NocoBase review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Open-source platform for building business systems with AI agents
Black Friday: is there a NocoBase sale?
NocoBase report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for self-hosted business systems you own
NocoBase is an open-source platform for building business systems, with its own building blocks and ready-made solution apps. The core is free, but you run it yourself, and Studio, advanced approvals and enterprise sign-in need the $8,000 Professional licence.
Who NocoBase is for
- 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
Who NocoBase is not for
- 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
Why NocoBase gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyThe software is free but only if you host it yourself, which needs a server. The paid Professional licence is $8,000 once, with a year of upgrades and support.
- BFree plan and trialThe Community edition is free, open source and allowed for production and client work. You pay your own server and model providers.
- CFeaturesBuilding blocks, external databases, permissions and solution apps. Studio, advanced approvals and enterprise SSO sit on the $8,000 tier.
- DEase of useSelf-hosted only: you install it, run the servers and look after upgrades. No store rating is on record.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb with a real list of connections: PostgreSQL, MySQL, S3, Claude Code, Codex, Feishu and DingTalk. No desktop or phone app is listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from NocoBase's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/nocobase#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/nocobase.svg" alt="NocoBase: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where NocoBase stands among spreadsheet and database tools
NocoBase's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 17 of the 63 other spreadsheet and database tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 31 of 63) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 64 spreadsheet and database tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. NocoBase’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 12 of 63, level with 29
- BFree plan and trialAbove 31 of 63, level with 19
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 63, level with 34
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 63, level with 8
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 21 of 63, level with 39
Keep NocoBase, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace NocoBase you would be making a builder that other people can use without writing code. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 36 of the 63 other spreadsheet and database tools grade higher. It costs $8,000, paid once. NocoBase is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- A builder that other people can use without writing code.
- A tool that builds and hosts other apps.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Databases with views, filters and links between them.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: single sign-on and roles and permissions.
What this rests on. NocoBase’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is NocoBase?
NocoBase is an open-source platform for building and running internal business systems. NocoBase Core supplies building blocks such as permissions, workflows, files and notifications, and Studio manages teams of coding agents. Core is free to self-host, and paid editions are sold as one-time perpetual licenses rather than subscriptions.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
NocoBase pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, NocoBase has a free plan, and paid plans start at $8,000 one-time.
- Starts at
- $8,000 one-time
- Free plan
- Community edition: free, open source and self-hosted, with Core building blocks, Solution apps and community support; free for production and client delivery.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Community | $0 | Open-source Core and every Solution app, which you host yourself, with docs and community support. |
| Professional | $8,000one-time, perpetual license with 1 year of upgrades and support | Adds Studio, advanced approvals, enterprise SSO and one deployment done by the NocoBase team. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Adds clustering, multi-tenant and multi-app setups, audit logs, air-gapped delivery and priority support; also a one-time license. |
Read from nocobase.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with NocoBase before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Lifetime licenseOne-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.
Stated on nocobase.com
Works with
- Claude Code
- Codex
- OpenCode
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- S3
- Feishu
- DingTalk
NocoBase alternatives
- NocoBase vs NocoDB
Free plan · from $12/mo
- NocoBase vs Baserow
Free plan · from $10/mo
- NocoBase vs Teable
Free plan · from $13/mo
- NocoBase vs Grist
Free plan · from $8/mo
- NocoBase vs Rowy
Free plan · from $12/mo
Common questions
Does NocoBase have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. NocoBase is listed for Web.
Does NocoBase have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. NocoBase is listed for Web.
Is NocoBase open source?
Yes. NocoBase is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.