Budibase
Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent.
Internal tools and forms over your own data, with a built-in database if you have none, automations, and a self-hosted option that is the main way people use it.
Build the tool and the automation, not the builder. STACK - Astro with a Node adapter, Postgres, a small worker THE TOOL - One page per job: a table bound to a parameterised SQL file, a detail panel, named actions - Server-side paging, sorting and filtering; permissions checked when the SQL is built AUTOMATIONS - A trigger is a row change captured by a Postgres NOTIFY or by polling an updated_at column - A step is a named function: send mail, call a webhook, write a row - Steps run in order, each retried with backoff, and every run is recorded with its input and output NOT LOSING WORK - A run row is written before the first step, not after the last - A failed run is resumable from the step that failed Include the SQL loader, the trigger listener and the run table.
What you lose
- Automations triggered by row changes, with steps for mail, webhooks and scripts already built
- A built-in database for teams that have no database yet
- Role-based access and single sign-on on the paid tier
If you would rather not build
- Appsmith, for the same job
The escape hatch
open source · no votes, no paid placement
Why this verdict
our own opinion · changed only by a person
74/100
Verdict yes at 74. The automation half is the interesting build; recording a run before it starts is the detail that makes failures recoverable.
History
tracked since 10 Aug 2026 · nothing is ever overwritten
Questions about Budibase
answered from the record above
Is Budibase free?
No — the plan we track is $50 a month. Premium from around $50/month billed monthly on the cloud for a small team; self-hosting the core is free.
Can you replace Budibase by building your own?
YES. Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent. Replacement score 74 out of 100, build time one session. Read what you lose before you decide.
How much does Budibase cost?
$50 a month on Premium — $600 a year. Recorded 9 Aug 2026.
What do you lose by replacing Budibase?
Automations triggered by row changes, with steps for mail, webhooks and scripts already built; A built-in database for teams that have no database yet; Role-based access and single sign-on on the paid tier. If any of those carry weight for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Budibase?
Yes: Budibase, n8n. The prompt on this page is for when you want it your way instead.
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