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Software · head to head

Monday.com vs PocketBase

Monday.com logo

Monday.com

Software

A platform built for a new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

Software

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Monday.com expensive at scale with 3-seat minimum and costs increasing quickly with team size; PocketBase not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • They diverge on capability: Monday.com covers Customizable workflows, PocketBase covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Monday.com and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Monday.com and PocketBase differ
AttributeMonday.comPocketBase
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
Founded20122021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Monday.com

  • Customizable workflows
  • Multiple views (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar)
  • Automation engine
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Mobile apps
  • Forms
  • Dashboards
  • Workload management

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

Monday.com

  • Project managementnot PocketBase
  • Sales CRMnot PocketBase
  • Marketing campaignsnot PocketBase
  • HR processesnot PocketBase
  • IT ticketingnot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Monday.com
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Monday.com
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Monday.com
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Monday.com
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Monday.com
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot Monday.com

Where each one falls short

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

Monday.com

  • Expensive at scale with 3-seat minimum and costs increasing quickly with team size
  • Limited free plan with only 2 users and 3 boards
  • Mobile app provides reduced functionality compared to web version
  • Email CC/BCC limitations for looping in stakeholders without full board access
  • WorkForms can only create new items, not update existing ones

PocketBase

  • Not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • Full backward compatibility not guaranteed before v1.0.0 (breaking changes possible with version updates)
  • Pull requests for new features are disabled due to spam concerns (feature contributions limited)

Pricing, plan by plan

Monday.com

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Monday.com review.

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Monday.com if

  • You need customizable workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want multiple views (kanban, gantt, calendar).
Monday.com review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is Monday.com or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Monday.com starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Monday.com or PocketBase?
Monday.com starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does Monday.com or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Monday.com runs on Web, iOS, Android. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use Monday.com for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Monday.com best used for?
Monday.com is most often used for project management, sales crm, marketing campaigns, hr processes. Of those, project management and sales crm are not what PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Monday.com do that PocketBase cannot?
Monday.com covers Customizable workflows, Multiple views (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar), Automation engine, Real-time collaboration. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Monday.com: Does Monday.com have a free plan?

Yes, Monday.com offers a free plan limited to 2 users and 3 boards. Paid plans start at around $9 per seat per month and require a minimum of 3 seats.

Source
Monday.com: Can I use Monday.com on mobile?

Monday.com is available on iOS and Android, but the mobile app lacks the full depth of the desktop version, making complex board management more difficult on the go.

Source
Monday.com: Does Monday.com support offline work?

Monday.com is primarily a cloud-based platform and does not have robust offline capabilities. You need an internet connection to access and edit boards.

Source
Monday.com: What is Monday.com's pricing based on?

Pricing is based on the number of seats and which product module you choose (Work Management, Sales CRM, Dev, or Service). Each module has different features and pricing.

Source
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Related pages

More on Monday.com

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