Compare / Budibase vs Appsmith
Budibase vs Appsmith
Pick Appsmith if you want the published Retool path. Pick Budibase if you want that GPLv3 low-code box — and skip packages/pro (Business Source License).
Facts checked 20 Oct 2026. License, language, and GitHub activity come from the catalog or the project's own repo. "Not in the catalog row" means the public catalog dump does not store that number.
Budibase in the catalog Appsmith in the catalogStart on Railway
How they compare
| Budibase | Appsmith | |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0 overall (catalog); packages/pro is BSL source | Apache-2.0 on appsmithorg/appsmith (license not in the catalog row) source |
| Language | TypeScript (catalog) | TypeScript (GitHub; not in the catalog row) |
| GitHub activity | 28,331 stars in the catalog source | Stars not in the catalog row source |
| Self-host | Low-code ops apps. Skip packages/pro on the OSS path. | Published as /stacks/baserow-appsmith. |
| Best for | A GPLv3 builder if Appsmith is not the shape. | The published Retool replacement. |
Self-hosting and resource needs
Appsmith is on /stacks/baserow-appsmith. Budibase is Budibase/budibase: the project documents GPLv3 overall; paid features in packages/pro are BSL. ToolJet is the other sibling — /compare/appsmith-vs-tooljet.
FAQ
- Why skip Budibase pro?
- The repo's licensing guidelines put paid features under BSL. This page is the GPLv3 path.
- Appsmith or ToolJet?
- /compare/appsmith-vs-tooljet.
- Are these free?
- Budibase overall is GPLv3 as the project states. Appsmith's public repo is Apache-2.0. You pay hosting.
- How do I deploy Appsmith?
- Open /stacks/baserow-appsmith.
Related pages
Stack of the Week
Get one stack a week that replaces a SaaS bill.