You don’t need extensive technical expertise, coding experience, long development time, or a big budget to build internal tools and external-facing apps powered by databases.

With a database application builder, you can launch these apps faster without breaking the bank.

The platform seamlessly integrates with existing databases like Airtable, Google Sheets, and SQL, giving you access to real-time data across all your tools in one place. It also cuts development time from months to days, reduces reliance on technical teams, and lowers costs.

But choosing the right one takes lots of research, especially with so many good options available. To help narrow your options, we've compiled a list of the 9 best database-powered application builders for companies of all sizes, based on ratings and reviews from real users.

These examples range from no-code solutions to more technical platforms that support robust database integrations. We provide a quick overview for each one, highlighting who it’s best for, key features, and pricing plans. We also include practical tips to help you choose the best database app builder for your business needs.

What is a database application builder?

A database application builder allows you to create custom applications for managing, storing, and retrieving data from existing sources like Airtable, SQL servers, and Google Sheets, whether you have zero or advanced coding experience.

Once connected to your chosen data source, the builder can access and pull data in real time, importing it to display in an interactive, user-friendly format. You can then organize this data, build forms, and create customized views without modifying the original database directly.

Say you use Google Sheets to manage your team’s project workflow but need a better way to organize, track, and visualize this data without constantly going back to adjust the spreadsheet.

A database-powered application builder can transform this setup without requiring advanced technical skills. It lets you connect directly to your existing Google Sheets and create a more interactive, customized project dashboard that updates in real time.

Instead of building from scratch, app builders have pre-built project management templates that fetch task data from your spreadsheet, organize them by priority, assign team members, create different views, and add status filters that update automatically as work progresses.

This approach preserves the integrity of your original Google Sheets data, letting the team work interactively without modifying the source file. This way, your team spends less time managing the sheet and more time doing real work.

Types of database application builder

Before choosing a platform, you should consider the different types of builders and which best suits your team’s technical expertise, budget, project requirements, and scalability needs.

There are three main types of database application builders

1. No-code platforms: let users build applications entirely through a visual interface (drag-and-drop), with no coding required, and customize them with minimal effort
2. Low-code platforms: allow users to add custom code to enhance functionality
3. Traditional development platforms: allow for full control over every detail, as it involves writing code from scratch using programming languages and frameworks.

Each category offers different levels of customization, technical requirements, and use cases. Here’s an overview of each type:

Why use a low-code or no-code database application builder?

If you want to create functional, data-driven applications without extensive coding, low-code and no-code database application builders are the way to go. 

Unlike traditional platforms that require deep technical expertise and significant time investment, these tools empower teams to build and manage applications quickly and affordably.

Sure, traditional platforms offer complete flexibility for large-scale applications. But they cost more and have longer development cycles, which makes them less than ideal for smaller teams. 

Low-code and no-code app builders offer a great alternative—they offer features that save cost, speed up app development, and reduce the need for dedicated technical teams. 

These features include pre-built templates for use cases such as CRM, client portals, and project management, as well as drag-and-drop tools to make customizing your application easier. 

Both platforms are designed to grow as your business expands, making them suitable for smaller teams as well as larger organizations and enterprises.

For teams with some technical expertise, low-code platforms offer added flexibility with the option to add custom code where needed. But if you’re focused on empowering non-technical users on your team to create internal tools or client portals, no-code platforms are the best fit.

Key features to look for in a database-powered application builder

The best database application builders have essential features that ensure they’re efficient, scalable, and suitable for your business needs. 

Here are some of these features to look for while considering the platform and type to choose:

• Drag-and-drop interface: has a user-friendly, visual interface that allows technical and non-technical users to build and manage applications with minimal coding knowledge
• Integration with popular databases: connects to Airtable, Google Sheets, SQL, etc., so you can pull real-time data from existing sources into your app
• Ability to custom database applications: offers flexibility to build from internal tools for team use to external, customer-facing apps
• Scalability: grows with your business, capable of handling increased data volumes, more users, and more complexity in workflows as your business expands
• Customization options: lets you tailor applications to meet specific business needs, with options to create custom fields, workflows, and permissions
• Built-in security features: includes robust security measures, including role-based access controls, encryption, and compliance with standards to handle sensitive data
• Automation capabilities: has tools to automate workflows, trigger notifications, and update data automatically
• Cross-platform compatibility: lets you build applications that are accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, ensuring that users can engage from any location
• Reporting and analytics: has integrated reporting and data visualization tools that provide insights directly within the application
• Access control: offers multi-user collaboration features with customizable access permissions to control who can view, edit, and manage different areas of the application
• Reliable customer support and detailed documentation: helps users get the most out of the platform and troubleshoot as needed
• Affordable pricing: offers pricing models that align with your budget, offering options like usage-based or subscription pricing to ensure affordability and scalability
• Support for complex queries and relational database management: includes this essential feature for enterprise-level businesses needing advanced data processing

The top 9 database-powered application builders in 2024

1. Softr

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.8/5 stars (419 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.7/5 stars (60 reviews)

Softr is a no-code app builder that empowers users to create applications and websites using data stored in Airtable, Google Sheets, SmartSuite, SQL, BigQuery, Xano, and monday.com. 

Rated as one of the top no-code database builders on G2 and Capterra, users praise Softr for its ease of use, intuitive drag-and-drop interface that enables non-technical users to prototype and launch ideas quickly, and responsive customer support. 

Who is Softr best for?

Softr is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, startups, and freelancers needing a scalable, user-friendly app builder. It’s also great for teams looking to improve workflow efficiency and internal communication without investing in multiple tools and technical resources.

Softr key features

Several features make Softr stand out, including:

1. Responsive templates

Softr has a template library that covers a variety of use cases, including team wikis, project documentation, applicant tracking, employee onboarding, and feedback management. These make setting up customized CRUD apps quick and easy, so you don’t have to start from scratch. 

For example, you could use Softr to build a client portal that connects to data in Google Sheets, so your clients can securely log in, view project updates, access shared documents, and submit feedback in real time. 

This approach provides clients with a seamless, self-service experience while keeping your team’s workflow organized and centralized—without the hassle of managing multiple tools.

2. Seamless integrations

Softr integrates smoothly with popular data sources like SQL and Airtable, as well as widely used tools such as Zapier, Google Analytics, Stripe, Hotjar, and Mailchimp. 

These integrations eliminate the need to combine multiple tools to create a fully functional application—everything you need is in one place with Softr. 

3. Workflow automation

Through integrations with tools like Zapier, Softr automates repetitive tasks to enhance operational efficiency. For example, when a new customer signs up, Softr can automatically trigger actions such as adding the customer’s information to a database, sending a welcome email, or updating records in another system. 

This automation saves time, manages routine tasks in the background, and boosts productivity.

4. Role-based access

Softr’s user group feature allows you to assign specific access levels for different roles, ensuring that only authorized users can view or interact with specific parts of an application.

For example, you can assign different permissions to administrators, team members, and clients to ensure each group only sees what’s relevant to them. 

This feature protects sensitive data and ensures everyone can access the tools they need without compromising security and data integrity.

5. Excellent customer support and an active user community

Softr also has a high-quality, responsive customer support team that provides users with reliable assistance for setup, troubleshooting, and exploring advanced features. 

Additionally, the platform has a vibrant user community where users can quickly find solutions, share experiences, and stay up-to-date with the latest best practices. 

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Softr’s team actively engages with this community, listening to feedback and continuously improving the platform based on user suggestions.

Other features that make Softr’s database app builder stand out include:

• Responsive designs that look and function well on desktop, tablet, and mobile
• Customization options that allow you to modify layouts, design, and functionalities to match your brand and specific needs
• Scalability that enables you to build applications that can grow with your business, from small teams to larger organizations
• Enhanced security that includes SSL encryption, user authentication, and secure data storage to keep sensitive information safe
• Social features like group chat and activity feeds that keep everyone on the same page
• Custom domain and branding options that allow you to match your company’s identity
• API integrations that connect with external services and APIs to extend application capabilities and integrate with existing systems. 
• Customizable dashboards and reports to monitor progress and performance metrics.

These capabilities make Softr an attractive alternative to traditional database app development.

Softr pricing 

Softr provides five pricing plans to accommodate various user needs. 

The free plan is ideal for individuals and small teams with five employees. 

With this plan, your team can build apps with Airtable and other data sources. There’s no limit to how many you can create, but you can only host one custom domain. The plan also supports five internal users, and you can collaborate with 100 external app users.

If you want to access more features, you have to upgrade to one of Softr’s paid plans. 

Note: Softr also provides a 30-day free trial for its paid plans, allowing users to explore premium features before committing.

2. Airtable

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.6/5 stars (2,595 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.7/5 stars (2,093 reviews)

Airtable is a low-code app builder that offers a user-friendly interface and tools for building apps and workflows with minimal programming knowledge. The Airtable user interface presents their data in the familiar spreadsheet-like format, so users can easily organize, and manage them.

Who is Airtable best for?

Airtable is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, freelancers, and companies without a large IT department who need a tool that’s easy to set up and requires minimal maintenance. 

Airtable key features

Airtable offers several features that make it a versatile platform for building and managing database applications:

• User-friendly interface: Allows users to create and manage databases without advanced coding skills.
• Template library: Includes pre-built templates for project management, CRM, content planning, and more, all customizable to fit specific needs.
• Rich field types: Supports diverse data types, including text, attachments, checkboxes, and dates, allowing for a tailored database experience.
• Multiple views: Offers grid, calendar, gallery, and Kanban views, enabling users to visualize and organize data according to their workflows.
• Record linking: Supports relational database features, letting users link records across tables for a connected, comprehensive data view.
• Integrations: Connects with popular applications like Google Drive, Slack, and Trello to enhance collaboration and communication.
• Automation: Automates repetitive tasks with customizable triggers and actions, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency.

Airtable pricing 

Airtable has four pricing plans to accommodate various user needs, from individuals to large enterprises. Its free plan is suitable for individuals and small teams, offering basic features such as unlimited bases, up to 1,000 records per base, and 2 GB of attachment storage per base.

To access additional features, here is an overview of Airtable’s paid plans you can upgrade to:

• The team plan costs $20 per user/month (billed annually) or $24 per user/month (billed monthly). It is ideal for teams building apps to collaborate on shared workflows.
• The business plan costs $45 per user/month (billed annually) or $54 per user/month (billed monthly). It is best for teams needing advanced features and basic administration.
• The enterprise scale plan has custom pricing—you have to contact their sales team. 

3. Budibase

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.5/5 stars (71 reviews)

Budibase is an open-source workflow platform that enables users to build, automate, and deploy internal tools and business apps quickly. The low-code app builder allows you to connect and manage data from various sources, including Google Sheets, SQL databases, and REST APIs. 

Who is Budibase best for?

Budibase is an excellent choice for engineering and development teams, as well as organizations who want to build highly customizable tools and have the technical resources to leverage the platform’s open-source features.

Budibase key features

Some of Budibase’s standout features include:

• Data integration: supports connections to various data sources, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and REST APIs.
• Automation: offers built-in automation capabilities that enable users to create workflows that trigger actions based on specific events or conditions.
• Customizable UI components: provides a library of components that can be customized to match your branding and functionality requirements of the application.
• Self-hosting option: gives users the flexibility to self-host their applications or host with Budibase.
• Open-source community: has a community of developers that contributes to its continuous improvement.

Budibase pricing 

Budibase offers a free, open-source version for engineers and anyone looking to experiment. For teams needing more features, Budibase offers a premium plan that costs $50 per app creator/month, an extra $5 per app user/month, and a 14-day free trial. 

For companies needing more control, security, and support, you have to contact sales to find the ideal pricing for Budibase’s Enterprise plan. 

4. Zoho Creator

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.3/5 stars (173 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.3/5 stars (158 reviews)

Zoho Creator is a low-code platform that lets users build custom web and mobile apps with little coding required. With its easy drag-and-drop interface, users can create forms, reports, and workflows to fit their business needs. Zoho Creator also integrates smoothly with other Zoho products and over 600 third-party apps.

Who is Zoho best for?

Zoho Creator is perfect for businesses that already use Zoho and want to build custom apps to streamline operations, automate tasks, and boost productivity without the high costs of traditional software development. 

Zoho Creator key features

Some features that make Zoho Creator an ideal choice for these businesses include:

• Drag-and-drop builder: create applications without needing advanced coding skills.
• Workflow automation: Automate business processes to save time and increase efficiency.
• Multi-platform accessibility: Apps built on Zoho Creator work on web, iOS, and Android, so they’re accessible from any device.
• Integration capabilities: Connects smoothly with other Zoho apps and many third-party services, creating a seamless business setup.
• Data security: Includes high-level security features like data encryption, audit trails, and compliance with global standards to keep data safe.

Zoho pricing

Zoho Creator offers a free plan that provides basic features suitable for small applications and limited users. Its paid plans includes: 

• Standard plan: priced at $8 per user per month (billed annually)
• Professional plan: costs $20 per user per month (billed annually)
• Enterprise plan: costs $25 per user per month (billed annually)
• Flex plan: you have to contact sales for pricing

5. Tadabase

Tadabase is a no-code database application builder that empowers users to create custom business applications without any programming knowledge. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can design applications that align with your brand—customize layouts, components, and themes to suit your preferences. 

Who is Tadabase best for?

Tadabase is best for non-technical teams and individuals with a big budget.

Tadabase key features

The no-code platform’s key features include:

• Customizable tables and fields: allows you to create and tailor data tables to fit your specific needs, defining data types and properties for each field. 
• Drag-and-drop builder: lets you easily design user-friendly interfaces. 
• Custom components: utilizes a variety of components such as tables, lists, forms, and calendars to enhance application functionality and user experience. 
• Responsive layouts: ensures your applications are accessible and visually appealing across different devices. 
• Workflow automation: lets users set up rules and triggers to automate repetitive tasks. 
• API integrations: connects with external services and APIs to extend application capabilities and integrate with existing systems. 
• Role-based permissions: allows users to manage user access with secure login options and define permissions to control data visibility and actions. 
• Custom domains: Customize your application's branding and set up custom domains to align with your business identity. 
• Data Security: Hosted on Amazon Web Services, Tadabase ensures data protection with advanced security features and continuous enhancements. 

Tadabase pricing

Tadabase offers a 14-day free trial Tadabase, enabling you to explore the platform's capabilities before committing to any of its four subscription plans, depending on your needs:

• Business Starter: $50 per month
• Business Growth: $125 per month
• Business Professional: $250 per month
• Business Elite: $450 per month

All plans include features such as custom domains, SSL certificates, and scheduled tasks, with higher-tier plans offering additional integrations and components. 

For organizations with specific security, capacity, and processing requirements, Tadabase provides Enterprise and HIPAA-compliant plans. These plans offer dedicated databases, custom integrations, and compliance features. Pricing is customized based on individual needs.

Note: Advanced features and higher usage limits are available in more expensive plans, which could be a limitation for businesses with small budgets.

6. Podio

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.2/5 stars (512 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.3/5 stars (332 reviews)

Podio is a low-code app builder that offers a user-friendly interface for building and managing applications tailored to specific business needs. It integrates with numerous external services, enabling users to connect their custom apps with tools such as Google Drive and Dropbox.

Who is Podio best for?

Podio is such a great tool for small to medium-sized businesses and project management teams looking to plan and organize projects, track progress, and improve team communication. 

Podio key features

Podio app builder offers:

• Drag-and-drop interface: allows you to quickly design and customize apps by selecting and arranging various field types. 
• Field types: offers a range of field options, such as text, number, date, category, relationship, and calculation fields, which allows for comprehensive data structuring.
• Workflow automation: allows users to automate processes within their apps, streamlining tasks like task creation, status updates, and notifications. 
• Reporting and visualization: provides filtering and reporting options to generate insights from app data. 

Podio pricing

Podio offers three plans to accommodate different team sizes and feature requirements:

• Free plan: $0 per month for up to 5 employees, including task management and app-building capabilities. 
• Plus plan: $14 per employee per month (or $11.20 annually), including all features in the free plan, automated workflows, and read-only access. 
• Premium plan: $24 per employee per month (or $19.20 annually), including all Plus plan features, visual reports, advanced workflow automation, and priority support.

7. Appsheet

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.8/5 stars (397 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.7/5 stars (546 reviews)

AppSheet (owned by Google) is a no-code development platform that enables users to create custom mobile, tablet, and web applications directly from data sources such as Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, and other cloud-based platforms. 

Who is Appsheet best for?

AppSheet is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprises seeking to automate workflows and deploy applications across multiple platforms

Appsheet key features

• Data integration: AppSheet connects seamlessly with various data sources, including Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, and cloud-based platforms. 
• Intuitive interface: It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
• Automation and workflows: AppSheet supports the creation of automated workflows, such as sending notifications, generating reports, and triggering actions based on specific conditions. 
• Cross-platform compatibility: Applications built with AppSheet are compatible across iOS, Android, and web platforms, ensuring a consistent user experience. 
• Security and compliance: It provides robust security features, including user authentication, data encryption, and compliance with industry standards.

Appsheet pricing

AppSheet offers three pricing plans: 

• Starter plan: costs $5 per user per month, with basic app and automation features.
• Core plan: priced at $10 per user per month, with advanced application and automation features, security controls, and email customer support. 
• Enterprise plans: pricing is available upon request. 

8. Quickbase

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.5/5 stars (1,026 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.4/5 stars (306 reviews)

Quickbase is a no-code platform that provides an intuitive interface for building, customizing, and integrate applications, eliminating the need for traditional coding. It enables teams to democratize access to data, break down data silos, and automate custom workflows.

Who is Quickbase best for?

Quickbase is ideal for small teams and large organizations that require scalable solutions with robust customization capabilities. 

Quickbase key features

• Integrations: allows you to connect with popular tools and services such as Salesforce, QuickBooks, and Slack, as well as modern RESTful APIs for more customizations.
• Workflow automation: offers tools to automate repetitive tasks and processes. 
• Customizable dashboards and reports: lets users create personalized dashboards and reports to monitor project progress and performance metrics. 
• User and data security controls: ensures robust security measures, including user authentication and data encryption, to protect sensitive information. 

Quickbase pricing

Quickbase offers three plans:

• Team Plan: costs $35/user/month (billed annually) with a minimum of 20 users. Includes AI-assisted building, templates, dashboards, automation, and security features.
• Business Plan: priced at $55/user/month (billed annually), with a minimum of 40 users. Includes single sign-on, SCIM, collaboration tools, Gantt charts, and sandboxing.
• Enterprise Plan: offers custom pricing. Includes advanced performance, enhanced security, data integrations, and governance tools.

9.  Stackby

G2 ratings and total reviews: 4.5/5 stars (68 reviews)

Capterra ratings and total reviews: 4.8/5 stars (76 reviews)

Stackby is a no-code platform that merges the familiarity of spreadsheets with the functionality of databases and workflow automation. It enables users to create, customize, and manage online databases and workflows easily.

Who is Stackby best for?

Stackby is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, startups, marketing agencies, project managers, and teams looking to transition from traditional spreadsheets to a more integrated solution to better manage data, automate workflows, and enhance collaboration. 

 Stackby key features

Stackby provides:

• Data visualization tools: lets you choose from 25+ column types, such as text, numbers, and dropdowns, and six data views, including Grid, Kanban, Calendar, Gallery, Forms, and Updatable Forms.
• Automation and integrations: integrates with over 2,000 apps using platforms like Zapier and Integromat.
• Customizable templates: gives users access to a library of 200+ pre-built templates tailored to different use cases.
• Real-time collaboration: enables commenting, tagging with @mentions, and shared views, so team members can communicate directly within the platform and stay aligned.
• Reporting and dashboards: allows users to create custom dashboards with tools like charts, pivot tables, summary boxes, and goal trackers to visualize data, track progress, and make data-driven decisions.

Stackby pricing

Stackby offers five pricing plans:

• Free: Up to 5 editors, 20 stacks, 1,500 rows, and 2GB attachments per stack.
• Personal: $6/seat/month; 1 member, unlimited read-only users, 15 stacks, 3,500 rows, 4GB attachments.
• Economy: $10/seat/month; unlimited members, 25 stacks, 7,000 rows, 6GB attachments, 3 apps, 6-month history.
• Business Plus: $35/seat/month; 100 stacks, 100,000 rows, 50GB attachments, 20 apps, and advanced permissions.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing with tailored features for large organizations.

Invest in a no-code database application builder

A no-code database application builder is an excellent way to streamline and empower your business, removing the complexities of traditional development. 

Unlike low-code platforms, which often require some programming knowledge, no-code tools allow anyone on your team—regardless of technical expertise—to build and customize applications. This accessibility makes it easier for your team to build and launch apps easily.

So, if you’re in the market for a budget-friendly solution, you should consider a no-code app builder like Softr. The software empowers your team to build both internal tools (such as dashboards and employee directories) and external apps (such as client portals) in a few minutes. You can either build from scratch or use a suitable template from Softr’s library.

Plus, Softr has a free plan as well as a 30-day free trial on any of its paid plans, so you can explore the app builder before committing. 

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Ready to explore how a no-code platform could streamline your workflows? Try Softr for free.

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FAQs about database application builder

What’s the difference between no-code and low-code application builders?

No-code application builders, like Softr, require zero coding skills. They are designed for non-technical users and provide a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, allowing anyone to create applications without writing a single line of code. Low-code app builders, on the other hand, require basic to intermediate coding knowledge. They allow users to add custom code to build more complex functionality to their apps. 

Can I build a customer-facing app using a database application builder?

You can build a customer-facing app using a database application builder, especially with the help of no-code platforms like Softr. The no-code app builder enables you to build apps with Airtable, Google Sheets, and SQL data. Some examples of these external apps include client portals, membership sites, and marketplaces. 

What database integrations should I look for in an app builder?

When choosing an app builder, look for these database integrations:

• Popular databases like Airtable, Google Sheets, and Notion
• Relational databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server
• Data warehousing such as BigQuery, Snowflake, and Redshift
• Cloud databases such as Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, and Azure SQL
• Data sync and automation platforms like Zapier, Make, and Integrately
• Authentication and user management such as Firebase Auth, and Auth0

What is an ideal database application builder for non-developers?

Softr is an ideal database application builder for non-developers, offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and seamless integrations with databases and third-party apps. Regardless of technical expertise, it enables team members to transform data from sources like Airtable or Google Sheets into functional client portals and internal tools.

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