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Software · head to head

Budibase vs IBM Cognos Analytics

Budibase logo

Budibase

Software

Build business apps in minutes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IBM Cognos Analytics logo

IBM Cognos Analytics

Software

AI-powered business intelligence

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Budibase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Budibase cloud plans are metered on automation actions, from 5,000 a month on Pro to 250,000 on Business; IBM Cognos Analytics listed on UK G-Cloud at £42.53 per user per month for IBM Cognos Analytics, via reseller Computacenter
  • They diverge on capability: Budibase covers Drag-and-drop builder, IBM Cognos Analytics covers AI Assistant.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Budibase and IBM Cognos Analytics actually diverge.

Attributes where Budibase and IBM Cognos Analytics differ
AttributeBudibaseIBM Cognos Analytics
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, Desktop, Mobile, Cloud
Founded20191911

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Budibase

  • Drag-and-drop builder
  • Database design
  • REST API
  • User management
  • Custom code
  • Workflows
  • Responsive design
  • 100+ integrations

Only in IBM Cognos Analytics

  • AI Assistant
  • Natural Language Queries
  • Automated Insights
  • Story Telling
  • Mobile Analytics
  • IBM Db2
  • Oracle
  • SQL Server

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Budibase

  • Building internal tools over existing databasesnot IBM Cognos Analytics
  • Self-hosting an open source low-code platformnot IBM Cognos Analytics
  • Admin panels and CRUD apps for operations teamsnot IBM Cognos Analytics
  • Automations triggered by data changesnot IBM Cognos Analytics

IBM Cognos Analytics

  • Self-service analyticsnot Budibase
  • Data explorationnot Budibase
  • Ad-hoc reportingnot Budibase
  • Collaborative analysisnot Budibase
  • Embedded analyticsnot Budibase

Where each one falls short

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

Budibase

  • Cloud plans are metered on automation actions, from 5,000 a month on Pro to 250,000 on Business
  • Creator seats are limited and cost $50 each beyond the included count
  • End users are $5 per user per month on top of the plan
  • Custom branding needs Premium, SSO enforcement and environment variables need Business, and audit logs are Enterprise only
  • Log retention is tiered from 1 day on Pro to 365 days on Enterprise
  • Monthly billing costs 20 percent more than annual

IBM Cognos Analytics

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £42.53 per user per month for IBM Cognos Analytics, via reseller Computacenter

Pricing, plan by plan

Budibase

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support
  • FreeFree
    • Cloud hosted
    • Limited features
  • Premium$50/month
    • Advanced features
    • Email support

IBM Cognos Analytics

$15/month
  • Standard$15/month
    • Dashboards
    • Reporting
    • AI Insights
  • Plus$35/month
    • Advanced Analytics
    • Planning
    • Premium Support

Which should you pick?

Choose Budibase if

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

Choose IBM Cognos Analytics if

  • You need ai assistant.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Cloud.
  • You also want natural language queries.
IBM Cognos Analytics review

Questions people ask

Is Budibase or IBM Cognos Analytics better?
Neither clearly leads. Budibase starts at Free and IBM Cognos Analytics at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Budibase or IBM Cognos Analytics?
Budibase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Budibase and $15/month for IBM Cognos Analytics.
Does Budibase or IBM Cognos Analytics run on more platforms?
Budibase runs on Web, Self-hosted. IBM Cognos Analytics runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Cloud.
Can I use Budibase for free?
Yes. Budibase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IBM Cognos Analytics starts at $15/month.
What is Budibase best used for?
Budibase is most often used for building internal tools over existing databases, self-hosting an open source low-code platform, admin panels and crud apps for operations teams, automations triggered by data changes. Of those, building internal tools over existing databases and self-hosting an open source low-code platform are not what IBM Cognos Analytics is typically brought in for.
What can Budibase do that IBM Cognos Analytics cannot?
Budibase covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database design, REST API, User management. IBM Cognos Analytics covers AI Assistant, Natural Language Queries, Automated Insights, Story Telling. Both handle Web support.
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