers.js
index b340a4619c..05ee7c278f 100644
--- a/src/triggers.js
+++ b/src/triggers.js
@@ -499,6 +499,10 @@ export function maybeRunQueryTrigger(
           restOptions = restOptions || {};
           restOptions.excludeKeys = jsonQuery.excludeKeys;
         }
+        if (jsonQuery.explain) {
+          restOptions = restOptions || {};
+          restOptions.explain = jsonQuery.explain;
+        }
         if (jsonQuery.keys) {
           restOptions = restOptions || {};
           restOptions.keys = jsonQuery.keys;
@@ -507,6 +511,10 @@ export function maybeRunQueryTrigger(
           restOptions = restOptions || {};
           restOptions.order = jsonQuery.order;
         }
+        if (jsonQuery.hint) {
+          restOptions = restOptions || {};
+          restOptions.hint = jsonQuery.hint;
+        }
         if (requestObject.readPreference) {
           restOptions = restOptions || {};
           restOptions.readPreference = requestObject.readPreference;