Softwr

Databases · head to head

Ninox vs SurrealDB

Ninox logo

Ninox

Databases

The database for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
SurrealDB logo

SurrealDB

Databases

Multi-model database combining documents, graphs, vectors and time-series

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ninox free plan limited to 5 users and 5,000 records; SurrealDB the listed $0.192/node/hr Scale pricing lacks transparent higher-tier rates, requiring a sales conversation for full production sizing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ninox and SurrealDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Ninox and SurrealDB differ
AttributeNinoxSurrealDB
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
PlatformsWebweb, api, windows, mac, linux
FoundedUnknown2022

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 Ninox

Nothing recorded that SurrealDB does not also cover.

Only in SurrealDB

  • Multi-model engine
  • ACID transactions
  • Hybrid retrieval
  • Horizontal scaling
  • Multi-region disaster recovery
  • FIPS-compliant cryptography

What people use each for

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

Ninox

  • No-code database solutions for small to medium teamsnot SurrealDB
  • Workflow automation and process managementnot SurrealDB
  • Customer data and project tracking with custom viewsnot SurrealDB

SurrealDB

  • AI agent memory and retrieval-augmented generationnot Ninox
  • Applications needing documents, graphs and vectors in one databasenot Ninox
  • Knowledge graph construction from unstructured datanot Ninox
  • Regulated workloads requiring SOC2/ISO27001/HIPAA-eligible hostingnot Ninox

Where each one falls short

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

Ninox

  • Free plan limited to 5 users and 5,000 records
  • API call limits restrict automation on lower tiers (1,000/month free, 10,000/month team)
  • Only 7-day history on free plan vs. unlimited on Business

SurrealDB

  • The listed $0.192/node/hr Scale pricing lacks transparent higher-tier rates, requiring a sales conversation for full production sizing.
  • As a newer multi-model database, it has a smaller ecosystem of drivers, ORMs and community tooling than established single-model databases.
  • HIPAA compliance is only available as an Enterprise add-on rather than included in standard paid tiers.
  • Combining multiple data models in one engine can add query-planning complexity compared to purpose-built single-model databases.

Pricing, plan by plan

Ninox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 100 MB storage
    • Up to 5,000 records
  • Team$25/month
    • 5 GB storage per user
    • 50,000 records per user
    • 10,000 API calls per user per month
  • Business$40/month
    • 10 GB storage per user
    • 250,000 records per user
    • 50,000 API calls per user per month
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom pricing available
    • Dedicated support
    • Custom solutions and governance

SurrealDB

Free
  • StartFree
    • 1 free instance, then from $0.021/hr
    • 1GB storage free forever
    • Vertical scaling to terabytes
  • Scale$0.192/month
    • $0.192/node/hr
    • Production-grade fault tolerance
    • Horizontal scaling to petabytes
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Self-hosted, custom pricing
    • Clustered fault-tolerant deployments
    • FIPS-compliant cryptography

Which should you pick?

Choose Ninox if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose SurrealDB if

  • You need multi-model engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api, windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want acid transactions.

Questions people ask

Is Ninox or SurrealDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Ninox starts at Free and SurrealDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ninox or SurrealDB?
Ninox starts at Free and SurrealDB at Free.
Does Ninox or SurrealDB run on more platforms?
Ninox runs on Web. SurrealDB runs on web, api, windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Ninox for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ninox best used for?
Ninox is most often used for no-code database solutions for small to medium teams, workflow automation and process management, customer data and project tracking with custom views. Of those, no-code database solutions for small to medium teams and workflow automation and process management are not what SurrealDB is typically brought in for.
What can Ninox do that SurrealDB cannot?
SurrealDB covers Multi-model engine, ACID transactions, Hybrid retrieval, Horizontal scaling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ninox: How much does Ninox cost?

Ninox is free for individuals with up to 5 users. Team plan is 25 EUR per user per month (billed annually), and Business plan is 40 EUR per user per month (billed annually). Enterprise plans have custom pricing.

Source
SurrealDB: What does SurrealDB cost?

SurrealDB Cloud's Start plan is free with one free instance (then from $0.021/hr), the Scale plan runs $0.192/node/hr for production workloads, and Enterprise self-hosted deployments use custom pricing.

Source
Ninox: Is Ninox free?

Yes, Ninox offers a free plan for up to 5 users with 100 MB storage and 5,000 records. No payment required to start, and includes all core views: table, form, chart, kanban, maps, and calendar.

Source
SurrealDB: Is there a free plan and what are its limits?

Yes, the Start plan includes one free instance with 1GB of storage free forever and 1GB of outbound data transfer per month, aimed at prototypes and development.

Source
Ninox: What is Ninox Team plan pricing?

The Team plan costs 25 EUR per user per month (billed annually). It includes 5 GB storage per user, 50,000 records, 10,000 API calls per month per user, and 30-day history. Annual billing is required.

Source
SurrealDB: How is billing handled?

Customers are invoiced monthly based on actual usage in a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term commitments, though commitment-based discounts are available.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads