NocoBase vs NocoDB (2026): which should you pick?

Pick NocoBase if

• Fits if you have someone who can run a server and want to own the data
• Works for agencies that deliver systems to clients and don't want per-seat fees

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a hosted service, as the listing offers self-hosting only
• Not for you if nobody on your team can maintain a server
• Pricey if you need Studio, advanced approvals or SSO, all on the $8,000 Professional licence
• Watch out: an older NocoBase page still shows an $800 Standard edition the current page doesn't, and renewal cost after year one isn't stated

Pick NocoDB if

• Fits if you already have a Postgres or MySQL database and want a spreadsheet view of it
• Works for teams of more than 9, since Plus and Business stop billing at 9 seats

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you're staying on the cloud Free plan, which stops at 1,000 records, 3 editors and 1,000 API calls a month
• Pricey if you want to connect your own database on the cloud, as that starts on Business at $24 a seat
• Not for you if you need an open-source licence, as the Community edition is under the Sustainable Use License
• Watch out: AI features, extensions and advanced forms are limited to the cloud and paid self-hosted versions
• Skip it if you want a phone or desktop app, as it's browser only; Scale also has a 3-seat minimum

NocoBase

• Self-hosted only: you run the servers, models and agents, and pay those providers yourself.
• An older NocoBase 2 pricing page still lists a $800 Standard edition, which the current pricing page does not show.
• Studio, advanced approvals and enterprise SSO need the $8,000 Professional edition.
• Upgrades and support are included for 1 year with each paid license; the page does not state what a renewal costs.

NocoDB

• The cloud Free plan stops at 1,000 records, 1 GB of storage, 3 editors and 1,000 API calls a month.
• The self-hosted Community edition is released under the Sustainable Use License, which NocoDB describes as fair-code.
• External database connections are not supported on the cloud Plus plan; they start at Business, with 10 connections.
• NocoDB says AI features, extensions and advanced form options are limited to its cloud and paid self-hosted versions.

NocoBase

Core building blocks

Core provides over 20 ready blocks, including permissions, workflows, files and notifications, so builders write only business-specific logic.

Databases and external sources

Core runs on SQLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server or Oracle and can connect existing databases as external data sources.

Permissions and SSO

Role-based access covers pages, actions and data, with the same rules applied to people and agents. SAML and LDAP SSO is a paid feature.

Studio for agent teams

Studio connects Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode as an agent team with checks, review and human sign-off before every merge.

Solution apps

Ready apps such as NocoCRM, NocoITAM and NocoReach are built on Core, are free and open source, and run on your own servers.

Own your data and models

Code and data stay in your repositories and on your servers, and you pay your chosen model and agent providers directly.

NocoDB

Spreadsheet interface for databases

Create an online database from scratch or connect an existing Postgres or MySQL database, then sort, filter and group records in a spreadsheet-like grid.

Multiple view types

The same data can be shown as a Grid, Form, Gallery, Kanban, Calendar or Map view, and the documentation also lists Timeline, Gantt and List views.

Workflows, scripts and webhooks

A visual workflow builder with triggers, actions, conditions and loops, JavaScript scripts with API access to a base, and webhooks that fire when records change.

Interfaces

Interfaces are focused apps built on the data in a base, with pages for dashboards, forms, tables and record detail. The cloud Free plan allows 1 interface of up to 3 pages.

Roles and access control

Five roles from Owner to Viewer, with access control at workspace, base, table, field and record level. Row-level security and audit logs are part of the Scale plan.

APIs and imports

Meta and Data APIs give programmatic access to bases, and data can be imported from Airtable, Excel, CSV and JSON files.

NocoBase

• Community$0

  Open-source Core and every Solution app, which you host yourself, with docs and community support.

• Professional$8,000

  one-time, perpetual license with 1 year of upgrades and support

  Adds Studio, advanced approvals, enterprise SSO and one deployment done by the NocoBase team.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Adds clustering, multi-tenant and multi-app setups, audit logs, air-gapped delivery and priority support; also a one-time license.

NocoDB

• Community$0

  Self-hosted fair-code edition with unlimited records, storage and seats, 6 view types, record comments and webhooks, and up to 2 workflows per base.

• Free$0

  Cloud plan for up to 3 editors and 10 commenters: 1,000 records, 1 GB of storage, 100 automation runs, 1 extension and 1 interface.

• Plus$12

  per seat / month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly)

  50,000 records, 20 GB of storage and 30,000 automation runs. Billing stops at 9 seats ($108 a month); seats beyond that are free.

• Business$24

  per seat / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly)

  300,000 records, 100 GB of storage, 10 external database connections, private bases and SAML single sign-on. Billing is capped at $216 a month.

• Scale$45

  per seat / month, billed annually ($54 billed monthly)

  1 million records, 150 GB of storage, 5 million API calls a month, row-level security and audit logs. Listed with a 3-seat minimum.

• EnterpriseCustom

  SCIM and SSO, team hierarchy, priority support and invoice-based payments, with a dedicated customer success manager.

NocoBase

• Lifetime license

  One-time perpetual license

  Professional is $8,000 once, with a perpetual license and 1 year of upgrades and support; Enterprise is a custom-quoted one-time license.

NocoDB

• Annual discount

  20% off with annual billing

  NocoDB's pricing FAQ gives a 20% discount for annual billing: Plus is $12 per seat a month against $15 billed monthly, and Business $24 against $30.