NocoBase

What is NocoBase?

NocoBase is an open source no-code platform for building business applications — internal tools, CRMs, ERPs, admin dashboards, and project trackers — that you host yourself. Its data-model-driven design separates your data from the interface, so you start from a real relational schema and build the UI on top, rather than being boxed into a fixed app template.

What is NocoBase best for?

Teams that need custom internal systems on top of their own database and want to keep the data in-house. It fits operations, IT, and product teams with frequently changing requirements who would otherwise pay per user for Airtable or Retool, and who value a schema-first model over a spreadsheet-first one.

What can NocoBase do?

• Model data with relational collections — one-to-many and many-to-many relationships, not just flat tables
• Connect existing databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and external HTTP APIs as data sources
• Build interfaces by dragging blocks — tables, forms, kanban, calendars, charts, and detail views
• Automate processes with a node-based workflow engine
• Enforce fine-grained, field-level permissions with audit logs
• Extend everything through a microkernel plugin architecture — core features are themselves plugins
• Integrate AI agents over MCP and HTTP APIs, and connect to tools like n8n and Dify

Where does NocoBase fall short?

• It is licensed AGPL-3.0, and removing the copyright notice or unlocking advanced security and architecture features requires a paid commercial license — so the fully free edition is more limited than it first appears.
• The schema-first, data-model-driven approach is more conceptual than a spreadsheet like Airtable; non-technical users face a steeper learning curve.
• As a self-hosted platform you own deployment, the database, backups, and upgrades, which is more operational work than a managed SaaS.

Is NocoBase free?

Yes — the core platform and its foundational plugins are free and open source under AGPL-3.0, and you can run them at no cost beyond your own server. Paid commercial plans (priced per organization, not per user — roughly $800/year for the Standard tier up to several thousand for larger teams) add advanced plugins, the right to remove branding, and priority support.

What does NocoBase replace?

NocoBase is a self-hosted alternative to Airtable and Retool. It covers the same ground — databases, internal tools, and admin panels built without much code — but you run it on your own infrastructure and pay a flat license instead of per-user fees. It’s also frequently compared to the open source database tool NocoDB, though NocoBase aims at full application building rather than spreadsheet-style tables.

FAQ

Is NocoBase open source? Yes. The core and its foundational plugins are published under AGPL-3.0 on GitHub. Some advanced plugins and the right to remove branding are gated behind a paid commercial license.

Can I self-host NocoBase for free? Yes. You can self-host the open source edition for free with Docker, the create-nocobase-app CLI, or from source; you only pay for the server it runs on.

Is NocoBase a good Airtable alternative? For teams that want to own their data and avoid per-user pricing, yes — and its relational model handles complex data better than a spreadsheet. If you want the simplest possible no-code experience with zero servers, hosted Airtable is easier.

What do I need to run NocoBase? A server with Docker or Node.js, plus a relational database (PostgreSQL or MySQL). It’s built on TypeScript, Node.js, React, and Koa and runs on modest hardware.