The open source Firebase alternative with real-time PostgreSQL
NocoDB connects to existing relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite) and creates a collaborative spreadsheet interface with forms, galleries, and automations.
Recommended VPS & Hardware Sizing
Estimated Hosting: $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean)NocoDB vs Airtable Comparison Matrix
| Evaluation Criteria | NocoDB (Open Source) | Airtable (Proprietary) |
|---|---|---|
| Row / Record Limits | Millions of Rows (SQL limit) | Strict 50k-100k limits |
| Existing Databases | Direct SQL attachment | Requires manual sync |
| Cost per 50 Users | $0 / Server Cost Only | $1,000 - $2,250 / month |
Financial Impact: Migrating from Airtable to Self-Hosted NocoDB
* Excludes enterprise SSO add-ons & usage overages
* Commodity Hetzner / DigitalOcean compute instance
Compare NocoDB Head-to-Head
Comprehensive benchmark comparing NocoDB against proprietary Airtable licensing and features.
Enterprise Multi-Service PostgreSQL vs Single-Binary Go/SQLite
Open-Source Relational Postgres vs Google Proprietary NoSQL
Self-Hosted Zero-Config SQLite vs Google Pay-Per-Read NoSQL
Connect to Any Existing MySQL/PG vs Dedicated PostgreSQL Airtable Clone
Free Self-Hosted Internal GUI Builder vs $50/User/Month Retool Paywall
Core Capabilities & Features
Self-Host NocoDB with Docker Compose
Tweak configuration ports, secrets, and volumes live. Download or copy your ready-to-run container file:
1-Click Docker Compose Generator
Generate production-ready container definitions with customizable ports and volumes.
The open-source Airtable alternative that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet
version: "3.8"
services:
nocodb:
image: nocodb/nocodb:latest
container_name: nocodb
ports:
- "${PORT:-8080}:8080"
environment:
NC_DB: "pg://postgres:${DB_PASSWORD:-nocodb_pwd}@db:5432/nocodb"
volumes:
- nc_data:/usr/app/data
depends_on:
- db
restart: unless-stopped
db:
image: postgres:15-alpine
container_name: nocodb-db
environment:
POSTGRES_USER: postgres
POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD:-nocodb_pwd}
POSTGRES_DB: nocodb
volumes:
- nc_db_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
nc_data:
nc_db_data:Frequently Asked Questions: Self-Hosting NocoDB
How do I self-host NocoDB using Docker Compose?
You can deploy NocoDB (nocodb/nocodb) on any Linux server by copying the docker-compose.yml template on this page, configuring your desired host port and persistent volume directory, and running 'docker compose up -d'.
How does NocoDB compare to Airtable?
NocoDB is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Airtable built with Node.js, Vue, TypeScript. Unlike Airtable ($20 - $45 / user / month), NocoDB has zero per-user licensing fees and keeps 100% of your data on your own infrastructure.
What are the minimum VPS RAM and CPU requirements for NocoDB?
For production self-hosting (Easy difficulty tier), we recommend at least 2 GB RAM (minimum 1 GB), 1 vCPU, and 10 GB SSD storage, which typically costs $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean).
Is NocoDB free for commercial business use under the AGPL-3.0 license?
Yes. Distributed under the AGPL-3.0 license, NocoDB can be self-hosted internally by businesses and engineering teams of any size without per-seat royalties.
Embed Official NocoDB Badge in GitHub README
Served locally from OSSMatrix with Cloudflare global edge caching. Real-time verified alternative status, zero third-party dependencies, sub-5ms load time.
[](https://ossmatrix.com/project/nocodb)<a href="https://ossmatrix.com/project/nocodb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://ossmatrix.com/api/badge/nocodb" alt="NocoDB on OSSMatrix" /></a>Compare NocoDB with Other Self-Hosted Alternatives
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