Baserow vs NocoDB

These two both turn a table into a shared, permissioned database, and both let you run the software yourself. The split is the licence and the cost model. Baserow publishes its core under the MIT licence and bills per user, with limits counted in rows per workspace. NocoDB uses a source-available Sustainable Use License and bills per seat, with a bundle for unlimited seats on Plus and Business. NocoDB can also sit on an external database from the Business plan, which Baserow's pricing page does not list.

Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. How that works.

Both are reviewed in full in our no-code database tool ranking: Baserow and NocoDB.

1. 01

   MIT core against a restricted-use licence

   Baserow's LICENSE file puts everything outside the premium/ and enterprise/ directories under the MIT Expat licence, copyright Baserow B.V., and those two directories carry their own licences. NocoDB's LICENSE.md uses the Sustainable Use License, which permits use or modification only for internal business, non-commercial or personal purposes, and allows distribution only free of charge for non-commercial purposes. Anyone planning to embed or resell the software should read that difference first.

   Edge: Baserow

2. 02

   What $10 or $12 a seat buys

   Baserow Premium costs $10 per user per month billed yearly ($12 monthly) and allows 50,000 rows and 20GB per workspace. NocoDB Plus costs $12 per seat per month billed annually ($15 monthly) and allows 50,000 records and 20 GB. The record ceilings match, so the gap is the seat price. NocoDB also sells Plus at $108 a month for unlimited seats billed annually, which turns cheaper for a larger group.

   Depends on the buyer

3. 03

   Connecting a database you already run

   NocoDB lists 10 external database connections on the Business plan at $24 per seat per month billed annually, with 300,000 records and 100 GB. That is its distinct offer: a spreadsheet interface on top of existing data. The Baserow pricing page we read lists rows, storage, automation credits and row history per plan, and no external database connection feature. Baserow suits you when the data lives inside Baserow itself.

   Edge: NocoDB

4. 04

   Audit trail and row-level control

   Baserow puts role based permissions and audit logs in its Advanced plan, at $18 per user per month billed yearly ($22 monthly), with 250,000 rows. NocoDB puts row-level security and audit logs in Scale, at $45 per seat per month billed annually ($54 monthly), with a three-seat minimum and 1 million records. For governance features alone, Baserow reaches them at a much lower seat price on the pages we read.

   Edge: Baserow

5. 05

   Free cloud tiers side by side

   Baserow's free plan gives 3,000 rows and 2GB per workspace, 2,000 automation credits a month, 500 external app users and 14 days of row change history. NocoDB's free cloud plan gives 3 editor seats, 10 commenter seats, 1,000 records, 1 GB and 100 automation runs, with no credit card needed. Baserow allows three times the rows, while NocoDB states its seat limits plainly.

   Edge: Baserow

6. 06

   Self-hosting and where the company sits

   Both offer a self-hosted route. NocoDB's Community tier is $0 with unlimited records, storage and seats, though it caps workflows and interfaces, and Enterprise adds air-gapped installation with no telemetry. Baserow's page says self-host is 'you host' with no prices listed. Baserow B.V. has its registered office in Amsterdam, while NocoDB Inc is deemed domiciled in California under its terms.

   Edge: Baserow

Can I build a paid product on NocoDB's code the way I can on Baserow's?

Baserow's core is MIT, so the permissions are broad outside its premium and enterprise directories. NocoDB's Sustainable Use License limits use to internal business, non-commercial or personal purposes. For a resold or embedded product, read the licence text before committing.

Which one lets me hit 250,000 rows at the lower monthly cost per person?

Baserow Advanced lists 250,000 rows at $18 per user per month billed yearly. NocoDB's tier near that size is Business, at 300,000 records for $24 per seat billed annually. The unlimited-seat bundle at $216 a month can beat both for big teams.

Is there a free trial before I pay?

Baserow's Premium row shows a free trial and Advanced has a 'Try now for free' button, without stating the length. NocoDB's pricing page mentions no free trial, but its free cloud plan needs no credit card. Both can be tested without paying.

• Baserow pricing page: Row, storage and automation credit limits per plan, the per-user rates, permissions and audit logs on Advanced, and the self-host toggle.
• Baserow LICENSE file: The MIT Expat licence outside premium/ and enterprise/, with separate licences inside them.
• Baserow terms and conditions: Baserow B.V. as a Dutch private limited company with its registered office in Amsterdam.
• NocoDB pricing page: Seat prices, record caps, unlimited-seat bundles, external connections on Business, Scale features, the free cloud plan and Community tier.
• NocoDB LICENSE.md: Sustainable Use License limits on internal, non-commercial or personal use and free-only distribution.
• NocoDB terms of service: NocoDB Inc as provider and its deemed domicile in California.