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Spreadsheets · head to head

NocoDB vs Strapi

NocoDB logo

NocoDB

Spreadsheets

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strapi logo

Strapi

APIs

Headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
$35/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only NocoDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: NocoDB the free cloud tier is capped at 3 editor seats, 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • They diverge on capability: NocoDB covers No-code database, Strapi covers Content management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NocoDB and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where NocoDB and Strapi differ
AttributeNocoDBStrapi
Starting priceFree$35/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Self-hosted, DockerNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
CategorySpreadsheetsAPIs
Founded20202015

Identical on both: 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

  • No-code database
  • Multiple SQL databases
  • Automation

Only in Strapi

  • Content management
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • AWS
  • Node.js support

Both cover

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Webhooks
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support
  • Docker 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 Strapi
  • Putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing Postgres or MySQL databasenot Strapi
  • Building internal tools on structured data with an APInot Strapi
  • Team bases with per-field and per-table permissions on the paid tiersnot Strapi

Strapi

  • Running a self hosted headless CMS with a REST or GraphQL APInot NocoDB
  • Giving editors a content admin panel over a custom content modelnot 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

Strapi

  • Cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • Starter at $35 a month allows 100,000 API requests, and overage is $1.50 per 25,000
  • Extra bandwidth is $30 per 100 GB and extra asset storage $0.60 per GB
  • Backups start at the Pro plan, weekly, and only become daily at Business
  • An uptime SLA is Business only, at $450 a month per project
  • Additional environments cost $60 a month on Pro and $300 a month on Business

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

Strapi

$35/month
  • Starter$35/month
    • 100k API requests
    • 50 GB asset storage
    • 50 GB asset bandwidth
  • Pro$90/month
    • 1M API requests
    • 250 GB asset storage
    • 500 GB asset bandwidth
  • Business$450/month
    • 10M API requests
    • 1000 GB asset storage
    • 1000 GB asset bandwidth

Which should you pick?

Choose NocoDB if

  • You need no-code database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want multiple sql databases.
NocoDB review

Choose Strapi if

  • You need content management.
  • You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want postgresql.
Strapi review

Questions people ask

Is NocoDB or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. NocoDB starts at Free and Strapi at $35/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NocoDB or Strapi?
NocoDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for NocoDB and $35/month for Strapi.
Does NocoDB or Strapi run on more platforms?
NocoDB runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use NocoDB for free?
Yes. NocoDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Strapi starts at $35/month.
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 Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can NocoDB do that Strapi cannot?
NocoDB covers No-code database, Multiple SQL databases, Automation. Strapi covers Content management, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB. Both handle REST API, GraphQL API, Webhooks, Cloud support.

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
Strapi: How much do API request overages cost?

Additional API requests beyond the plan limit cost $1.50 per 25000 requests. Extra asset storage costs $0.60 per GB, and additional bandwidth costs $30 per 100 GB.

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
Strapi: Is yearly billing available?

Yes, yearly billing saves up to 17% compared to monthly billing on Strapi Cloud plans.

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
Strapi: What is included with the Pro plan?

The Pro plan costs $90 per month per project and includes 1M API requests, 250 GB asset storage, 500 GB bandwidth, multi-environment support, weekly backups, and manual backups.

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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