NocoDB

NocoDB Self-Hosted: One-Click Deploy on Your Own VPS

NocoDB turns any SQL database into a smart spreadsheet. Automatio deploys it to a dedicated server with HTTPS in one click to bypass per-seat SaaS row limits.

self-hosted nocodbnocodb vpsairtable alternativeopen source databasedocker nocodbno-code spreadsheet
NocoDB logo

NocoDB

Automation & Workflows

NocoDB is an opensource Airtable alternative that turns any MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite & MariaDB into a smart spreadsheet.

databasespreadsheetlow-codenocode

What you get when you deploy NocoDB

The server we rent for it, what it costs, and what the installer will ask you.

Server
CX23 · 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM
From
$9/month
Setup
No configuration required

Included with every deployment

  • Dedicated server, one app per machine
  • HTTPS certificate issued automatically
  • Free subdomain, custom domain optional
  • Restart, resize, snapshot and restore

Deploy NocoDB in one click

On your own server, with your own data. No terminal, no Docker commands, no certificate setup.

  1. 1

    Pick a size

    Start on the smallest server that fits the app. Resize later without reinstalling.

  2. 2

    Press deploy

    We rent the server, install the app with Docker, and point a subdomain at it.

  3. 3

    Watch it come up

    Provisioning runs unattended and takes a few minutes. When the HTTPS certificate lands, the app is live and your login details are on the deployment page.

Server size

Billed monthly with your Automatio subscription. Destroy the server any time and the charge stops.

Key Capabilities

Explore what Automatio can do for this use case

Grid View Interface

This core interface provides a spreadsheet experience for interacting with relational databases without writing SQL queries. You can perform standard operations like creating, reading, and updating rows through a grid that feels familiar to any business user.

  • 1Supports MySQL and PostgreSQL
  • 2Inline cell editing
  • 3Bulk data operations
  • 4Advanced sorting and filtering
  • 5Multi-field edit functionality

Key Capabilities

  • Grid View Interface

    This core interface provides a spreadsheet experience for interacting with relational databases without writing SQL queries. You can perform standard operations like creating, reading, and updating rows through a grid that feels familiar to any business user.

    1. Supports MySQL and PostgreSQL
    2. Inline cell editing
    3. Bulk data operations
    4. Advanced sorting and filtering
    5. Multi-field edit functionality
  • Multi-View Layouts

    The platform visualizes data through interactive layouts designed for different team workflows. These views allow you to manage project progress, browse visual assets, or capture data directly from end-users via public web forms.

    1. Drag-and-drop Kanban boards
    2. Public and private form sharing
    3. Responsive gallery views
    4. Date-based calendar layouts
    5. Mobile-responsive display
  • Direct DB Connection

    It connects to your existing infrastructure rather than importing data into proprietary storage. This architecture lets developers build a no-code UI on top of live production data without creating duplicate records or sync overhead.

    1. Connect to external Postgres/MySQL
    2. Zero-copy data management
    3. Schema visualization via ERD
    4. Real-time SQL synchronization
    5. Support for MariaDB and SQL Server
  • Programmatic API

    Every table created within the platform automatically generates structured endpoints for external integration. This enables you to build custom frontends or connect to third-party automation services using standard web protocols.

    1. Auto-generated Swagger documentation
    2. REST API for all operations
    3. Event-driven webhook triggers
    4. JWT and Social Auth support
    5. Official NocoDB SDK support

Why self-host NocoDB

What to know first

Eliminate seat costs: Proprietary alternatives like Airtable often charge heavily per user. Self-hosting allows you to invite your entire team for the flat cost of one server.
External automation only: The software lacks a native drag-and-drop automation designer. You must trigger external tools like n8n or Zapier via webhooks for complex workflows.
Data residency: Maintain total control over where your database lives. This is essential for meeting compliance requirements and keeping production records off multi-tenant clouds.
SMTP provider required: It does not send emails natively. You must configure your own SMTP credentials from a provider like SendGrid to handle user invites and password resets.
No artificial row limits: Avoid the strict record caps found in SaaS tiers. Your only limit is the actual storage capacity and memory of your dedicated Hetzner VPS.
Technical maintenance: You are responsible for managing your own database backups and server resources as your row counts grow into the millions.
Zero API rate limits: Run high-volume data operations and complex sync scripts without hitting the request throttles imposed by hosted service providers.

Managed, DIY, or One-Click?

The three realistic ways to run {name}, compared honestly.

Setup speed

Managed SaaSInstant
DIY on a VPS30-60 minutes
Automatio one-click~15 minutes

Server ownership

Managed SaaSShared cloud
DIY on a VPSDedicated VPS
Automatio one-clickDedicated VPS

Maintenance

Managed SaaSAutomatic
DIY on a VPSManual updates
Automatio one-clickOne-click updates

Cost shape

Managed SaaSPer user and per row
DIY on a VPSFixed server cost
Automatio one-clickFixed server cost

Data privacy

Managed SaaSMulti-tenant
DIY on a VPSPrivate server
Automatio one-clickPrivate server

Who this is for

People who actually run NocoDB on their own server, and what changes when they do.

a solo founder

Paying $20 per month for every user on basic project tracking.

Running this on your own server gives you a custom CRM without monthly seat limits.

  • Build lead capture forms
  • Track product roadmap items
  • Manage early-stage investor lists

a freelancer billing hourly

Needs to share project data with clients without them seeing other records.

You can create isolated, password-protected gallery views for specific client project files.

  • Share design asset galleries
  • Track billable tasks in Kanban
  • Export monthly reporting data

a developer building an MVP

Needs a GUI for their Postgres database while building a new frontend.

It provides a live spreadsheet interface for production data plus auto-generated REST APIs.

  • Edit production data without SQL
  • Test API endpoints via Swagger
  • Visualize database relationships

a data researcher

Managing survey responses that exceed standard spreadsheet limits.

Self-hosting removes row caps, allowing for millions of records in one workspace without upgrade prompts.

  • Import massive CSV survey results
  • Run complex data filters
  • Share anonymized public results

About This App

What this app does and where it fits.

The bridge between SQL and no-code

NocoDB is an open-source platform that addresses the gap between powerful relational databases and the user-friendly interface of a spreadsheet. Launched in 2021, the project quickly became a popular alternative to proprietary tools like Airtable. It was built specifically to counter the issues of vendor lock-in, data silos, and the high per-seat costs that typically plague modern SaaS data tools.

Connecting to existing data

Unlike traditional spreadsheet apps that store data in proprietary formats, the platform acts as a smart interface layer for your existing SQL infrastructure. It functions as a lens: you connect it to a database, such as PostgreSQL or MySQL, and it automatically maps the existing tables into a spreadsheet-style grid. This architecture is useful for businesses that already have production databases but need to give non-technical team members a way to manage that data without writing manual SQL queries.

The first hour: from raw tables to Kanban

The initial experience involves connecting your first data source. Once linked, you can begin creating collaborative views. The Grid view handles standard data entry, while specialized views like Kanban and Calendar allow you to transform raw records into a project management system. For developers, the app automatically generates REST APIs and Swagger documentation for every table, making it a functional tool for rapidly prototyping application backends.

A technical alternative

While the software aims for ease of use, it remains a tool for those who appreciate technical control. It uses standard database terminology and exposes relational concepts like one-to-many and many-to-many links directly in the UI. By sitting between a raw database manager like pgAdmin and a polished consumer tool, it provides the efficiency of professional database management with the accessibility of a collaborative workspace. Because it is self-hosted, you retain the ability to run high-volume queries and imports that would trigger rate limits or cost overruns on hosted platforms.

About This App

Community Feedback

See what the community thinks about NocoDB

My reason for self hosting NocoDB is privacy and also rate-limiting.
u/Reasonable-Ad-3531
reddit
This application feels very much more technical in nature... having to rely on web hooks for automations.
Dan Leman
youtube
I characterized the setup process as relatively straightforward for technical users.
u/localdimi
reddit
NocoDB is no longer strictly open source. More and more features have become cloud-only in their commercial tier.
u/TechnicalUser
reddit
The views are going to be available regardless of the pricing plan that you're on, you're not limited.
Automation Helpers
youtube
I've built project workflows to make self-hosting a simple process. Any project should be a few clicks from deploy.
@edkadigital
twitter

Related Videos

Watch tutorials, reviews, and discussions about NocoDB

The views are going to be available regardless of the pricing plan that you're on... you're not being limited by features

It automatically installs all the prerequisites Docker and Docker compost

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Pro Tips

Expert tips to help you get the most out of NocoDB and achieve better results.

Postgres for production

While SQLite is fine for testing, always use a PostgreSQL database for real multi-user workloads to ensure data resilience and performance.

Monitor memory usage

Importing millions of rows or running complex rollups can spike RAM. Use at least 8GB RAM (CX33 size) for production datasets to prevent crashes.

Configure SMTP first

Set up your SMTP provider immediately after installation, as user invites and password resets cannot function without it.

Testimonials

What Our Users Say

Join thousands of satisfied users who have transformed their workflow

Jonathan Kogan

Jonathan Kogan

Co-Founder/CEO, rpatools.io

Automatio is one of the most used for RPA Tools both internally and externally. It saves us countless hours of work and we realized this could do the same for other startups and so we choose Automatio for most of our automation needs.

Mohammed Ibrahim

Mohammed Ibrahim

CEO, qannas.pro

I have used many tools over the past 5 years, Automatio is the Jack of All trades.. !! it could be your scraping bot in the morning and then it becomes your VA by the noon and in the evening it does your automations.. its amazing!

Ben Bressington

Ben Bressington

CTO, AiChatSolutions

Automatio is fantastic and simple to use to extract data from any website. This allowed me to replace a developer and do tasks myself as they only take a few minutes to setup and forget about it. Automatio is a game changer!

Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen

Head of Growth, ScaleUp Labs

We've tried dozens of automation tools, but Automatio stands out for its flexibility and ease of use. Our team productivity increased by 40% within the first month of adoption.

David Park

David Park

Founder, DataDriven.io

The AI-powered features in Automatio are incredible. It understands context and adapts to changes in websites automatically. No more broken scrapers!

Emily Rodriguez

Emily Rodriguez

Marketing Director, GrowthMetrics

Automatio transformed our lead generation process. What used to take our team days now happens automatically in minutes. The ROI is incredible.

Jonathan Kogan

Jonathan Kogan

Co-Founder/CEO, rpatools.io

Automatio is one of the most used for RPA Tools both internally and externally. It saves us countless hours of work and we realized this could do the same for other startups and so we choose Automatio for most of our automation needs.

Mohammed Ibrahim

Mohammed Ibrahim

CEO, qannas.pro

I have used many tools over the past 5 years, Automatio is the Jack of All trades.. !! it could be your scraping bot in the morning and then it becomes your VA by the noon and in the evening it does your automations.. its amazing!

Ben Bressington

Ben Bressington

CTO, AiChatSolutions

Automatio is fantastic and simple to use to extract data from any website. This allowed me to replace a developer and do tasks myself as they only take a few minutes to setup and forget about it. Automatio is a game changer!

Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen

Head of Growth, ScaleUp Labs

We've tried dozens of automation tools, but Automatio stands out for its flexibility and ease of use. Our team productivity increased by 40% within the first month of adoption.

David Park

David Park

Founder, DataDriven.io

The AI-powered features in Automatio are incredible. It understands context and adapts to changes in websites automatically. No more broken scrapers!

Emily Rodriguez

Emily Rodriguez

Marketing Director, GrowthMetrics

Automatio transformed our lead generation process. What used to take our team days now happens automatically in minutes. The ROI is incredible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about NocoDB