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Software · head to head

Budibase vs Keras

Budibase logo

Budibase

Software

Build business apps in minutes

From
Free
Rated
-
Keras logo

Keras

Software

Deep learning API for humans

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • 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; Keras limited customization compared to TensorFlow; advanced users may find constraints in complex model designs
  • They diverge on capability: Budibase covers Drag-and-drop builder, Keras covers Sequential and Functional API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Budibase and Keras actually diverge.

Attributes where Budibase and Keras differ
AttributeBudibaseKeras
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedPython, Google Colab, Jupyter
Founded20192015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), 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 Keras

  • Sequential and Functional API
  • Pre-built neural network layers
  • Model training and evaluation
  • Transfer learning
  • Model serialization
  • TensorFlow
  • JAX
  • PyTorch

What people use each for

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

Budibase

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

Keras

  • Machine learningnot Budibase
  • Data analysisnot Budibase
  • Model trainingnot Budibase
  • Predictive 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

Keras

  • Limited customization compared to TensorFlow; advanced users may find constraints in complex model designs
  • Error messages can be vague and unhelpful, making debugging challenging
  • Smaller ecosystem and fewer pre-trained models than TensorFlow or PyTorch

Pricing, plan by plan

Budibase

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

Keras

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • High-level API
    • Pre-built layers
    • Model serialization

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.

Choose Keras if

  • You need sequential and functional api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Python, Google Colab, Jupyter.
  • You also want pre-built neural network layers.

Questions people ask

Is Budibase or Keras better?
Neither clearly leads. Budibase starts at Free and Keras at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Budibase or Keras?
Budibase starts at Free and Keras at Free.
Does Budibase or Keras run on more platforms?
Budibase runs on Web, Self-hosted. Keras runs on Python, Google Colab, Jupyter.
Can I use Budibase for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Keras is typically brought in for.
What can Budibase do that Keras cannot?
Budibase covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database design, REST API, User management. Keras covers Sequential and Functional API, Pre-built neural network layers, Model training and evaluation, Transfer learning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Keras: What is Keras?

Keras is a high-level deep learning API built on top of TensorFlow that simplifies building and training neural networks. Keras 3 supports multiple backends including TensorFlow, PyTorch, and JAX, making it backend-agnostic.

Source
Keras: What model architectures does Keras support?

Keras supports the Sequential model for linear stacks of layers, the Functional API for arbitrary graph architectures, and model subclassing for custom implementations. All approaches provide access to layers, optimizers, metrics, and callbacks.

Source
Keras: Can Keras models run on TPUs and GPUs?

Yes, Keras models can run on TPU Pods or large GPU clusters, be exported to run in browsers or on mobile devices, and be served via web APIs.

Source
Keras: Does Keras offer pre-trained models?

Yes, Keras provides pre-trained models through KerasHub and Keras Applications for common deep learning tasks like image classification, object detection, and NLP.

Source
Keras: Who should use Keras?

Keras is ideal for beginners and rapid prototyping due to its simplicity and user-friendly interface. Advanced users and production deployments may benefit more from lower-level frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch for greater customization.

Source

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