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Spreadsheets · head to head

NocoDB vs Orange

NocoDB logo

NocoDB

Spreadsheets

Open-source no-code database platform with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Orange logo

Orange

Machine Learning

Data mining and visualization toolkit

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; Orange orange is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3, so distributing modified or derived software requires releasing the source under the GPL
  • They diverge on capability: NocoDB covers REST API, Orange covers Visual programming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NocoDB and Orange actually diverge.

Attributes where NocoDB and Orange differ
AttributeNocoDBOrange
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsCloud, Self-hosted, DockerLinux, Mac, Windows
CategorySpreadsheetsMachine Learning
Founded20201996

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

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
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support

Only in Orange

  • Visual programming
  • Data visualization
  • Machine learning
  • Text mining
  • Bioinformatics
  • Python
  • scikit-learn
  • PyQt

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 Orange
  • Putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing Postgres or MySQL databasenot Orange
  • Building internal tools on structured data with an APInot Orange
  • Team bases with per-field and per-table permissions on the paid tiersnot Orange

Orange

  • Visual programming for data mining and machine learning workflowsnot NocoDB
  • Teaching data science without writing codenot NocoDB
  • Exploratory data visualisation and clustering on tabular datanot 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

Orange

  • Orange is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3, so distributing modified or derived software requires releasing the source under the GPL
  • The widgets and canvas are built on Qt, which is itself distributed under GPL 3.0
  • Orange add-ons may carry additional licensing requirements set in their own licence files
  • Documentation and website content are under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike, which imposes an attribution and share-alike obligation on reuse
  • The software is distributed without any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose

Pricing, plan by plan

NocoDB

Free
  • Free (Cloud)Free
    • 3 editor seats
    • 10 commenter seats
    • 1 GB storage
  • Plus$12/month
    • Unlimited seats
    • 50,000 records
    • 20 GB storage
  • Business$24/month
    • Unlimited seats
    • 300,000 records
    • 100 GB storage
  • Scale$45/month
    • Minimum 3 seats required
    • 1,000,000 records
    • 150 GB storage

Orange

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Visual programming
    • Machine learning
    • Data visualization

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 Orange if

  • You need visual programming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows.
  • You also want data visualization.

Questions people ask

Is NocoDB or Orange better?
Neither clearly leads. NocoDB starts at Free and Orange at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NocoDB or Orange?
NocoDB starts at Free and Orange at Free.
Does NocoDB or Orange run on more platforms?
NocoDB runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Orange runs on Linux, Mac, Windows.
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 Orange is typically brought in for.
What can NocoDB do that Orange cannot?
NocoDB covers REST API, GraphQL API, No-code database, Multiple SQL databases. Orange covers Visual programming, Data visualization, Machine learning, Text mining.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NocoDB: Is NocoDB free?

Yes, NocoDB offers a free cloud plan with 3 editor seats, 1,000 records, 1 GB storage, and 1,000 API calls per month. A free self-hosted Community edition with unlimited records and seats is also available.

Source
Orange: What is the cost of Orange Data Mining?

Orange Data Mining is free open-source software available for Windows, Mac, and other platforms. There are no subscription fees, licensing costs, or paid tiers.

Source
NocoDB: How much does NocoDB Plus cost?

NocoDB Plus costs $12 per seat per month (billed annually) or $15 per seat per month (monthly). For unlimited seats, it costs $108/month annually or $180/month monthly. Plus includes 50,000 records, 20 GB storage, and 100,000 API calls per month.

Source
Orange: How is Orange Data Mining funded?

Orange Data Mining is supported through optional voluntary donations. The project encourages donations from users who value the software to support bug fixes, new features, educational content, and infrastructure maintenance.

Source
NocoDB: What is the difference between NocoDB Plus and Business plans?

Plus ($12/seat annual) includes 50,000 records and 100,000 API calls per month. Business ($24/seat annual) includes 300,000 records, 1,000,000 API calls per month, external database connections, SAML SSO, and table/field permissions.

Source
NocoDB: Can I self-host NocoDB for free?

Yes, NocoDB's Community edition is free for self-hosting. It includes unlimited records, storage, and seats, with all core features including webhooks and 6 view types.

Source
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