Software · head to head
NocoDB vs Metabase
NocoDB
Software
Open-source no-code database platform with REST and GraphQL APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: NocoDB the free cloud tier is capped at 3 editor seats, 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage; Metabase row and column level permissions and SSO available only in Pro tier and above
- They diverge on capability: NocoDB covers REST API, Metabase covers No-code Query Builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which NocoDB and Metabase actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 NocoDB
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- No-code database
- Multiple SQL databases
- Webhooks
- Automation
- Docker support
Only in Metabase
- No-code Query Builder
- SQL Editor
- Interactive Dashboards
- Alerts
- Embedding
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MongoDB
Both cover
- Cloud support
- Self-hosted support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
NocoDB
Free- CommunityFree
- Self-hosted NocoDB
- Community support
- Starter$5/monthly
- Cloud hosting
- Basic features
Metabase
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Metabase review.
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is NocoDB or Metabase better?
- Neither clearly leads. NocoDB starts at Free and Metabase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, NocoDB or Metabase?
- NocoDB starts at Free and Metabase at Free.
- Does NocoDB or Metabase run on more platforms?
- NocoDB runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Metabase runs on Web, Self-hosted cloud.
- Can I use NocoDB for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is NocoDB best used for?
- NocoDB is most often used for self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet database, putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing postgres or mysql database, building internal tools on structured data with an api, team bases with per-field and per-table permissions on the paid tiers. Of those, self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet database and putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing postgres or mysql database are not what Metabase is typically brought in for.
- What can NocoDB do that Metabase cannot?
- NocoDB covers REST API, GraphQL API, No-code database, Multiple SQL databases. Metabase covers No-code Query Builder, SQL Editor, Interactive Dashboards, Alerts. Both handle Cloud support, Self-hosted support.