# Alternatives to NocoBase

NocoBase is an open-source no-code/AI platform for building internal business systems, combining relational data modeling, a drag-and-drop UI builder, workflow automation, and a plugin architecture for custom code. It is used by enterprises (NXP, Lenovo, Sony, Amex cited as users) and offers self-hosting with no per-user or per-app licensing, plus field-level permissions, audit logging, and SSO.

NocoBase ranks #7 of 11 in Internal tool builders, with an Alt Score of 73. It is licensed under Apache-2.0 + supplementary NocoBase License Agreement (no SaaS resale, branding restrictions), freemium from $800 one-time and available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Web. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/nocobase/
Category: Internal tool builders

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: NocoBase is aimed at developers, IT teams, and technical operators who need to build internal business systems (CRM, ERP-adjacent tools, HR, ticketing, project management) on top of their own infrastructure rather than a hosted SaaS. It targets organizations that want a self-hosted, source-available platform they can extend with custom code, and that need row/field-level permission control for enterprise data.
- **What you get**: The platform provides a WYSIWYG, data-model-driven UI builder for composing pages from blocks (tables, forms, calendars, kanban, etc.) and actions, a data source manager that can connect the built-in database, external SQL databases, and REST APIs (external connectors require a paid edition), workflow automation, and fine-grained row- and field-level permissions. AI Employees/AI Builder features let an AI agent build pages, collections, and workflows alongside the visual editor.
- **How it works**: NocoBase separates data structure from interface: you model collections and relationships first, then attach decoupled blocks and actions to display and manipulate that data, so the same data can power multiple interfaces. It is installed and self-hosted via the NocoBase CLI (npm/Docker) on Linux, Windows Server, or macOS (for local development), with a desktop layout at /admin and a separate responsive mobile layout at /mobile sharing the same backend data.

## Profile

- **License**: Apache-2.0 + supplementary NocoBase License Agreement (no SaaS resale, branding restrictions) (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Starts at**: $800 one-time (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-30)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [UI Bakery](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/ui-bakery.md) | 100 | Proprietary | Web |
| 2 | [ToolJet](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/tooljet.md) | 96 | AGPL-3.0 | Web |
| 3 | [DronaHQ](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/dronahq.md) | 86 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 4 | [Jet Admin](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/jetadmin.md) | 86 | Proprietary | Web |
| 5 | [Microsoft Power Apps](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/power-apps.md) | 86 | ? | Windows, iOS, Android, Web |
| 6 | [Retool](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/retool.md) | 82 | Proprietary | Web |
| 7 | [Refine](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/refine.md) | 73 | MIT | Web |
| 8 | [Budibase](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/budibase.md) | 68 | GPL-3.0 | Web |
| 9 | [Superblocks](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/superblocks.md) | 64 | Proprietary | Web |
| 10 | [Appsmith](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/appsmith.md) | 55 | Apache-2.0 | Web |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Internal tool builders checklist | NocoBase | UI Bakery | ToolJet | DronaHQ | Jet Admin | Microsoft Power Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Subscription | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starts at | $800 one-time | $20/mo/developer | Free | $100/mo (billed annually) | $39/mo | $20/user/mo |
| License | Apache-2.0 + supplementary NocoBase License Agreement (no SaaS resale, branding restrictions) | Proprietary | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary | ? |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Web | Web | Web, iOS, Android | Web | Windows, iOS, Android, Web |
| Data source connectors | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & drop UI builder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom code (JS/Python) | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Granular permissions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit logs | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Git-based versioning | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mobile layouts | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier limits | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| SSO | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for NocoBase. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Starts at**: $800 one-time — <https://www.nocobase.com/en/commercial> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Paid tiers are one-time/perpetual license fees, not subscriptions: 'One-time payment for lifetime use.' The $800 Standard Edition license includes a 1-year upgrade window (after which the version you
  - Quote: “Standard Edition, $800”
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web — <https://docs.nocobase.com/ai/system-requirements> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: NocoBase is a self-hosted server application accessed through a browser (Web); no native iOS/Android app or browser extension found in docs.
  - Quote: “For production environments, Linux servers are recommended, such as Ubuntu LTS, Debian, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux. NocoBase can also be installed on Windows Server... macOS is usually more suitable fo”
- **Status**: active — <https://www.nocobase.com/en/blog/nocobase-2-0> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Sitemap shows blog posts (including a pricing-adjustment post) with lastmod dates into June 2026; NocoBase 2.0 launched November 1, 2025 per the site's own banner. Clearly actively developed, not dead
  - Quote: “NocoBase 2.0: Meet Your AI Employees”
- **Pricing model**: Freemium — <https://www.nocobase.com/en/commercial> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Most small businesses and teams can meet their needs with the free community edition. When your business has higher requirements for advanced features, security, technical architecture, and technical ”
- **License**: Apache-2.0 + supplementary NocoBase License Agreement (no SaaS resale, branding restrictions) — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nocobase/nocobase/main/LICENSE.txt> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Apache-2.0"...). Users must comply with the Apache-2.0 License as well as the supplementary terms set fort" — LICENSE.txt in the repo is a single 'NocoBase License Agreement' covering BOTH the free Community Edition and the paid Standard/Professional/Enterprise editions (same file, section 4.1). It layers Apa
  - Quote: “This Agreement incorporates and references the full text of the Apache License, Version 2.0 (”
- **Data source connectors**: Partial — <https://docs.nocobase.com/data-sources/data-source-manager/external-database> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: The Community (free) edition supports zero external database connectors per the version-support table on this page (MySQL/PostgreSQL/MariaDB/MSSQL all marked 'No' for Community; only appear from Stand
  - Quote: “MySQL @nocobase/plugin-data-source-external-mysql Requires a commercial license; install and enable it.”
- **Drag & drop UI builder**: Yes — <https://docs.nocobase.com/interface-builder/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Reordering of blocks/fields/records is literally documented as drag-and-drop: see https://docs.nocobase.com/interface-builder/blocks/block-settings/drag-sort ('Drag-and-drop sorting relies on a sort f
  - Quote: “NocoBase provides a WYSIWYG UI building experience. Click the UI Builder button to toggle between Edit mode and View mode.”
- **Custom code (JS/Python)**: Partial — <https://docs.nocobase.com/runjs/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Custom code support in the docs is JavaScript-only (RunJS/JS Block/JS Field/JS Action, plus TypeScript plugin development). No Python execution or scripting surface was found anywhere in the documenta
  - Quote: “RunJS is the JavaScript execution environment used in NocoBase for scenarios such as JS Blocks, JS Fields, and JS Actions. Code runs in a restricted sandbox, providing safe access to the ctx (Context ”
- **Self-hostable**: Yes — <https://www.nocobase.com/en/commercial> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Also confirmed by the GitHub README quick-start (`npm install -g @nocobase/cli`, `nb init --ui`) and the docs system-requirements page describing on-prem Linux/Windows server deployment.
  - Quote: “Full source code, self-hosting, and complete control”
- **Granular permissions**: Yes — <https://www.nocobase.com/en/highlights/permissions> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Example given: a salesperson can view/edit only their own customers, view-but-not-edit other reps' customers in their department, and cannot see the total order amount across all customers.
  - Quote: “NocoBase supports fine-grained control over both row-level and field-level permissions, ensuring that employees can only access and modify data they are authorized to.”
- **Audit logs**: Partial — <https://docs.nocobase.com/security/audit-logger/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: This current Audit Logger doc page displays an 'Enterprise Edition+' badge, meaning full audit logging is gated to the top paid tier (also listed under Enterprise Edition's needs on the pricing page:
  - Quote: “The audit log is used to record and track user activities and resource operation history within the system.”
- **Git-based versioning**: No — <https://docs.nocobase.com/ops-management/version-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: NocoBase's 'Version control' feature is a snapshot save/restore mechanism built on its own Backup manager plugin, not Git or any Git-compatible diff/branch/commit model (no mention of git, commits, br
  - Quote: “Version control depends on Backup manager to save and restore application states. Before using Version control, enable Backup manager first.”
- **Mobile layouts**: Yes — <https://docs.nocobase.com/interface-builder/ui-layout/mobile> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: This is a responsive web mobile layout configured separately from the desktop layout, not a native iOS/Android app.
  - Quote: “In NocoBase, the mobile layout is used to build dedicated navigation and pages for mobile devices. It is available at /mobile by default and uses a bottom tab bar as its primary navigation”
- **Free tier limits**: Yes — <https://www.nocobase.com/en/commercial> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: The free Community Edition explicitly states 'Build unlimited applications with no limits on users or data volume,' so there is no cap on usage/seats/data — but it does carry feature limits: mandatory
  - Quote: “Accept an unobtrusive NocoBase logo on the interface”
- **SSO**: Partial — <https://docs.nocobase.com/integration/sso/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: SSO protocols supported are broad (SAML 2.0, OIDC, CAS, LDAP, plus WeCom/DingTalk), but the pricing page lists 'Single sign-on (SSO)' as a Professional Edition-and-up need, and this integration doc co
  - Quote: “Most SSO authentication plugins require separate purchase or subscription.”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/