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No-Code · head to head

Corteza vs MUI

Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MUI logo

MUI

Web Development

React component library implementing Material Design

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Corteza planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.; MUI escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • They diverge on capability: Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, MUI covers Large component set.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corteza and MUI actually diverge.

Attributes where Corteza and MUI differ
AttributeCortezaMUI
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeOpen-source core with paid tiers for advanced components
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, DockerWeb
CategoryNo-CodeWeb Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

Only in MUI

  • Large component set
  • Theming system
  • Accessibility
  • TypeScript support

What people use each for

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

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot MUI
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot MUI
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot MUI
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot MUI

MUI

  • Building an admin or internal application quickly with components that already worknot Corteza
  • Teams needing accessible complex widgets without building themnot Corteza
  • Products where Material Design is an acceptable or desired starting pointnot Corteza

Where each one falls short

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

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation.
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something.
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them.
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves.

MUI

  • Escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • Bundle size is significant, and careless imports pull in far more than needed
  • Advanced components such as the full data grid require a paid licence
  • Major version upgrades have historically required real migration work

Pricing, plan by plan

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and services$undefined/year
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

MUI

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core component library
    • Theming
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Choose MUI if

  • You need large component set.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want theming system.
MUI review

Questions people ask

Is Corteza or MUI better?
Neither clearly leads. Corteza starts at Free and MUI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Corteza or MUI?
Corteza starts at Free and MUI at Free.
Does Corteza or MUI run on more platforms?
Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker. MUI runs on Web.
Can I use Corteza for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Corteza best used for?
Corteza is most often used for a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee, an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost, an integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commercially, a mid-size european company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount grows. Of those, a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee and an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost are not what MUI is typically brought in for.
What can Corteza do that MUI cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management. MUI covers Large component set, Theming system, Accessibility, TypeScript support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

MUI: Is MUI free?

The core library is open source and free. Advanced components, including the full-featured data grid, require a paid licence.

Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

MUI: Can MUI look non-Material?

Yes, through the theming system, but a substantial departure takes real work. Teams wanting full design control often prefer unstyled primitives instead.

Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

MUI: Does MUI handle accessibility?

Components follow WAI-ARIA patterns by default, which is a large part of why teams adopt it.

Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

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