Budibase Review: Pros, Cons, & Is It Worth It? (2026)

Choosing the right no-code platform can be overwhelming, especially when you need to build apps quickly and reach the widest possible audience.

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Budibase, by contrast, is an open-source low-code platform primarily focused on building internal tools and business applications for web-based use.

What matters most is app success—launching your MVP as fast as possible and reaching the biggest audience. That means deploying not just a web app but native iOS and Android apps in the app stores, where you gain access to massive built-in audiences and essential features like push notifications. This comparison breaks down Budibase's strengths and limitations to help you determine which platform aligns with your goals.

What is Budibase?

Budibase is a no-code web app builder that lets you create web apps and internal tools for any workflow or process. Web apps live on the Internet and function much like websites—you most likely use web apps like Zillow or Facebook regularly.

Users can access your Budibase-made app directly from browsers on their phones or desktops. Like any other web app, they'll need to provide login credentials, such as a username, email, and password, to use your app. This browser-based approach works well for internal tools but limits options for consumer-facing mobile applications.

Budibase Review: Exploring the App Building Interface

Getting started with Budibase is as simple as visiting its sign-up page and creating a free account. After answering a few questions, you'll be ushered onto the building interface.

On the left side, you'll find the drop-down menu, which allows you to toggle between apps, set up user accounts, add plugins, and more. Click the "Apps" tab at the top of the drop-down menu to access the building tools.

After clicking the "Apps" button, Budibase will present you with nearly 50 templates. If you want to look at the templates before signing up, Budibase lets you explore its template options from its homepage.

Here are a few examples of the types of templates Budibase offers:

• Jobs Portal
• Logistics Request Form
• Manufacturing Inventory App
• Ticketing Systems
• Fleet Management Tool

If your app idea differs from Budibase's templates, you can mix and match screens and features from each template to create your specialized app.

Budibase's Features

Here are some of Budibase's features worth noting:

• Open source: You'll appreciate this feature if you're technically inclined. Budibase is open-source, so you can download your source code, input your code snippets to create special functionalities, and share your app's code with other developers on platforms like GitHub.

• Self-hosting capabilities for every pricing plan: Budibase lets you host your app on your server, which is usually only allowed by expensive, enterprise-level app builders. With Budibase, you can self-host even on your free plan—a significant advantage for IT teams with specific infrastructure requirements.

• A long list of plugins: These plugins include several APIs that connect to websites and apps for data harvesting, tools like an avatar creator, and components like an embedded Apple music player.

• Automations galore: If you're building a tool that executes repetitive tasks and processes, you can save labor hours by leveraging Budibase's automation capabilities.

Is Budibase Right For You?

While Budibase is a capable app builder, it serves a specific audience. Select Budibase if:

• You need an app builder exclusively for internal business tools and workflow apps
• You must build new apps and workflows for your team regularly and on the fly
• You want to self-host without paying enterprise pricing

However, you should explore other app builders if:

• You want to build an external, client-facing app for booking, food takeout, or social media
• You want to create a native mobile app and publish it on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
• You're looking for a budget-friendly option that costs less than $60/month

For teams needing both internal tools and consumer-facing mobile apps, an AI-powered app builder like Adalo offers greater flexibility. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase, with paid plans starting at $36/month—and includes unlimited usage with no surprise charges.

What Kinds of Apps Can I Build With Budibase?

As mentioned earlier, Budibase excels at making tools and apps for internal business operations. It's a full-package app builder, meaning you can create your app's three main components: the frontend (screens users interact with), the database (where you gather and store information), and the backend (your app's command center).

One of Budibase's selling points is its customizable backend. You can configure your app's logic to execute myriad tasks—create, read, update, delete (CRUD) operations, perform API calls, and dictate precisely how you want your data fetched and structured.

The capability to customize your backend to a near-granular level enables you to build apps that siphon data from other sources. Here are workflows and apps you can build with Budibase's backend:

• A human resources management app containing a directory of all employees and relevant information; use Budibase's APIs to integrate with job descriptions, application pools, and onboarding processes.

• A project management tool for any task or undertaking that spotlights all data on a project's entire journey, from bidding to final customer payment.

• An inventory management system that tracks current inventory, delivery status, inventory in transit, and inventory converted to sold goods. Include prediction tools to determine future inventory needs.

• Customer and vendor account portals allowing customers and vendors to log in and view current order status, payment history, and more.

The type of internal business tool you can build with Budibase is virtually unlimited. This makes sense, as Budibase allows you to build unlimited apps with its plans.

Budibase Pricing: Is It Worth It?

Budibase has 3 pricing tiers, including its free version with notable benefits. The free tier lets you build an unlimited number of apps and allows up to 5 users to edit your apps. You can even run your app on-prem (on your servers), and if you do so, you'll get up to 20 users.

Budibase's Premium Version is $60/month (billed monthly) for every app creator or editor, plus $6 per user per month. You'll get everything the Free Version has, plus perks like white-label branding, data backups, and unlimited plugins.

For large organizations needing more power, Budibase's Enterprise Version offers training, enhanced security features like audit logs and enforceable single-system sign-on (SSO), and a dedicated account manager. You can contact Budibase's sales team for pricing information.

Platform	Starting Price	Native Mobile Apps	Database Limits
Budibase	$60/month + $6/user	No (web only)	Varies by plan
Adalo	$36/month	Yes (iOS & Android)	Unlimited on paid plans
Glide	$60/month	No	Limited rows
Softr	$167/month (PWA)	No	Limited per app

Budibase Alternatives: What Other Tools Should You Try?

While Budibase is a powerful app builder for internal tools, its audience is limited. If Budibase isn't the right fit, consider these alternatives:

• Adalo is an AI-powered app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, while Magic Add lets you add features through natural language requests. With over 3 million apps created on the platform, Adalo handles App Store and Play Store publishing automatically—often the hardest part of launching an app. Paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges, starting at $36/month. [INTERNAL LINK: How to Publish Your App to the App Store]

• Glide is a no-code web app builder that prioritizes aesthetics and works well for spreadsheet-based apps. However, it's heavily format-focused and restricted to set templates, which creates generic apps with limited creative freedom. Pricing starts at $60/month for custom domains, but includes limits on app updates and data rows. Glide does not support Apple App Store or Google Play Store publishing.

• Noloco is an app-building platform for internal business tools that lets you build with a team and have many users at reasonable prices.

For those considering other options, it's worth noting that FlutterFlow is "low-code" rather than "no-code" and targets technical users. FlutterFlow users must also set up and manage their own external database, which requires significant learning complexity—especially when optimizing for scale. Their builder is limited in view (slow to see more than 2 screens at once), whereas Adalo can display up to 400 screens at a time on one canvas. FlutterFlow pricing starts at $70/month per user for app store publishing, but still doesn't include a database.

Verdict

So you've made it to the end of this Budibase review. Should you get it now, shortlist it, or avoid it?

Get it now if you want to build numerous apps for internal business operations and host your app on your server. If you've got tech and coding experience, the fact that Budibase is an open-source app builder should appeal to you.

Shortlist it if you're keen on building a few business tools but unsure if you'll need to create many.

If you're looking for an app builder that doesn't require tech knowledge or coding skills—and want the flexibility to build both internal tools and consumer-facing mobile apps—consider Adalo. Whether you need an internal business tool, e-commerce app, or booking feature, Adalo's AI-assisted building makes your app idea a reality.

Adalo is one of the most user-friendly app builders available, often described as "easy as PowerPoint." You can start crafting your app right after signing up. The platform doesn't sacrifice power for ease—it features plugins and thousands of third-party integrations. With Adalo 3.0's infrastructure overhaul (launched late 2025), apps run 3-4x faster with modular infrastructure that scales to over 1 million monthly active users. [INTERNAL LINK: Getting Started with Adalo]

Get Adalo's free version and start bringing your app to life.

FAQ

Question	Answer
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?	Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase—handling the hardest part of launching an app automatically. With unlimited database records on paid plans and no usage-based charges, you avoid the surprise bills common with other platforms.
What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?	Adalo's drag-and-drop interface combined with AI-assisted building lets you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process—so you can focus on features instead of certificates and provisioning profiles.
What is Budibase best suited for?	Budibase excels at building internal business tools and apps for workflows, such as HR management systems, project management tools, and inventory tracking. It's ideal for teams that need to self-host their applications and have some technical experience, as it offers open-source capabilities and extensive backend customization options.
Can I build native mobile apps with Budibase?	No, Budibase is designed specifically for web apps and internal tools, not native mobile apps. If you need to create a native mobile app for the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you'll need to consider alternatives like Adalo that support native iOS and Android app development from a single codebase.
Which is more affordable, Adalo or Budibase?	Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and no per-user charges for app users. Budibase's Premium Version costs $60/month per creator plus $6 per user monthly. For teams building consumer-facing apps, Adalo offers better value with native mobile app capabilities included.
Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Budibase?	Adalo is generally easier for beginners, often described as "easy as PowerPoint." Budibase offers more backend customization but requires more technical knowledge to leverage fully. Adalo's Magic Start can generate complete app foundations from simple descriptions, reducing the learning curve significantly.
Is Adalo better than Budibase for mobile apps?	Yes, definitively. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps that publish directly to app stores. Budibase only creates web apps accessible through browsers—it cannot publish to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store at all.
How much does it cost to build an internal business tool?	With Budibase, expect $60/month minimum plus $6 per user. With Adalo, paid plans start at $36/month with no data caps on paid tiers. Both platforms offer free tiers for testing, but Adalo's paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges.
Can I migrate from Budibase to Adalo?	Yes, you can rebuild your Budibase app in Adalo. While there's no direct import tool, Adalo's Magic Start can generate app foundations quickly, and you can export your data from Budibase to import into Adalo's database. This is particularly worthwhile if you need native mobile app capabilities.
What types of apps should I not build with Budibase?	Budibase is not ideal for external, client-facing apps like booking platforms, food delivery services, or social media applications. It's also not suitable if you want to publish native mobile apps to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, as it focuses exclusively on web-based internal business tools.