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No-Code · head to head

Appsmith vs Draftbit

Appsmith logo

Appsmith

No-Code

The open-source low-code framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Draftbit logo

Draftbit

No-Code

Visual builder for React Native apps that exports the source code you keep

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Appsmith the free cloud tier is capped at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repositories; Draftbit export is one way; once a developer edits the exported React Native project those changes cannot be returned to the visual builder, so the team must pick a handover moment and accept that the visual tooling stops applying from then on.
  • They diverge on capability: Appsmith covers Drag-and-drop builder, Draftbit covers React Native source export.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Appsmith and Draftbit actually diverge.

Attributes where Appsmith and Draftbit differ
AttributeAppsmithDraftbit
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2019Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (No-Code).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Appsmith

  • Drag-and-drop builder
  • Database integration
  • REST API
  • Workflows
  • Authentication
  • Custom code
  • Git integration
  • 100+ integrations

Only in Draftbit

  • React Native source export
  • Component library
  • Any REST API as a data source
  • Live device preview
  • Custom code blocks
  • Theming
  • Service connectors
  • Team collaboration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Appsmith

  • Building internal admin panels over existing databases and APIsnot Draftbit
  • Self-hosting a low-code internal tool platformnot Draftbit
  • Custom CRUD dashboards for operations teamsnot Draftbit
  • Versioning applications through Gitnot Draftbit

Draftbit

  • Shipping a first mobile version quickly with a deliberate plan to hand it to engineers laternot Appsmith
  • Agencies building client apps where the contract requires source code as a deliverablenot Appsmith
  • Teams that have a designer and a backend but no mobile engineernot Appsmith
  • Prototyping a native app against a real API rather than building a clickable mockupnot Appsmith

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Appsmith

  • The free cloud tier is capped at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repositories
  • Workflows, custom roles and audit logs all require the Business plan at $15 per user per month
  • SAML and OIDC single sign-on need Enterprise, which starts at $2,500 a month with a 100 user minimum
  • Embedding an app privately is Enterprise only; the lower tiers embed publicly
  • Managed hosting is an Enterprise add-on rather than an included option

Draftbit

  • Export is one way; once a developer edits the exported React Native project those changes cannot be returned to the visual builder, so the team must pick a handover moment and accept that the visual tooling stops applying from then on.
  • There is no bundled backend or database, so the real stack is Draftbit plus a service such as Supabase or Xano, and the cost and operational burden of that second system falls on you.
  • The output is mobile only with no web application target, so any product that also needs a browser version needs a second tool and a second build to maintain.
  • It is built on Expo, so native modules outside what Expo supports require ejecting and native build tooling, which is exactly the expertise the tool was meant to remove the need for.
  • App store submission, signing, review responses and release management are entirely yours, and that is where non-technical teams lose the time they saved in the builder.

Pricing, plan by plan

Appsmith

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users on cloud
    • 5 workspaces
    • 3 Git repos
  • Business$15/month per user
    • Up to 99 users
    • Unlimited workspaces and Git repos
    • Workflows and reusable packages
  • Enterprise$2500/month
    • Minimum 100 users
    • Unlimited users above 100
    • SAML/OIDC SSO

Draftbit

Free
  • Draftbit$undefined/month
    • Free tier for building and previewing
    • Source export and publishing sit behind paid tiers
    • Priced per project and per collaborator

Which should you pick?

Choose Appsmith if

  • You need drag-and-drop builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want database integration.
Appsmith review

Choose Draftbit if

  • You need react native source export.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want component library.
Draftbit review

Questions people ask

Is Appsmith or Draftbit better?
Neither clearly leads. Appsmith starts at Free and Draftbit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Appsmith or Draftbit?
Appsmith starts at Free and Draftbit at Free.
Does Appsmith or Draftbit run on more platforms?
Appsmith runs on Web, Self-hosted. Draftbit runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Appsmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Appsmith best used for?
Appsmith is most often used for building internal admin panels over existing databases and apis, self-hosting a low-code internal tool platform, custom crud dashboards for operations teams, versioning applications through git. Of those, building internal admin panels over existing databases and apis and self-hosting a low-code internal tool platform are not what Draftbit is typically brought in for.
What can Appsmith do that Draftbit cannot?
Appsmith covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, REST API, Workflows. Draftbit covers React Native source export, Component library, Any REST API as a data source, Live device preview.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Appsmith: How much does Appsmith cost?

Appsmith offers a free plan for up to 5 users, a Business plan at $15 per user per month (up to 99 users), and an Enterprise plan starting at $2,500 per month for a minimum of 100 users with unlimited users available at that rate.

Source
Draftbit: Do I own the code?

Yes. Paid plans export a React Native and Expo project you can keep, host and ship without Draftbit involved.

Appsmith: Does Appsmith have a free version?

Yes, Appsmith's Free plan provides access for up to 5 users with 5 workspaces, 3 Git repos, and community support at no cost. All plans offer unlimited apps.

Source
Draftbit: Can I import edited code back into the builder?

No. Export is one way, so plan the handover deliberately because after it the visual builder is no longer part of your workflow.

Appsmith: What does the Business plan include compared to Free?

The Business plan at $15 per user per month supports up to 99 users, provides unlimited workspaces and Git repos, includes workflows and reusable packages, premium integrations, custom roles, and access controls with email and chat support compared to the Free plan's community support only.

Source
Draftbit: Does it include a database?

No. You connect your own backend, commonly Supabase, Xano, Airtable or a REST API you already run.

Appsmith: How are Appsmith users counted for billing purposes?

Appsmith counts any user who builds or edits applications as a standard user for billing. Developers and builders are treated the same as other users and all users count toward the per-user billing model without separate developer seat charges.

Source
Draftbit: Can it build a web app as well?

No. The output is a React Native mobile application for iOS and Android only.

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