Spreadsheet & Data · head to head
Metabase vs NocoDB
NocoDB
Spreadsheet & Data
Open-source no-code database platform with REST and GraphQL APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Metabase row and column level permissions and SSO available only in Pro tier and above; NocoDB the free cloud tier is capped at 3 editor seats, 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage
- They diverge on capability: Metabase covers No-code Query Builder, NocoDB covers REST API.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metabase and NocoDB actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Spreadsheet & Data).
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 Metabase
- No-code Query Builder
- SQL Editor
- Interactive Dashboards
- Alerts
- Embedding
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MongoDB
Only in NocoDB
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- No-code database
- Multiple SQL databases
- Webhooks
- Automation
- Docker support
Both cover
- Self-hosted support
- Cloud support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Metabase
- Business intelligence and data exploration for non-technical usersnot NocoDB
- Embedded analytics for SaaS applicationsnot NocoDB
- Self-service reporting and dashboard creationnot NocoDB
- Integration with 40+ data sources including cloud warehousesnot NocoDB
NocoDB
- Self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet databasenot Metabase
- Putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing Postgres or MySQL databasenot Metabase
- Building internal tools on structured data with an APInot Metabase
- Team bases with per-field and per-table permissions on the paid tiersnot Metabase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Metabase
- Row and column level permissions and SSO available only in Pro tier and above
- Advanced analytics features like multi-tenant embedded analytics require Pro tier or higher
- AI-powered features incur additional usage-based costs: $3.75 per 1M tokens
- Self-hosted deployment on Free/Open Source tier requires infrastructure management
NocoDB
- The free cloud tier is capped at 3 editor seats, 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage
- Records are the metering unit on cloud, so Plus covers 50K and Business 300K rather than scaling by seat alone
- Row-level security, audit log retention and team hierarchy require the Scale tier
- SCIM provisioning and air-gapped deployment are Enterprise only
- The self-hosted Community edition is unlimited on records and seats but does without workflows, scripts and dashboards, which start at the paid self-hosted tiers
Pricing, plan by plan
Metabase
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Metabase review.
NocoDB
Free- CommunityFree
- Self-hosted NocoDB
- Community support
- Starter$5/monthly
- Cloud hosting
- Basic features
Which should you pick?
Choose Metabase if
- You need no-code query builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Self-hosted cloud.
- You also want sql editor.
Choose NocoDB if
- You need rest api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
- You also want graphql api.
Questions people ask
- Is Metabase or NocoDB better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metabase starts at Free and NocoDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metabase or NocoDB?
- Metabase starts at Free and NocoDB at Free.
- Does Metabase or NocoDB run on more platforms?
- Metabase runs on Web, Self-hosted cloud. NocoDB runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
- Can I use Metabase for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Metabase best used for?
- Metabase is most often used for business intelligence and data exploration for non-technical users, embedded analytics for saas applications, self-service reporting and dashboard creation, integration with 40+ data sources including cloud warehouses. Of those, business intelligence and data exploration for non-technical users and embedded analytics for saas applications are not what NocoDB is typically brought in for.
- What can Metabase do that NocoDB cannot?
- Metabase covers No-code Query Builder, SQL Editor, Interactive Dashboards, Alerts. NocoDB covers REST API, GraphQL API, No-code database, Multiple SQL databases. Both handle Self-hosted support, Cloud support.