NocoDB: Open Source Alternative to Airtable

NocoDB is an open-source Airtable alternative with 63k+ GitHub stars — a smart spreadsheet turning any database into a no-code platform.

Compare NocoDB with Grist and Smartsheet before you choose your stack.

Key features

Views & automation

• Grid, Kanban, Gallery, Form, Calendar views
• Custom views with filters and sorts
• Webhook and email automations
• Scheduled jobs and cron triggers

Database first

• Connect to MySQL, Postgres, SQLite
• Create new databases from the UI
• Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs
• Row Level Security for access control

Collaboration

• Real-time multi-user editing
• Comments and mentions
• Granular permissions (org, project, table)
• Audit log for compliance

NocoDB vs Airtable

	NocoDB	Airtable
License	AGPL-3.0 (open source)	Proprietary
Models	Bring your own keys / local models	Vendor-locked models
Deployment	Self-hosted or cloud	SaaS only
Privacy	Data stays on your infrastructure	Processed by vendor
Cost	Free software + API usage	Subscription pricing

Choose NocoDB if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.

Choose Airtable if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.

Browse more open-source alternatives to Airtable, or explore other tools in Developer Tools.

At a glance

License	AGPL-3.0
Stack	TypeScript, Vue.js, NestJS
Self-hosted	Yes
Cloud	nocodb.com
Databases	MySQL, Postgres, SQLite

Self-hosting

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 nocodb/nocodb

Connects to existing databases or creates new ones.

FAQ

Is NocoDB a free alternative to Airtable?

Yes. NocoDB is open source under AGPL-3.0. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.

How does NocoDB compare to Airtable?

NocoDB gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. Airtable is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.

Can I self-host NocoDB?

Yes. NocoDB supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over Airtable. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.

Is NocoDB suitable for production?

NocoDB is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a Developer Tools alternative to Airtable. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.

What are alternatives to NocoDB and Airtable?

Browse alternatives to Airtable for more open-source options, including tools compared to Grist. Explore the full Developer Tools category for related projects.