Knack vs Budibase: Which Is Better?
Database-driven app builders for client portals compared.
Tom Bradley
2026-02-27
Knack and Budibase both let you build custom web apps without heavy coding, but they serve different audiences: Knack leans toward business users who want a polished no-code experience, while Budibase appeals to technical teams that want open-source flexibility and data-source agnosticism.
Quick Comparison
| Knack | Budibase | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Non-technical business users | Developers and technical teams |
| Deployment | Cloud only | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Starting price | ~$39/mo (billed annually) | Free (self-hosted); ~$50/user/mo (cloud) |
| Free tier | No | Yes (self-hosted) |
| External DB support | Limited | Strong (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, etc.) |
| E-commerce | Yes | No |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes (Docker, Kubernetes) |
Knack
Knack has been around since 2011 and occupies a specific niche: non-technical users who need to turn a spreadsheet or database into a functional web application without writing code. Its pitch is straightforward — build a database, attach forms and views, configure user roles, and ship an app that works.
Features
Knack's core is a no-code relational database with a point-and-click interface. You define your data schema (objects and fields), then build pages using pre-built "views" — grids, forms, calendars, maps, charts, and detail pages. Connections between objects allow basic relational data modeling.
The platform includes built-in user authentication and role-based access control, which is genuinely useful for customer portals and vendor portals. You can create login-protected apps where different users see different data based on their assigned roles.
Knack also offers: - Workflow automation with conditional rules and email notifications - E-commerce and payment collection via Stripe - Reporting and charting built into the app builder - An AI-assisted app builder for faster scaffolding - A template marketplace with pre-built apps for common use cases (patient portals, work orders, CRMs) - Integration via Zapier, Make, and a REST API
Pricing
Knack offers four plans: - Starter: ~$39/month (billed annually) — 1 app, 20,000 records, 1 GB file storage - Pro: ~$79/month — 3 apps, 50,000 records, 5 GB storage, API access - Corporate: ~$179/month — 10 apps, unlimited records, custom domain, advanced security features - Enterprise: Custom pricing — SSO, dedicated support, SLA
Note that Knack's pricing is per account, not per user, which can be cost-effective for teams with many end users but few app builders.
Limitations
Knack's UI builder feels dated compared to newer tools. The design customization options are limited — you can change colors and basic styling, but building something that looks custom requires CSS overrides. It's also cloud-only; if data residency or self-hosting is a requirement, Knack is out. The Starter plan's 20,000-record cap is easy to hit if you're storing anything beyond simple contact records.
Budibase
Budibase is an open-source low-code platform that positions itself as the faster, developer-friendly alternative to building internal tools and business apps. Its defining characteristic is flexibility: you can connect to virtually any data source and deploy however you like.
Features
Where Knack is database-first, Budibase is connector-first. Rather than storing everything in its own proprietary database, Budibase lets you connect to existing data sources — PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, DynamoDB, Elasticsearch, Google Sheets, REST APIs, and more. You build the UI on top of data that lives wherever you already have it. Budibase's own internal database (BudibaseDB) is available for apps that don't need an external source.
The app builder uses a drag-and-drop interface with components like tables, forms, cards, charts, and buttons. You can add JavaScript snippets to components for custom logic, which gives technical users significant flexibility without needing to write a full application. The platform includes: - Custom RBAC with granular permissions - SSO, SAML, and OAuth (Google, Microsoft, Keycloak) on paid plans - Automation workflows with multi-step triggers and actions - Discord, Slack, and webhook integrations - Public API for using Budibase as a backend - Plugin system for extending components and data sources - ISO 27001 certification
Self-hosting via Docker or Kubernetes is a first-class option, not an afterthought. For regulated industries or organizations with strict data policies, this is often the deciding factor.
Pricing
- Free: Unlimited apps and users when self-hosted; up to 5 users on Budibase Cloud
- Business: ~$50/user/month — SSO, custom branding, audit logs, backups, enforceable SSO
- Enterprise: Custom — dedicated support, SLA, air-gapped deployment options
The self-hosted free tier is genuinely capable. For teams comfortable running Docker, you get unlimited users and apps at no cost, with only premium features (SSO, audit logs) locked behind paid tiers.
Limitations
Budibase's free tier is compelling, but the jump to Business pricing at ~$50/user/month is steep if you have a large team. For small teams, that can exceed what SaaS competitors cost. The platform also requires more technical comfort than Knack — connecting to a PostgreSQL database, writing SQL queries, and configuring a self-hosted server aren't tasks most non-technical users will tackle comfortably.
When to Choose Knack
Knack makes sense when you want to move fast without technical resources. If your team includes mostly non-developers who need to build a customer portal, vendor database, or custom CRM, Knack's guided interface and template marketplace reduce time-to-launch. The per-account pricing model is attractive for organizations with many end users (customers, volunteers, vendors) who log in and interact with the app but aren't builders. E-commerce support via Stripe is a useful differentiator if you need to collect payments inside your app. Knack is also a good fit for consultants building apps for clients — the agency partner program and reseller options support that model.
When to Choose Budibase
Budibase is the better choice when your data already lives somewhere else. If you have a PostgreSQL database, a REST API, or Google Sheets feeding your operations, Budibase lets you build a UI on top without migrating anything. Self-hosting is a strong argument for healthcare, finance, or government teams with data residency requirements — you get the full platform for free on your own infrastructure. Development teams who want to reduce their internal tooling backlog will appreciate the ability to add JavaScript logic and extend the platform with plugins. The open-source model also eliminates vendor lock-in risk entirely.
Bottom Line
Knack is the more approachable option for non-technical teams who want to build database-driven apps quickly, accept a cloud-only deployment, and need features like e-commerce or a large template library. Budibase wins for technical teams, organizations with existing data infrastructure, or anyone who needs to self-host. The open-source free tier with self-hosting makes Budibase uniquely cost-effective at scale — but only if you have the technical capacity to run and maintain it. If you don't, Knack's polished no-code experience is worth the predictable subscription cost.