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No-Code · head to head

Appsmith vs Presto

Appsmith logo

Appsmith

No-Code

The open-source low-code framework

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit AppsmithFull review
Presto logo

Presto

Databases

The Meta-lineage distributed SQL query engine, distinct from the Trino fork

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PrestoFull review

The short version

  • Presto is free; Appsmith starts at $15/user/mo.
  • Only Appsmith lists drag-and-drop builder; only Presto lists federated querying.
  • Where Appsmith falls short: the free cloud tier is capped at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repositories.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Appsmith and Presto actually diverge.

Attributes where Appsmith and Presto differ
AttributeAppsmithPresto
Pricing modelSubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedLinux, Self-hosted
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: founded for Presto.

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 Presto

  • Federated querying
  • In-memory execution
  • Open table format support
  • Presto C++ workers
  • ANSI SQL
  • Pluggable connectors

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 Presto
  • Self-hosting a low-code internal tool platformnot Presto
  • Custom CRUD dashboards for operations teamsnot Presto
  • Versioning applications through Gitnot Presto

Presto

  • An existing PrestoDB estate that needs continued upgrades rather than a migration to Trinonot Appsmith
  • A team buying IBM watsonx.data, where Presto is the underlying query enginenot Appsmith
  • Joining a Hive or Iceberg lake to an operational PostgreSQL database in one query without an ETL stepnot Appsmith
  • Very large scale interactive SQL where the Meta-tested branch is a specific requirementnot 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

Presto

  • The original creators and most of the active contributor base left for Trino in 2020, so Presto has the smaller community, fewer connectors and slower feature delivery of the two branches
  • Documentation, tutorials and Stack Overflow answers for the two projects are frequently mixed up, and a solution written for Trino often does not apply, which costs real debugging time
  • It is a query engine with no storage of its own, so query performance is dictated by your file layout, partitioning and statistics, and a badly organised lake makes Presto look slow
  • Memory-bound execution means a single large join can fail the whole query rather than spilling gracefully, and tuning cluster memory settings is a persistent operational chore
  • Commercial support has consolidated into IBM since the Ahana acquisition, so the independent vendor market that once existed around Presto is largely gone

Pricing, plan by plan

Appsmith

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users on cloud
    • 5 workspaces
    • 3 Git repos
  • Business$15/user/mo
    • Up to 99 users
    • Unlimited workspaces and Git repos
    • Workflows and reusable packages
  • Enterprise$2,500/mo
    • Minimum 100 users
    • Unlimited users above 100
    • SAML/OIDC SSO

Presto

Free
  • PrestoFree
    • Apache 2.0 licence
    • Presto Foundation governance under the Linux Foundation
    • No node or query limits

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 Presto if

  • You need federated querying.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Self-hosted.
  • You also want in-memory execution.
Presto review

Questions people ask

Is Appsmith or Presto better?
Neither clearly leads. Appsmith starts at Free and Presto at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Appsmith or Presto?
Appsmith starts at Free and Presto at Free.
Does Appsmith or Presto run on more platforms?
Appsmith runs on Web, Self-hosted. Presto runs on Linux, Self-hosted.
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 Presto is typically brought in for.
What can Appsmith do that Presto cannot?
Appsmith covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, REST API, Workflows. Presto covers Federated querying, In-memory execution, Open table format support, Presto C++ workers.

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
Presto: Is this Presto or Trino?

This is PrestoDB, the branch that stayed at Facebook and moved to the Linux Foundation. Trino is the 2020 fork by the original creators.

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
Presto: Which should I choose for a new project?

Trino, in most cases. It has the larger community, more connectors and more commercial options.

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
Presto: Who maintains Presto now?

Principally Meta, Uber and IBM, which acquired the Presto vendor Ahana in 2023.

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
Presto: Is it still actively released?

Yes, releases continue on a regular cadence under the Presto Foundation.

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