Nocobase
NocoBase is an open-source AI + no-code platform for building business systems fast. Instead of generating everything from scratch, AI works on top of production-proven infrastructure and a WYSIWYG no-code interface, so you get both speed and reliability.
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What is Nocobase?
NocoBase is an AI-driven, open source, self-hosted no-code and low-code development platform for building business applications and enterprise solutions. It combines AI coding agents with a WYSIWYG no-code interface, allowing users to build systems quickly with AI and refine them visually. The platform provides production-proven infrastructure including data models, permissions, workflows, and audit logs out of the box, so you don't start from scratch.
Key features include AI collaboration with mainstream coding agents like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex; built-in AI employees that execute tasks within business workflows; a plugin architecture with microkernel design where everything is a plugin; data-model driven development with data decoupled from UI; support for multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, ClickHouse, Doris); fine-grained field-level permissions; workflow engine with approvals, subflows, and webhooks; and automatic API generation. The platform is built with TypeScript, Node.js, React, and Koa.
NocoBase is for teams and businesses that need to build custom CRMs, ERPs, internal tools, and enterprise systems. It suits small businesses using the free community edition, professional teams building for clients with the Professional Edition, and large enterprises needing cluster deployment with the Enterprise Edition. It's ideal for organizations wanting self-hosting, full control, no per-user pricing, and the ability to extend without platform lock-in.
The platform is trusted by companies worldwide for real business systems, offering paperless operations, improved collaboration, faster development cycles, and cost savings. Users report 50% reduction in administrative tasks and the ability to build full-fledged systems in weeks instead of months.
Nocobase pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
NocoBase offers a free Community Edition and three commercial editions with one-time payment, lifetime license model (no subscription). Community Edition is free with unlimited users, applications, and records, includes most AI employee capabilities, self-hosting, and community support, but shows NocoBase logo. Standard Edition costs $800 one-time, removes branding, enables external databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL), large volume Excel import/export, includes 1 year support with 24-hour first response. Professional Edition costs $8,000 one-time, allows building apps for clients, adds SSO, advanced workflows (approvals, subflows, webhooks), record history, automatic backups, 2FA, dedicated usage consulting, unlimited support tickets, 12-hour first response. Enterprise Edition requires contacting sales, adds cluster deployment, Oracle/ClickHouse/Doris support, multi-application architecture, multi-space, professional telemetry, Gmail/Outlook integration, full commercial source code access, priority roadmap scheduling, 4-hour first response, phone/live chat support, and dedicated extension development solutions.
Nocobase pros
- Open source core with full source code access
- Self-hosted with complete data control
- AI-driven development with mainstream coding agents
- WYSIWYG no-code interface for visual building
- AI employees integrated into business workflows
- Unlimited users, applications, and records
- Plugin architecture with microkernel design
- Data-model driven with UI decoupled from data
- Fine-grained field-level permissions
- Supports multiple external databases
- Built-in workflow engine with approvals
- One-time payment, lifetime license model
- No per-user or per-application pricing
- Automatic API generation
- Works with MCP, HTTP APIs, CLI for agent integration
- Lightweight and runs on modest servers
- Audit logs for traceable data changes
- Multi-application and multi-space support in higher tiers
Nocobase cons
- NocoBase logo required on interface in free tier
- Community edition has limited Excel import/export volume
- No SSO in free community edition
- No automatic data backups in community edition
- No record edit history in community edition
- Limited to 1 year upgrade period for commercial licenses
- Downgrading from higher to lower edition not supported
- No phone or live chat support in community edition
- 24-hour first response time for Standard edition support
- Cannot develop applications for clients with community edition
Frequently asked questions about Nocobase
Is NocoBase really free to use?
Yes, the core of NocoBase and open-source plugins are licensed under AGPL 3.0. As long as you comply with the license and retain NocoBase's copyright and version information on the interface, you can use it for free with the Community Edition. You don't need to pay annually or have an expiration date.
What is the license model for commercial editions?
NocoBase uses a buy-once, use-forever model with no subscription required. Once you purchase a commercial license (Standard, Professional, or Enterprise), you get a lifetime license for permanent use with no expiration date and no annual payments.
When do I need to purchase a commercial license?
You need a commercial license if you want to: change the NocoBase copyright and version information to your own brand, obtain advanced security features (audit logs, automatic backups, dynamic access management), access advanced development/deployment capabilities (multi-application, environment isolation, distributed architecture), or get advanced technical support from the NocoBase team.
Can I develop applications for my clients with NocoBase?
The Standard Edition is limited to internal company use only. The Professional and Enterprise Editions can be used to develop applications for clients or sell developed applications to clients. If the product doesn't grant configuration permissions to clients, only you need a commercial license. If clients can modify and further develop your product using NocoBase's no-code capabilities, they also need to purchase a commercial license.
Can I upgrade or downgrade between editions?
You can upgrade from a lower edition to a higher edition, but downgrading from higher to lower is not supported. When upgrading, the remaining valid amount is deducted from the upgrade fee. For example, if you purchase Standard Edition ($800) and use it for 6 months before upgrading to Professional ($8,000), the remaining value is $400, so the upgrade fee is $7,600.
Can I try the commercial features before buying?
Yes, you can set up a dedicated sandbox environment in just one minute that includes all NocoBase commercial plugins. The sandbox is valid for 48 hours by default. If you need a longer trial, you can contact [email protected] to request extended trial access.
What databases does NocoBase support?
NocoBase supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and OceanBase as main data sources across all editions. For external data sources, Standard and Professional editions support MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MSSQL, Rest API, and OceanBase. Enterprise Edition additionally supports Oracle, ClickHouse, and Doris as external data sources.
What AI capabilities does NocoBase include?
NocoBase includes AI-driven development with coding agents like Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode, and TRAE. Built-in AI employees can handle business tasks with front-end help (analysis, Q&A, form filling) and back-end tasks (document recognition, risk monitoring, task routing). It supports MCP, CLI, skills, RAG knowledge bases, and connects to platforms like OpenClaw, Hermes, Dify, Coze, and n8n through standard protocols.
What support options are available for each edition?
Community Edition gets community support only. Standard Edition includes dedicated bug fixes with 24-hour first response time for 1 year. Professional Edition adds dedicated usage consulting, unlimited support tickets, 12-hour first response, and 1 year support. Enterprise Edition includes all of the above plus dedicated extension development consulting, priority feature scheduling, phone support, live chat support, 4-hour first response, unlimited tickets, 3 development tickets, and 1 year support.
What advanced workflow features are available?
The workflow engine includes triggers (collection event, scheduled task, pre-action event, post-action event, custom action event) and nodes (LLM, condition, multi-conditions, loop, variable, parallel branch, JSON mapping, delay, end, calculation, date calculation, JSON calculation, create/update/delete/query/aggregate data, SQL action, manual handling, CC, HTTP request, JavaScript, send email, notification, response, response message). Professional Edition adds approval, subflow, and webhook features.