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No-Code · head to head

Mendix vs Stacker

Mendix logo

Mendix

No-Code

Siemens-owned low-code platform priced by app count, with cloud infrastructure billed separately

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stacker logo

Stacker

No-Code

Permissioned portals over data that stays in Airtable, Salesforce or Postgres

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mendix has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mendix the platform fee explicitly excludes compute and infrastructure costs, so the real all-in bill is the subscription plus a separate, less predictable cloud hosting charge.; Stacker there is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
  • They diverge on capability: Mendix covers Visual app and process modelling, Stacker covers Per-record permissions.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mendix and Stacker actually diverge.

Attributes where Mendix and Stacker differ
AttributeMendixStacker
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer application tier (One App vs Unlimited Apps), cloud infrastructure billed separatelyquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (No-Code).

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 Mendix

  • Visual app and process modelling
  • Free tier
  • Multi-cloud deployment
  • AI-assisted development
  • Native mobile builder
  • Marketplace connectors

Only in Stacker

  • Per-record permissions
  • External user portals
  • Live connection to the source
  • Page and layout builder
  • Workflow actions
  • Custom domains and branding
  • User onboarding
  • Role based navigation

What people use each for

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

Mendix

  • A Siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystemnot Stacker
  • A company building exactly one production app that wants the lower One App tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not neednot Stacker
  • An enterprise standardising on Mendix across many departments where the Unlimited Apps tier amortises wellnot Stacker
  • A team wanting to evaluate low-code at zero cost before committing to a paid production tiernot Stacker

Stacker

  • Giving clients a login that shows only their own records inside an internal Airtable basenot Mendix
  • Contractor or franchisee portals where each account must see one slice of a shared datasetnot Mendix
  • Replacing a spreadsheet emailed to partners with a permissioned live view of the same datanot Mendix
  • Putting a usable interface on a Salesforce or Postgres dataset for users who should never see the underlying systemnot Mendix

Where each one falls short

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

Mendix

  • The platform fee explicitly excludes compute and infrastructure costs, so the real all-in bill is the subscription plus a separate, less predictable cloud hosting charge.
  • The jump from a free or One App tier to Unlimited Apps is a large discrete price step (roughly 918 to 2,295 euros a month at published starting rates), not a gradual scale-up, which punishes a team that grows from one app to two.
  • Being a Siemens business unit means Mendix roadmap priorities can be shaped by Siemens' broader industrial software strategy rather than purely by low-code market demand.
  • Deployment flexibility across Mendix Cloud, Azure, Kubernetes and SAP BTP is a strength on paper but means the actual infrastructure cost and complexity vary significantly by choice, complicating like-for-like vendor comparisons.
  • Premium-tier features and enterprise governance capabilities are quote-only, so a buyer cannot fully compare Mendix's top tier against OutSystems or Appian without entering a sales process.

Stacker

  • There is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
  • Performance is bounded by the data source, so an Airtable base near its row limit or an API under rate limiting produces a slow portal that no amount of Stacker configuration will fix.
  • Pricing distinguishes internal editors from external portal users, so a portal that succeeds by adding hundreds of light-touch external users can end up costing more than the internal system it fronts.
  • Custom logic is limited to the actions and conditions the builder exposes, so anything resembling a calculation engine or a branching multi-step approval hits a wall and needs an external automation tool bolted on.
  • It is a portal and CRUD tool by design, with no offline mode, no native mobile application and no real reporting layer, so it will not be the only system a growing operation runs.

Pricing, plan by plan

Mendix

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited users on one deployment environment
    • No commitment or credit card required
    • Suitable for evaluation and small-scale use
  • Standard, One App$undefined/month
    • Licenses a single application in production
    • Cloud deployment and standard support options
    • Compute and infrastructure costs billed separately
  • Standard, Unlimited Apps$undefined/month
    • Licenses unlimited applications under one subscription
    • Per-user cost declines as user volume grows
    • Discounted external (B2B/B2C) user rates available
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Custom quote
    • Enterprise-grade governance and 24/7 support
    • Advanced deployment and compliance options

Stacker

On request
  • Stacker$undefined/month
    • Priced by workspace tier with caps on apps and users
    • External portal users charged differently from internal editors
    • Higher tiers add permission depth and support

Which should you pick?

Choose Mendix if

  • You need visual app and process modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want free tier.
Mendix review

Choose Stacker if

  • You need per-record permissions.
  • You also want external user portals.
Stacker review

Questions people ask

Is Mendix or Stacker better?
Neither clearly leads. Mendix starts at Free and Stacker at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mendix or Stacker?
Mendix has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mendix and On request for Stacker.
Does Mendix or Stacker run on more platforms?
Mendix runs on Web, iOS, Android. Stacker runs on Web.
Can I use Mendix for free?
Yes. Mendix has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stacker starts at On request.
What is Mendix best used for?
Mendix is most often used for a siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystem, a company building exactly one production app that wants the lower one app tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not need, an enterprise standardising on mendix across many departments where the unlimited apps tier amortises well, a team wanting to evaluate low-code at zero cost before committing to a paid production tier. Of those, a siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystem and a company building exactly one production app that wants the lower one app tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not need are not what Stacker is typically brought in for.
What can Mendix do that Stacker cannot?
Mendix covers Visual app and process modelling, Free tier, Multi-cloud deployment, AI-assisted development. Stacker covers Per-record permissions, External user portals, Live connection to the source, Page and layout builder.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mendix: What is the difference between One App and Unlimited Apps?

One App licenses a single application in production; Unlimited Apps covers any number of apps under one subscription, at a materially higher starting price.

Stacker: Where does my data live?

In the source you connect: Airtable, Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets or your own Postgres. Stacker reads and writes to it rather than becoming the system of record.

Mendix: Does the licence include hosting?

No. Mendix states explicitly that compute and infrastructure resources are billed separately from the platform licence, regardless of deployment target.

Stacker: Can I export the app if I cancel?

No. The data stays in your source system, but the interface, permissions and workflows are Stacker configuration and do not come with you.

Mendix: Who owns Mendix?

Siemens, which acquired Mendix in 2018 and runs it as part of its industrial software portfolio.

Stacker: Is it suitable for hundreds of external users?

Technically yes; check the pricing arithmetic first, because external portal users are charged separately and that is where the bill grows.

Stacker: Will it replace Airtable?

No, it sits in front of Airtable. If the base itself is at its limits, the fix is moving the data to Postgres rather than changing the portal.

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