Microsoft Access vs Ninox
We give Microsoft Access a 2.6 GPA and Ninox a 3.0, out of 4.0. Microsoft Access grades higher on value for money. Ninox grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Microsoft Access
Windows desktop database app sold with Microsoft 365
Ninox
AI-assisted low-code platform for custom business software
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAMicrosoft AccessGood | 3.0GPANinoxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BIt comes with Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, bang on what this category typically starts at, and Word, Excel, PowerPoint and 1 TB of storage come with it. On its own it's $179.99 once for 1 PC, about eighteen months of the subscription. | CTeam is $31 a user a month billed annually, or $36 monthly. That's about three times the $9.99 this category typically starts at. Each user does bring 50,000 records and 5 GB of storage, and Business is $49. Prices exclude VAT. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free version. There's a 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 for individuals or of Business Standard, and whether it asks for a card isn't on record here. Don't look for Access in Business Basic, which has web and mobile apps only. | BFree for up to 5 users with no expiry, and all six view types are in. But it stops at 5,000 records and 100 MB of storage, with 1,000 API calls a month and 7-day history. Free workflows can't send emails either. |
| Features | ATables, queries, forms, reports, macros and modules, built from templates or from scratch, with VBA to automate the dull bits. Data can live in SQL Server or Azure SQL, and Access supports up to 255 concurrent users. An Access file does stop at 2 GB. | ADescribe what you need and the AI helps set up the data, the interfaces and the automations. Table, form, chart, kanban, map and calendar views come on every plan. There's a script language for custom logic, documents generated from records, Gmail and Outlook mail linked to records, and a REST API. |
| Ease of use | BNo App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. You install it on a PC and can start from a template, and Microsoft pitches the design tools at people who aren't developers. It's still building an app, mind, not filling in a sheet. | BNo App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It runs in the browser with nothing to install, and the AI builds from a plain-language description. You're still designing your own software, mind, which is more work than opening a ready-made app. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows PCs only. Microsoft lists no Mac, web or mobile version, so a database can't follow you to a phone or a browser. It does link to SQL Server, Azure SQL and SharePoint lists. | BBrowser only. Ninox says native iOS and Android apps are in development, so they're not here yet. It connects through Zapier, Make and n8n, links up Gmail and Outlook mail, and has a public REST API. |
| Best for | building a database app on a Windows PC | building your own business software, hosted in Germany |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Microsoft Access and Ninox. How we grade
Where they differ
- Microsoft Access starts at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal). Ninox starts at $31 per user / month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly).
- Ninox has a free plan. Microsoft Access does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Microsoft Access lists a Windows app.
- Only Ninox lists a web app.
- Microsoft Access can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Microsoft Access also covers templates and reports.
- Ninox also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| Microsoft Access | Ninox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal) | $31 per user / month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | Free plan for up to 5 users with no expiry: 5,000 records, 100 MB of storage, 1,000 API calls and 100 generated documents a month, limited AI prompts and 7-day history. |
| Free trial | 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 for individuals or of Microsoft 365 Business Standard | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Microsoft | Ninox Software GmbH |
| Price read from | microsoft.com | ninox.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Microsoft Access
- Small businesses building their own database apps on Windows PCs
- Teams sharing a database over a local network
- Organizations that already license the Microsoft 365 desktop apps
Ninox
- Businesses building their own CRM, inventory or invoicing tools
- Teams that need their business data hosted in Germany
- Trying it with a small team: the Free plan covers up to 5 users with no expiry
Worth knowing
Microsoft Access
- Access is available for PC only; Microsoft lists no Mac, web or mobile version.
- It is not part of Office Home 2024 or Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which has web and mobile apps only.
- An Access database file is limited to 2 GB, minus the space needed for system objects.
- Storing data in SQL Server or Azure SQL requires a separate subscription to that service.
Ninox
- The Free plan is capped at 5 users, 5,000 records and 100 MB of storage, and cannot send emails from workflows.
- Ninox runs in the browser only; the vendor says native iOS and Android apps are in development.
- Role-based access permissions, individual email support and the 99.5% uptime guarantee start at the Team plan.
- Prices exclude VAT and are also listed in euros, pounds and Swiss francs (Team is €25 per user a month, billed annually).
Key features
Microsoft Access
- Database apps from templates or scratch
- Business apps are built from templates or from scratch with Access's design tools, which Microsoft pitches at people who are not developers.
- Tables, queries, forms and reports
- A database is made of tables for the data plus queries, forms, reports, macros and modules that sit on top of them and form the app's interface and logic.
- Visual Basic for Applications
- VBA code automates business processes and is used to build more capable forms and reports.
- SQL Server and Azure SQL storage
- Data can be stored in SQL Server or Microsoft Azure SQL instead of the Access file. Each requires its own subscription to that service.
- Connectors to other data sources
- The Access connector library shares data between Access and line-of-business apps, so combined data can be queried and charted inside Access.
- Multi-user sharing
- A database can be shared from a network folder, split into a back-end data file with a front-end copy per user, or linked to SharePoint lists. Access supports up to 255 concurrent users.
Ninox
- AI-assisted building
- Describe a need in plain language and the built-in AI helps organize the data, define business logic, build interfaces and set up automations. Each plan has its own AI usage limit.
- Six view types on every plan
- Table, form, chart, kanban, map and calendar views are included on all plans, the Free plan too.
- Workflow automation and scripting
- Event triggers and conditions run processes automatically, and a script language covers custom logic. Sending emails from workflows starts at the Team plan.
- Email linked to records
- Gmail and Outlook mail can be linked to Ninox records and workflows: 100 linked emails on Free and 5,000 per user on Team and Business.
- Document generation
- Contracts, invoices and reports are generated from records, then shared, printed or exported: 100 a month on Free, 1,000 per user on Team and 5,000 per user on Business.
- REST API and connectors
- A public REST API plus connections through Zapier, Make and n8n. API calls are capped at 1,000 a month on Free, 10,000 per user on Team and 50,000 per user on Business.
Plans
Microsoft Access
Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99
per month, or $99.99 per year
For 1 person on up to 5 devices: Access (PC only) alongside the Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook desktop apps and 1 TB of cloud storage.
Microsoft 365 Apps for business$10.00
per user / month, paid yearly ($12.00 billed monthly)
Fully installed Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Access (PC only) for up to 300 employees, with 1 TB of cloud storage per user.
Microsoft 365 Family$12.99
per month, or $129.99 per year
Everything in Personal for 1 to 6 people, each able to sign in on up to 5 devices, with 1 TB of storage per person.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard$14.00
per user / month, paid yearly ($16.80 billed monthly)
Desktop, web and mobile apps including Access (PC only), plus business email, Microsoft Teams and 1 TB of cloud storage per user.
Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99
per month, or $199.99 per year
Everything in Family, plus extensive Copilot usage and agentic AI features such as advanced research and analytics.
Access$179.99
one-time purchase for 1 PC
Standalone Access for one PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10, bought once rather than by subscription.
Ninox
Free$0
Up to 5 users: 5,000 records, 100 MB of storage, 1,000 API calls and 100 generated documents a month, limited AI prompts and 7-day history.
Team$31
per user / month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly)
Per user: 50,000 records, 5 GB of storage, 10,000 API calls and 1,000 sent emails a month, with role-based access and 30-day history.
Business$49
per user / month, billed annually ($56 billed monthly)
Per user: 250,000 records, 10 GB of storage, 50,000 API calls, 5,000 sent emails and 5,000 documents a month, with unlimited history.
EnterpriseCustom
Price on request: solutions built around a company's processes, with governance and compliance controls, premium support and expert assistance.
Ways to pay less
Microsoft Access
- Annual discount
Save up to 17% by paying yearly
Microsoft 365 Personal is $99.99 a year against $9.99 a month, Family $129.99 against $12.99 and Premium $199.99 against $19.99.
- Annual discount
Apps for business: $10 yearly, $12 monthly
Microsoft 365 Apps for business is $10.00 per user a month when paid yearly, or $12.00 per user a month on a monthly subscription.
- Education
Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal
Verified college and university students get Microsoft 365 Personal, which includes Access, at half price. Student status has to be re-verified each year.
- Lifetime license
Standalone Access as a one-time purchase
$179.99 buys Access for 1 PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10, with no subscription.
Ninox
- Annual discount
Lower per-user price with annual billing
Team is $31 per user a month billed annually against $36 billed monthly, and Business is $49 against $56, a saving of roughly 12% to 14%.
