NocoDB — A free, self-hostable Airtable alternative that turns any MySQL or Postgres database into a spreadsheet-style interface.
By Noahlast updated pricing verified
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Best for: teams wanting an Airtable-style spreadsheet interface over a real MySQL/Postgres database, self-hosted for free with no record caps
Pricing: Free self-hosted Community edition with no limits; cloud plans start at $12/user/month (Plus), up to $45/user/month (Scale).
- NocoDB's self-hosted Community edition is free with unlimited records, storage, and seats.
- NocoDB cloud Plus plan starts at $12/user/month billed annually.
- NocoDB has over 63,000 stars on GitHub and is licensed under the Sustainable Use License.
- NocoDB connects directly to existing MySQL or PostgreSQL databases instead of requiring a proprietary data format.
Limitations: The Sustainable Use License is fair-source rather than OSI-approved open source.; Free cloud tier is capped at 1,000 records, far below the unlimited self-hosted Community edition.
Top alternatives: Airtable, Baserow, Teable — full list
What is NocoDB?
NocoDB is a no-code database tool: it turns a MySQL, PostgreSQL, or built-in database into a spreadsheet-like interface where non-technical users can filter, sort, group, and view the same data as a grid, Kanban board, gallery, form, or calendar. Its core positioning is as an open-source alternative to Airtable: rather than a proprietary spreadsheet-database hybrid, NocoDB is self-hostable, connects to databases you already run, and doesn't impose Airtable's per-base record ceilings on the self-hosted edition. The Community edition is free and open source under the Sustainable Use License (a fair-source license, not OSI-approved open source) with no cap on records, storage, or seats. NocoDB Ltd. sells both a hosted cloud version and paid self-hosted Business/Scale/Enterprise tiers on top of the same core, which add automation runs, external database connections, SSO, and audit logs for teams needing more governance than the free Community edition provides.
NocoDB is a no-code database platform that presents relational data as an editable spreadsheet with Grid, Kanban, Gallery, Form, and Calendar views, either built from scratch or connected to an existing MySQL or PostgreSQL database. The self-hosted Community edition is free forever with unlimited records, storage, seats, and all user roles, distributed under the Sustainable Use License with over 63,000 GitHub stars; cloud-hosted plans start at $12/user/month (Plus, billed annually) and scale to Business ($24/user/month) and Scale ($45/user/month, 3-seat minimum) tiers that add automation runs, external database connections, SAML SSO, and row-level security, with Enterprise available on custom pricing. NocoDB targets teams that want Airtable-style no-code database views without Airtable's per-record limits or cost, including organizations like Accenture and Walmart cited among its 35,000+ customers.
Standout feature: The self-hosted Community edition is free with no record, storage, or seat limits, unlike Airtable's free-tier record ceilings and per-seat pricing.
Biggest weakness: The Sustainable Use License is source-available fair-code, not OSI-approved open source, and self-hosting still requires the team to manage its own Docker deployment, backups, and upgrades; the paid cloud tiers' record and automation-run caps (e.g., 1,000 records on the free cloud plan) are considerably tighter than the unlimited self-hosted Community edition.
Pros
- Self-hosted Community edition is free forever with unlimited records, storage, and seats.
- Connects directly to an existing MySQL or PostgreSQL database instead of requiring data migration into a proprietary format.
- Multiple views (Grid, Kanban, Gallery, Form, Calendar) over the same underlying data.
- Over 63,000 GitHub stars and an active open-source community driving development.
Cons
- Sustainable Use License is fair-source, not OSI-approved open source, unlike fully permissively-licensed alternatives.
- Free cloud tier is capped at 1,000 records and 1 GB storage, far below the unlimited self-hosted Community edition.
- Self-hosting requires managing your own Docker infrastructure, updates, and backups.
- Higher paid tiers (Scale at $45/user/month) get expensive quickly for teams needing SSO or row-level security at scale.
NocoDB pricing
Free tier · paid from $12/mo · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted) | Free | Free forever; unlimited records, storage, seats, and all 5 user roles included, self-hosted via Docker. |
| Free (cloud) | Free | No credit card required; 3 editor seats, 10 commenter seats, 1,000 records, 1 GB storage, 100 automation runs, 1,000 APIs/month. |
| Plus | $12/mo | Per user, billed annually ($15/month billed monthly); 50,000 records, 20 GB storage, 10,000 automation runs, 100,000 APIs/month, unlimited extensions. Unlimited-seat option at $108/month annual. |
| Business | $24/mo | Per user, billed annually ($30/month billed monthly); 300,000 records, 100 GB storage, 50,000 automation runs, 1,000,000 APIs/month, 10 external database connections, private bases, SAML SSO. |
| Scale | $45/mo | Per user, billed annually ($54/month billed monthly), 3-seat minimum; 1 million records, 5 million APIs/month, 250,000 automation runs, 150 GB storage, row-level security, audit logs. |
What reviewers say
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