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    Budibase

    Low-code builder for internal apps, forms, and automations, free and unlimited self-hosted, or capped by monthly actions on cloud plans.

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    ToolTrim verdict3.8/ 5Great

    At $19/month for 5K actions on cloud Pro, it's worth it once self-hosting isn't an option and the team's usage stays under that monthly action quota.

    Budibase, preview 1
    About

    In practice. What you can do with Budibase.

    Budibase builds internal apps, forms, and workflows with automations and AI agents through a low-code interface. The self-hosted open source edition is completely free, with unlimited actions, apps, and users, while a managed cloud offering adds hosting and support.

    Cloud pricing starts at $19/month for Pro, which includes 5K actions/month and 1 creator seat; extra creators cost $50/month each. It suits a small team wanting an internal tool without hiring a developer, especially one comfortable self-hosting for free, while cloud plans fit teams that would rather not run their own infrastructure but need to watch their monthly action quota.

    Practical uses

    • Use caseBuild an internal request-approval form and workflow for free on the self-hosted edition, with no action limit.
    • Use caseRun a small team's customer database app on the cloud Pro plan, staying under the 5K monthly action quota.

    Features & use cases

    Nocode web

    Pros and cons. What Budibase does well, and what to expect.

    Pros

    • Self-hosted edition is free and unlimited, with no action cap at all.
    • 14-day trial on cloud plans before committing to a monthly subscription.

    Cons

    • Cloud plans cap monthly actions hard; going over means upgrading, not paying an overage.
    • Only 1 creator seat is included on Pro, with extra creators at $50/month each.

    When it makes sense. Keep Budibase, or challenge it?

    Keep if

    • You want a low-code internal app builder and are comfortable self-hosting for free, or your team's monthly actions fit a cloud tier.
    Budibase becomes worthwhile when
    • You use it at least once a week
    • The monthly cost ($19) is small next to the time it saves you

    Challenge if

    • Your team needs more than 1 creator working at once on the cloud Pro plan, since extra seats add $50/month each.
    Budibase becomes too expensive when
    • You use it less than once a month
    • A simple free version or a tool already in your stack would do

    Pricing. What does Budibase cost ?

    Pro

    ToolTrim reference price

    $19/mo

    • 5K actions/month (10K annually), 2K AI credits, 1 creator, 1 workspace

    Premium

    $49/mo

    • 20K actions/month (50K annually), 10K AI credits, expandable creators at $50 each, custom branding, SSO

    Business

    $299/mo

    • 250K actions/month, 50K AI credits, 3 creators included, 30 days logs, unlimited workspaces

    Official pricingChecked on September 25, 2026

    Alternatives. What could replace Budibase?

    Current

    Direct substitutes

    Our verdict. What to know about Budibase.

    Why this verdict

    Great

    Added value

    The self-hosted edition is free and unlimited, and the cloud Pro plan at $19/month for 5K actions is cheap for a small team's first internal app.

    Simplicity

    A low-code builder still requires learning the platform's data model and automation logic before producing a usable app, more than a plug-and-play tool but less than full coding.

    Fit for purpose

    It builds working internal apps, forms, and automations as advertised, on both the free self-hosted edition and the cloud plans.

    Performance

    Action quotas scale from 5K to 250K/month across cloud tiers, and the self-hosted edition removes the cap entirely, covering small projects up to larger business workloads.

    Reversibility

    Being open source and self-hostable, the underlying app data and configuration stay under the user's control rather than locked in a vendor's cloud only.

    Budibase Summary

    Category
    productivity tool.
    Price from
    $19/mo (Pro).
    Best for
    Small teams and ops staff who need an internal app, form, or workflow tool without hiring a developer, and want the option to self-host for free.
    Avoid if
    Your team needs more than 1 creator working at once on the cloud Pro plan, since extra seats add $50/month each.
    Alternatives
    Retool, Appsmith, Bubble.
    ToolTrim verdict
    At $19/month for 5K actions on cloud Pro, it's worth it once self-hosting isn't an option and the team's usage stays under that monthly action quota.

    Frequently asked questions.

    What to know before choosing Budibase.

    What is Budibase used for?

    Low-code builder for internal apps, forms, and automations, free and unlimited self-hosted, or capped by monthly actions on cloud plans.

    How much does Budibase cost?

    Budibase costs $19/month (Pro plan). Price verified on 2026-09-25.

    Is Budibase suitable for beginners?

    Small teams and ops staff who need an internal app, form, or workflow tool without hiring a developer, and want the option to self-host for free.

    Is Budibase worth the price?

    At $19/month for 5K actions on cloud Pro, it's worth it once self-hosting isn't an option and the team's usage stays under that monthly action quota.

    What are the best alternatives to Budibase?

    The main alternatives to Budibase are: Retool, Appsmith, Bubble. Free alternatives: Appsmith.

    BudibaseFrom $19/mo
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