The Bottom Line: Budibase has all the features, APIs, and automation you need to create a tool or app for your internal business operations. However, it’s not a flexible app-building platform, so you’ll be hard-pressed to leverage Budibase to make external client-facing apps.
In this Budibase review, we'll explore its features, pros, and cons and determine whether it's worth using in 2024.
Pros:
- Budibase provides all the tools and features necessary to create any internal business app.
- No database, no problem. You can create your database from scratch using Budibase’s database builder.
- Because Budibase is open source, you can share your app’s code with others and keep your source code.
Cons:
- Budibase is limited to creating internal business tools only.
- It’s more difficult and tedious to publish your app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store than other no-code app builders.
- The pricing can add up quickly, depending on the number of users your app has.
Pricing: Start with Budibase’s free version, which lets you create unlimited apps with up to 5 users. If you have a team, try Budibase’s Premium Version, which costs $60 per app creator per month and $6 per user per month after your fifth one (billed monthly). You’ll also get customized white-label branding so your apps and workflows are on brand.
What is Budibase?
Budibase is a no-code web app builder that lets you create a web app or internal tool for any workflow or process. Web apps live on the Internet and appear much like websites. You most likely regularly use web apps like Zillow or Facebook.
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.
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 fun stuff.
After clicking the “Apps” button, Budibase will present you with nearly 50 templates. But if you want to look at the templates before signing up, you’re in luck: 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, no worries. You can mix and match screens and features from each template and create your specialized app.
Budibase’s Features
Here are some of Budibase’s features that I like:
- Open source: You'll love this feature if you're a techie. 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 open-source 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.
But with Budibase, you can self-host even on your free plan. We can already hear your IT team popping the champagne.
- A long list of plugins: Sprinkle a few into your app and give it some extra juice. 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 great, easy-to-use app builder, it has a limited audience. Select Budibase if:
- You need an app builder for your internal business tools and apps for workflows.
- 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 take a look at 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 app that costs less than $66/month.
What Kinds of Apps Can I Build With Budibase?
As mentioned earlier, Budibase excels at making any tool or app for your internal business operations.
Budibase is also a full-package app builder, meaning you can create your app's three main components: the frontend, or your app’s screens or pages, that users interact with; the database, where you gather and store information; and the backend, which is your app’s command center.
One of Budibase’s big selling points is its customizable backend. You can configure your app’s logic to execute myriad tasks, such as create, read, update, delete (CRUD), perform a long list of API calls, dictate precisely how you want your data fetched and structured, and much more.
Ultimately, the capability to customize your backend to a near-granular level will enable you to build apps or tools that siphon data from other sources. Here are a few workflows and apps that you can supercharge 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 current job descriptions on various websites, pools of applications, the onboarding process, and anything else you need.
- A project management tool for any task, job, or undertaking that spotlights all the data and info on a project’s entire journey, from bidding to the final customer payment.
- An inventory management system that tracks all your current inventory, delivery status, inventory in transit, and inventory converted to sold goods. Include a prediction tool to determine how much future inventory you’ll need next quarter.
- Customer and vendor account portals allow customers and vendors to log in to your app and view current order status, payment history, and more.
The type of internal business tool you can build with Budibase is 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, which has some benefits. For instance, Budibase lets you build an unlimited number of apps and allows up to 5 users to edit your apps.
You can even run your app built with Budibase’s free version on-prem (on your servers), and if you do so, you’ll get up to 20 users.
Next, Budibase’s Premium Version is $60/month (billed monthly) for every app creator or editor and $6 per user per month. You’ll get everything the Free Version has, plus perks like white-label branding, data backups to prevent emergencies and unlimited plugins.
If you’re a big organization and need more power, Budibase’s Enterprise Version might be your pricing tier of choice. Budibases's team will train you to build apps for your business.
You’ll get enhanced security features like audit logs and enforceable single-system sign-on (SSO), and you’ll even get a dedicated account manager. You can contact Budibases’s sales team for pricing information.
Budibase Alternatives: What Other Tools Should You Try?
While Budibase is a powerful app builder, its audience is limited. If Budibase isn’t for you, check out these other options:
- Adalo is an easy-to-use yet incredibly powerful no-code web and native mobile app builder that is flexible enough to build business tools and client-facing apps like booking and takeout. You can also publish your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Glide is a no-code web app builder that prioritizes aesthetics. It lets you create a breathtaking app from a pre-existing database.
- Noloco is an app-building platform for internal business tools that lets you build with a team and have many users at reasonable prices.
Verdict
So you’ve made it to the end of this Budibase review, and now you know our true feelings. Should you get it now, shortlist it, or avoid it?
Get it now if you want to build loads of apps for internal business operations and host your app on your server. Also, if you’ve got tech and coding experience, the fact that Budibase is an open-source app builder should make you drool.
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, go with Adalo. Whether you want an internal business tool, e-commerce app, or booking feature, Adalo is flexible enough to make your app idea a reality.
Adalo is one of the most user-friendly app builders available. You can start crafting your app right after signing up. Adalo doesn’t sacrifice power for ease — it features plugins and nearly 5,500 third-party integrations. If you can imagine an app, you can build it with Adalo.
Get Adalo’s free version and start bringing your app to life.
