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Developer Tools · head to head

Namespace vs Phocas

Namespace logo

Namespace

Developer Tools

The dev platform for the next 100 billion commits

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit NamespaceFull review
Phocas logo

Phocas

Business Intelligence

Pre-built BI and FP&A for wholesale distributors and manufacturers running mid-market ERPs

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit PhocasFull review

The short version

  • Namespace is a developer infrastructure platform.
  • Namespace starts at $100/mo; Phocas prices on request.
  • Only Namespace lists GitHub Actions runners; only Phocas lists ERP connectors.
  • Where Namespace falls short: developer plan is pay-as-you-go only; minimum usage unclear.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Namespace and Phocas actually diverge.

Attributes where Namespace and Phocas differ
AttributeNamespacePhocas
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsBusiness Intelligence

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Namespace.

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 Namespace

  • Devboxes
  • GitHub Actions runners
  • Docker builds
  • Cross-invocation caching
  • NVMe storage
  • High-speed networking
  • Multiple OS support
  • Bazel and Turborepo support

Only in Phocas

  • ERP connectors
  • Pre-built distribution content
  • Grid-first analysis
  • Financial statements
  • Budgets and forecasts
  • Rebates module
  • Alerts and subscriptions
  • Mobile apps

What people use each for

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

Namespace

  • Providing AI coding agents with cloud-based development environmentsnot Phocas
  • Accelerating CI builds with faster GitHub Actions runnersnot Phocas
  • Distributing builds across teams with managed infrastructurenot Phocas
  • Scaling development velocity for monorepo organizationsnot Phocas

Phocas

  • A wholesale distributor on Prophet 21 whose sales reps need per-customer margin and stock availability without waiting on a report writernot Namespace
  • A manufacturer that wants budgeting on the same data as its sales analysis rather than in a separate spreadsheetnot Namespace
  • A multi-branch retailer comparing branch and product performance daily without an internal BI teamnot Namespace
  • A private equity owner standardising reporting across several acquired distributors on different ERPsnot Namespace

Where each one falls short

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

Namespace

  • Developer plan is pay-as-you-go only; minimum usage unclear
  • Team plan $100/mo is competitive but usage limits may be tight
  • Devbox pricing separate at $0.004/minute could add up quickly
  • Enterprise plan requires custom sales conversation

Phocas

  • The value is the pre-built vertical content, so a company outside distribution, manufacturing or retail pays premium prices for dashboards it must build itself anyway
  • If your ERP is not on the maintained connector list you fall back to generic database extraction and lose the fast time to value that justifies the price
  • The visualisation library is thin next to Power BI or Tableau, and analysts who want fine control over chart design will find it constraining
  • Pricing is quoted per user and never published, and buyers routinely report large gaps between initial and renewal quotes with limited comparison leverage
  • Modules are licensed separately, so a customer who bought Analytics and later wants Financial Statements or Rebates faces a new negotiation rather than an upgrade

Pricing, plan by plan

Namespace

Free
  • DeveloperFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • On-demand compute
    • Docker builds
  • Team$100/mo
    • 100,000 unit minutes
    • 1,000 Docker builds
    • Everything in Developer
  • Business$250/mo
    • 250,000 unit minutes
    • 2,500 Docker builds
    • Everything in Team
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Custom compute/Docker build limits
    • Audit log export
    • Enterprise SSO

Phocas

On request
  • PhocasOn request
    • Annual subscription quoted by user count and modules
    • Analytics, Financial Statements, Budgets and Rebates licensed separately
    • One-off implementation and ERP connector setup fee

Which should you pick?

Choose Namespace if

  • You need devboxes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want github actions runners.
Namespace review

Choose Phocas if

  • You need erp connectors.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want pre-built distribution content.
Phocas review

Questions people ask

Is Namespace or Phocas better?
Neither clearly leads. Namespace starts at Free and Phocas at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Namespace or Phocas?
Namespace has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Namespace and On request for Phocas.
Does Namespace or Phocas run on more platforms?
Namespace runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. Phocas runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Namespace for free?
Yes. Namespace has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Phocas starts at On request.
What is Namespace best used for?
Namespace is most often used for providing ai coding agents with cloud-based development environments, accelerating ci builds with faster github actions runners, distributing builds across teams with managed infrastructure, scaling development velocity for monorepo organizations. Of those, providing ai coding agents with cloud-based development environments and accelerating ci builds with faster github actions runners are not what Phocas is typically brought in for.
What can Namespace do that Phocas cannot?
Namespace covers Devboxes, GitHub Actions runners, Docker builds, Cross-invocation caching. Phocas covers ERP connectors, Pre-built distribution content, Grid-first analysis, Financial statements.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namespace: How is compute usage metered on the Developer plan?

Developer plan uses pay-as-you-go billing. Devboxes bill at $0.004 per minute. Storage and caching services have separate usage-based fees. A 30-day free trial is available to test usage patterns.

Source
Phocas: What does Phocas cost?

Nothing is published. It is quoted annually by user count and module, with a separate implementation fee, and varies by region.

Namespace: What is the difference between Team and Business plans?

Team ($100/mo) includes 100,000 unit minutes and 1,000 Docker builds with email support. Business ($250/mo) includes 250,000 unit minutes, 2,500 Docker builds, and high concurrency with a dedicated Slack channel.

Source
Phocas: Is it worth it over Power BI?

Only if you are in its target verticals on a supported ERP. Power BI is far cheaper per seat but you supply the data model.

Namespace: Can Namespace support AI coding agents?

Yes, Namespace Devboxes are specifically designed as feature-rich development environments for AI coding agents, with full tooling and performance optimization.

Source
Phocas: Does it replace my ERP reporting?

It replaces day-to-day analysis and sales reporting. Transactional and statutory reporting stays in the ERP.

Phocas: Can it do budgeting?

Yes, through a separately licensed Financial Statements and Budgets module on the same warehouse.

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