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No-Code · head to head

Corteza vs SeaTable

Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SeaTable logo

SeaTable

Spreadsheets

German-hosted database-spreadsheet hybrid from the team behind Seafile, with a self-hosted server edition

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.; SeaTable the free self-hosted Developer Edition is capped at three users, so the pattern that makes Baserow and NocoDB attractive, running it yourself for free at real headcount, is not available and any serious on-premises deployment needs a paid per-user licence.
  • They diverge on capability: Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, SeaTable covers Typed column database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corteza and SeaTable actually diverge.

Attributes where Corteza and SeaTable differ
AttributeCortezaSeaTable
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, DockerWeb, iOS, Android, Linux
CategoryNo-CodeSpreadsheets

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 SeaTable

  • Typed column database
  • Multiple views
  • Universal app builder
  • Python and JavaScript scripting
  • Self-hosted server
  • German data centres

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 SeaTable
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot SeaTable
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot SeaTable
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot SeaTable

SeaTable

  • A German or Austrian company that needs a shared operational database but cannot put customer records on a US-hosted servicenot Corteza
  • Replacing a sprawl of Excel files used by several departments with one permissioned base and per-view sharingnot Corteza
  • Running a small internal tool, such as an equipment register or an application tracker, without commissioning a bespoke buildnot Corteza
  • Teams already using Seafile that want structured data alongside their file sync platformnot 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.

SeaTable

  • The free self-hosted Developer Edition is capped at three users, so the pattern that makes Baserow and NocoDB attractive, running it yourself for free at real headcount, is not available and any serious on-premises deployment needs a paid per-user licence.
  • Row limits are counted across the whole account rather than per base, so the free plan ceiling of 10,000 rows and the Plus ceiling of 50,000 rows arrive sooner than people expect once a few tables hold historical records.
  • The integration catalogue is short compared with Airtable, and many connections have to be routed through Zapier, Make or n8n, which adds a second subscription and a second failure point.
  • English documentation and community content lag the German material, so non-German teams hit thinner tutorials and fewer worked examples when they get to scripting and the app builder.
  • The vendor is a small German company rather than a venture-funded platform, which is a stability advantage but means a slower feature pace and fewer third-party consultants available to hire if a project needs outside help.

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

SeaTable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 25 users
    • 10,000 rows in total
    • 2 GB storage
  • Plus$7/month
    • Billed annually, 9 EUR if billed monthly
    • 50,000 rows
    • 50 GB storage
  • Enterprise$14/month
    • Billed annually, 18 EUR if billed monthly
    • Unlimited rows
    • 100 GB storage
  • Dedicated Cloud$undefined/year
    • Quoted, minimum 100 users
    • Dedicated instance
    • Unlimited rows

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 SeaTable if

  • You need typed column database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
  • You also want multiple views.
SeaTable review

Questions people ask

Is Corteza or SeaTable better?
Neither clearly leads. Corteza starts at Free and SeaTable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Corteza or SeaTable?
Corteza starts at Free and SeaTable at Free.
Does Corteza or SeaTable run on more platforms?
Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker. SeaTable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
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 SeaTable is typically brought in for.
What can Corteza do that SeaTable cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management. SeaTable covers Typed column database, Multiple views, Universal app builder, Python and JavaScript scripting.

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.

SeaTable: Where is SeaTable cloud data actually stored?

In data centres in Germany, under German and EU law, with a standard GDPR processing agreement available.

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.

SeaTable: Is SeaTable open source?

No. Seafile, from the same team, is open source. SeaTable is a commercial product with a free self-hosted edition limited to three users.

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.

SeaTable: How does it compare with Airtable on price?

Plus is 7 EUR per user per month billed annually against Airtable Team at 20 USD, but SeaTable applies hard row ceilings on every plan below Enterprise.

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.

SeaTable: Can I move an existing Airtable base across?

Yes, SeaTable imports Airtable bases and Excel files, though formula fields and automations usually need rebuilding by hand.

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