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Spreadsheets · head to head

NocoDB vs Whalesync

NocoDB logo

NocoDB

Spreadsheets

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Whalesync logo

Whalesync

No-Code

Two-way real-time sync between no-code databases and SaaS tools

From
$40/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; Whalesync pricing counts records held in sync rather than changes made, so a large but rarely edited catalogue costs the same as a highly active one and the economics punish exactly the datasets that need the least work.
  • They diverge on capability: NocoDB covers REST API, Whalesync covers Two-way sync.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NocoDB and Whalesync actually diverge.

Attributes where NocoDB and Whalesync differ
AttributeNocoDBWhalesync
Starting priceFree$40/month
Pricing modelfreemiumPer month by records in sync
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Self-hosted, DockerWeb
CategorySpreadsheetsNo-Code
Founded2020Unknown

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

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • No-code database
  • Multiple SQL databases
  • Webhooks
  • Automation
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support

Only in Whalesync

  • Two-way sync
  • Live updates
  • Field mapping
  • Unlimited mappings
  • Backfill
  • Monitoring
  • Database connectors
  • Relational field 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 Whalesync
  • Putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing Postgres or MySQL databasenot Whalesync
  • Building internal tools on structured data with an APInot Whalesync
  • Team bases with per-field and per-table permissions on the paid tiersnot Whalesync

Whalesync

  • A team that plans work in Notion but reports from Airtable and needs one edit to appear in both without anyone copying it acrossnot NocoDB
  • A marketing site built in Webflow whose content is authored and managed in Airtable, kept in step continuously rather than republished on a schedulenot NocoDB
  • A startup keeping a Postgres application database and an internal Airtable operations view aligned without building a sync servicenot NocoDB
  • An agency keeping a client CRM and a project tracker consistent so account managers and delivery staff work from the same recordsnot 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

Whalesync

  • Pricing counts records held in sync rather than changes made, so a large but rarely edited catalogue costs the same as a highly active one and the economics punish exactly the datasets that need the least work.
  • The gap between the 1,000 record starter tier and the million record higher tiers is very wide with no published intermediate price, so a business at ten thousand records cannot tell what it will pay without contacting the vendor.
  • Bidirectional sync has conflict semantics, and when two people edit the same field in two tools within a sync interval one edit is lost, which is silent and only discovered when someone notices their change reverted.
  • It is a small company holding a live connection in the middle of operational data, so continuity risk is real and any team relying on it should keep an export routine and know how it would rebuild the mapping.
  • It syncs records between tools but does not transform or model data, so anything requiring aggregation, deduplication or business logic between the two ends still needs a separate tool or a warehouse.

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

Whalesync

$40/month
  • Starter$40/month
    • 1,000 records in sync
    • Live two-way sync
    • Unlimited mappings and row changes
  • Plus$undefined/month
    • Up to 1,000,000 records in sync
    • Live two-way sync
    • Unlimited mappings and row changes
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Up to 1,000,000 records in sync
    • Priority support
    • Advanced field handling

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.
NocoDB review

Choose Whalesync if

  • You need two-way sync.
  • You also want live updates.
Whalesync review

Questions people ask

Is NocoDB or Whalesync better?
Neither clearly leads. NocoDB starts at Free and Whalesync at $40/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NocoDB or Whalesync?
NocoDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for NocoDB and $40/month for Whalesync.
Does NocoDB or Whalesync run on more platforms?
NocoDB runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Whalesync runs on Web.
Can I use NocoDB for free?
Yes. NocoDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Whalesync starts at $40/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 Whalesync is typically brought in for.
What can NocoDB do that Whalesync cannot?
NocoDB covers REST API, GraphQL API, No-code database, Multiple SQL databases. Whalesync covers Two-way sync, Live updates, Field mapping, Unlimited mappings.

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
Whalesync: How is this different from Zapier?

Zapier triggers one-way actions. Whalesync maintains a persistent mapping between two copies of a record so edits flow both ways without loops or duplicates, which two zaps cannot achieve reliably.

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
Whalesync: What counts as a record in sync?

A record becomes counted the first time it syncs, and records are not double counted across the two applications, so a thousand paired rows count once rather than twice.

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
Whalesync: Is there a free plan?

No, only a seven day trial. Paid plans start around 40 US dollars a month for a thousand records.

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
Whalesync: What happens on a sync conflict?

One side wins and the other edit is discarded. Teams that expect simultaneous editing of the same fields in two tools should establish an owning system per field rather than relying on the sync to arbitrate.

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