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Frappe vs NativeScript

Frappe logo

Frappe

Developer Tools

The Python web framework behind ERPNext, sold as managed hosting through Frappe Cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NativeScript logo

NativeScript

Mobile Development

Open source framework compiling JavaScript and TypeScript UI to true native components

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Frappe the framework is strongly opinionated: its own ORM, templating and job queue mean general Python and Django experience transfers only partly, and onboarding a new developer takes weeks rather than days.; NativeScript there is no company funding core engineering the way Google funds Flutter or Meta funds React Native, so keeping pace with new iOS and Android SDK releases depends on community bandwidth.
  • They diverge on capability: Frappe covers DocType modelling, NativeScript covers True native rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Frappe and NativeScript actually diverge.

Attributes where Frappe and NativeScript differ
AttributeFrappeNativeScript
Pricing modelPer month by site or serverOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, Linux, DockeriOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsMobile 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 Frappe

  • DocType modelling
  • Role and field permissions
  • Built-in REST API
  • Background jobs
  • Bench CLI
  • Frappe Cloud hosting
  • App marketplace
  • Multi-tenancy

Only in NativeScript

  • True native rendering
  • Direct native API access
  • Angular and Vue support
  • CSS-like styling
  • Plugin marketplace
  • Webpack-based tooling

What people use each for

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

Frappe

  • A team building an internal business application that needs permissions, audit trail and an API on day one rather than in month threenot NativeScript
  • An ERPNext user who wants managed hosting, automatic updates and offsite backups without hiring a systems administratornot NativeScript
  • An Indian or emerging-market business that wants to pay for application hosting in local currency at local price pointsnot NativeScript
  • A consultancy shipping custom vertical apps to clients on a shared framework with per-client site isolationnot NativeScript

NativeScript

  • A team that wants native-rendered UI from JavaScript or TypeScript without learning Dart or React Native-specific APIsnot Frappe
  • An Angular shop that wants to reuse Angular syntax and skills for mobile UInot Frappe
  • A project that needs direct native API access from JavaScript without writing native bridge codenot Frappe
  • A cost-conscious team that wants zero licence spend and does not need vendor-backed enterprise supportnot Frappe

Where each one falls short

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

Frappe

  • The framework is strongly opinionated: its own ORM, templating and job queue mean general Python and Django experience transfers only partly, and onboarding a new developer takes weeks rather than days.
  • The developer pool is small and heavily concentrated in India, so hiring Frappe experience elsewhere is slow and expensive relative to mainstream stacks.
  • Documentation is uneven in depth and lags behind releases in places, so real answers often come from reading the source or the community forum.
  • Major version upgrades of the framework have historically broken custom apps that reach past the DocType layer, so bespoke code carries a recurring maintenance cost at each upgrade.
  • Frappe Cloud recommends against its cheapest Hetzner-backed option for mission-critical production, so the headline $5 entry price is not the price of a production-grade deployment.

NativeScript

  • There is no company funding core engineering the way Google funds Flutter or Meta funds React Native, so keeping pace with new iOS and Android SDK releases depends on community bandwidth.
  • The plugin ecosystem is smaller and less consistently maintained than React Native or Flutter, so integrating newer native SDKs often means writing custom native bridge code.
  • Hiring is harder because far fewer developers know NativeScript than know React Native or Flutter, which lengthens recruitment and raises salary expectations for a niche skill.
  • Governance under OpenJS Foundation means no vendor roadmap commitment or SLA-backed support exists for teams that want a commercial support contract.
  • Its market share and job-posting volume have declined relative to React Native and Flutter over recent years, raising long-term maintenance risk for a multi-year product bet.

Pricing, plan by plan

Frappe

Free
  • Framework, self-hostedFree
    • MIT licensed, no licence fee
    • Install with bench on your own Linux servers
    • You carry updates, backups and security patching
  • Frappe Cloud Sites$5/month
    • Also listed at ₹410 per month
    • Shared servers with 150+ installable apps
    • Automatic updates and offsite backups
  • Frappe Cloud Servers$40/month
    • Also listed at ₹3,600 per month
    • Dedicated or shared virtual machines
    • Unlimited sites on your server

NativeScript

Free
  • NativeScriptFree
    • MIT licensed, unlimited apps
    • No paid tier or enterprise edition exists
    • Community support via forums and Discord only

Which should you pick?

Choose Frappe if

  • You need doctype modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Docker.
  • You also want role and field permissions.
Frappe review

Choose NativeScript if

  • You need true native rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want direct native api access.
NativeScript review

Questions people ask

Is Frappe or NativeScript better?
Neither clearly leads. Frappe starts at Free and NativeScript at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Frappe or NativeScript?
Frappe starts at Free and NativeScript at Free.
Does Frappe or NativeScript run on more platforms?
Frappe runs on Web, Linux, Docker. NativeScript runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Frappe for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Frappe best used for?
Frappe is most often used for a team building an internal business application that needs permissions, audit trail and an api on day one rather than in month three, an erpnext user who wants managed hosting, automatic updates and offsite backups without hiring a systems administrator, an indian or emerging-market business that wants to pay for application hosting in local currency at local price points, a consultancy shipping custom vertical apps to clients on a shared framework with per-client site isolation. Of those, a team building an internal business application that needs permissions, audit trail and an api on day one rather than in month three and an erpnext user who wants managed hosting, automatic updates and offsite backups without hiring a systems administrator are not what NativeScript is typically brought in for.
What can Frappe do that NativeScript cannot?
Frappe covers DocType modelling, Role and field permissions, Built-in REST API, Background jobs. NativeScript covers True native rendering, Direct native API access, Angular and Vue support, CSS-like styling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Frappe: Is Frappe the same as ERPNext?

No. Frappe is the framework; ERPNext is the ERP application written on it. You can run Frappe without ERPNext to build your own applications.

NativeScript: Who owns NativeScript?

No single company. It originated at Telerik and Progress Software and is now governed as an OpenJS Foundation project with no commercial licence tier.

Frappe: What licence is the framework under?

MIT, which is permissive and imposes no obligation to publish your changes, unlike the AGPL used by several open source ERP rivals.

NativeScript: Does it use a WebView like Ionic?

No. NativeScript compiles to genuine native UI components on both iOS and Android, not a WebView.

Frappe: Can I pay in rupees?

Yes. Frappe Cloud publishes the same plans in Indian rupees, ₹410 a month for sites and ₹3,600 for servers, rather than converting a dollar price at checkout.

NativeScript: Is there paid enterprise support?

No official vendor-backed enterprise support tier exists; support comes from the community and independent consultancies.

Frappe: Do I have to use Frappe Cloud?

No, self-hosting with bench or Docker is fully supported and free. Frappe Cloud is a convenience purchase, and it funds the open source work.

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